The Chair of Folkestone & Hythe District Council is elected every year by the full council, chairs council meetings and represents the district at events. The Civic Office looks after the Chair's affairs.
Incumbents
Our current Chair is Councillor Abena Akuffo-Kelly and the current Vice-Chair is Councillor Anita Jones.
| Chair | Vice-Chair |
|---|---|
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Invite the Chair to an event
Complete the engagement form and email it to the Chair's PA along with your invitation. Please give an arrival time 5 minutes before the function starts.
The Chair's PA will reply to you when we have received the invitation.
If the Chair attends your event
Before the event
Send a copy of any toast list or agenda for the event, plus any relevant background information, to the Chair's Secretary as soon as possible, and no later than five days before the event. The Chair's toast and reply, if required, should appear early on the toast list.
You should also tell the Chair's Secretary in advance about:
- parking facilities
- what time the event is due to end
During the event
You should follow the correct etiquette when the Chair attends your event.
The Chair has precedence over everybody in the district. The only exceptions are royalty and Her Majesty's Deputy, the Lord Lieutenant of Kent. Precedence should be noted when asking the Chair and other guests to perform duties.
The Chair and escort should be met immediately upon arrival by a responsible person (preferably the event organiser), who should escort them to meet their host.
Seat the Chair on the immediate right of the host and acknowledge the Chair first in speeches, unless royalty or the Lord Lieutenant of Kent are present.
Addressing the Chair and Vice-Chair
Speaking
- address them as 'Chair' and 'Vice-Chair'
Writing
- address them as 'Councillor (...), Chair/Vice-Chair, Folkestone & Hythe District Council'.