Agenda and minutes

The Chair alternates between a District Councillor and a Parish/Town Councillor every meeting.  The Committee must appoint a Parish/Town Councillor as the Chair of this meeting.

The Chair alternates between a District Councillor and a Parish/Town Councillor every meeting.  The Committee must appoint a Parish/Town Councillor as the Chair of this meeting.

Proposed by Councillor Allison,

Seconded by Councillor Prater; and

Resolved:

That Councillor Hobbs be appointed as Chair for the Folkestone and Hythe District and Parish Councils Joint Committee held on 27 July 2023.

Members of the Council should declare any interests which fall under the following categories:

a) discloseable pecuniary interests (DPI)

b) other significant interests (OSI)

c) voluntary announcements of other interests

There were no declarations of interest.

To receive the minutes of the meeting held on 16 March 2023.

The minutes of the last Folkestone and Hythe District and Parish Councils’ Joint Committee held on 16 March 2023 were submitted, approved as a correct record.

A presentation will be provided by Lorraine Smith, Economic Development Senior Specialist on UKSPF and Rural Funds.

The Committee received a presentation from Lorraine Smith, Economic Development Senior Specialist on UKSPF and Rural Funds.

Members commented on various issues and made points including the following:

·       How is the scheme being promoted?

·       Can the council provide Parish Councils with the relevant information, so they can disseminate?

·       Can the council please provide a definition of rural, so that members can understand which areas are eligible for support?

·       Members raised concerns about Stagecoach’s decision to withdraw services (No. 10 bus) to Lympne. And suggested whether the fund could be used to retain this service?

·       Members made comment as to whether the fund could be used to implement a community bus service in Lympne if discussions with Stagecoach are unsuccessful?

·        Members recognised the scale of work being undertaken behind the scenes in relation to the transportation and infrastructure element of the fund and would welcome future insights.

A presentation will be provided by Lorraine Smith, Economic Development Senior Specialist on the Levelling Up Fund Delivery.

The Committee received a presentation from Lorraine Smith, Economic Development Senior Specialist on the Levelling Up Fund Delivery.

Members commented on various issues and made points including the following:

·       The Council received detailed feedback from Cycle Shepway. Members would like the council to make sure the concerns raised are considered in the design plans.

·       Members have suggested that future consultations be held in a more prominent location on the high street, rather than the Bouverie House Business Centre.   

·       Where can members find details on the consultations that have been carried out? Also, will the feedback be available?

·       Was there a diverse demographic involved in the design process, including provisions for wheelchair users?

The Economic Development Senior Specialist responded to said comments:

·       The details of the consultations can be found at: Folkestone Levelling Up - Public engagement July 2023 | Folkestone & Hythe District Council (folkestone-hythe.gov.uk)

·       The feedback will be made available. The surveys have only just closed, and the council is in the process of analysing the data.

·       The council will be sharing all feedback with the design team.

·       Yes, there was a diverse demographic at the consultations.

A presentation will be provided by Adrian Tofts, Strategy, Policy & Performance Lead Specialist on the District-Wide Carbon Plan.

The Committee received a presentation from Olu Fatokun, Low Carbon Senior Specialist on the council’s District-Wide Carbon Plan.

Members commented on various issues and made points including the following:

·       Has the four-point plan been distributed to all Parish/Town councils? If not can it be?

·       Members also suggested would it be a good idea to engage Parish/Town Councils to send their own representative(s) to the CI-Lab?

·       Members were glad to hear that the consultations details will be distributed around the district.

·        Will the council be encouraging existing builds and new builds to be more energy efficient?

·       Members hope that any plan implement is feasible, as there are a number of categories of carbon emissions within the district which are out of the Council’s control.

The Low Carbon Senior Specialist responded to said comments:

·       The council has not yet disseminated the four-point plan to Parish/Town Councils as it is in the process of analysing feedback from various other committees.

·       The council is being guided by the greenhouse gas protocol, which recommends the council to focus on what is within the council’s scope of influence. As a district council this would be minor roads and not motorways. This is why the council is working with Active Travel.

·       The council is currently working with KCC as they have a local transport plan, which is currently under consultation. The Council is trying to have as much input as possible and influence where it can.

Adrian Tofts, Strategy, Policy & Performance Lead Specialist responded to said comments:

·       The Government is introducing reforms to the planning system through the levelling up and regeneration bill. One of the reforms is to introduce design codes, and the bill will introduce statutory duties to all local planning authorities to produce design codes for their areas. Part of the remit of the design codes is to take a look at the sustainability of buildings and how councils can promote biodiversity across the district.

·       The figures within the power-point are published by Central Government and are what the Government say are within the scope of Local Authorities to influence. These exclude sources of emissions such as motorways.

·       The Council will provide details regarding the KCC consultation. Officers will be taking a report to Cabinet later this year with proposed district responses.