Agenda and minutes

Councillors Gane, McConville, Mullard and Rolfe declared DPI’s in respect of the agenda item General Fund Budget and Council Tax 2022/23 as they are Directors of Oportunitas, but had received a dispensation, therefore they remained in the meeting during discussion and voting on this item.

Councillors Fuller and Keutenius declared DPI’s in respect of the agenda item Draft Housing Revenue Account Revenue and Capital Original Budget. They left the meeting during discussion and voting on this item.

To receive the minutes of the meetings of the Council held on 29 September and 24 November 2021 and 10 February 2022, and to authorise the Chairman of the Council to sign them as a correct record.

The minutes of the meetings held on 29 September, 24 November 2021 and 10 February 2022 were submitted, approved and signed by the Chairman.

Since our previous Council I have continued to move around the district visiting local businesses to see how they are progressing and it would seem there is lots more going on now, with positive vibes from local traders so the news is encouraging.

Events I have attended on behalf of the council included:

4 November – Charity Dinner with the Chairman of Sevenoaks

5 November – Civic Service at All Saints, Maidstone

11 November – Memorial Service, Machine Gun Corps, Cheriton Cemetery

17 November – Visit to Maidstone Distillery

3 December – Signing of the Armed Forces Covenant on behalf of FHDC at Westenhanger Castle

6 December – Visit with the Mayor of Dartford

27 January – Holocaust Memorial Service, Garden of Remembrance

28 January – Dinner with the Sheriff of Canterbury

There were no petitions presented.

There were no questions from the public.

(Questions can be found on www.folkestone-hythe.gov.uk from noon 2 days before the meeting, on Modern.gov, under the agenda for this meeting).

Up to 45 minutes is allowed for questions from councillors.

The questions asked, including supplementary questions (if any), and the answers given are set out in Schedule 1, appended to these minutes.

The Leader gave the following announcements:

Thank you Chairman and Good Evening to you all.

Tonight, I am going to talk about the government’s tax rebate scheme and KCC’s Helping Hands Scheme. 

Starting with the Helping Hands Scheme this scheme run by KCC will offer fuel vouchers towards heating bills and essential items related to keeping warm to support households facing financial hardship as a direct result of the Coronavirus pandemic.  This is a separate scheme to the one Kent Support and Assistance Service provide.  They provide crisis funding to lower income households whereas this scheme is aimed at householders who require help with their fuel costs.

There are 4 eligibility requirements

1)     Must be earning below £30,000 within the household

2)     Be aged 16 or over

3)     Live in Kent

4)    Have no savings or support from other sources and whilst not an absolute requirement, loss of earnings as a direct result of covid 19 will be a contributing factor on deciding eligibility.

If eligible they can apply for up to 3 vouchers towards their heating bill or essential items such as boiler repairs, temporary heaters thick curtains or blanket.

If you need to refer someone for this support please direct them to the ‘Household Support Fund’ on the council’s web pages in the first                                                           instance.

Coming onto the Govt Council Tax rebate to help households with the increased cost of energy bills.  This will apply, with a few exceptions, to all Band A – D households.  A government leaflet has been provided for inclusion with the 21/22 tax bills which will be going out shortly. 

How we will pay back the rebate has not yet been fully established although for those that pay by DD that is around 28,000 properties, will be reimbursed through that system.  The rest, about 14,000 properties, will be paid probably by BACS transactions to their bank account.  As I say we are still working out the details of this, the system will be in place for April this year. The reason it is not in place yet, is that we are awaiting confirmation of the system to use from the Government.

Finally, I am pleased to say that our bid to the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund has been successful to the tune of £2 million.

This will enable over 100 of the poorest performing homes to be made more efficient and save 358 tonnes of carbon emissions per year.

Councillor McConville responded on behalf of the opposition. I think the social housing decarbonisation fund is an essential fund to the root cause, the larger reason why we are having to give out this additional money where we can get our social housing, ideally all our housing to a greener standard and to reduce peoples fuel bills can only be an amazing thing.

Any funding we can get to give to our residents is going to be so welcome this year with the current state of the world this year and it doesn’t look  ...  view the full minutes text for item 64.

There is no opposition business.

There was no opposition business.

There are no motions on notice.

There were no motions on notice.

This report concludes the budget setting process for 2022/23. It sets out recommendations for setting the council tax after taking into account the district’s council tax requirement (including town and parish council requirements and special expenses in respect of the Folkestone Parks and Pleasure Grounds Charity), the precepts of Kent County Council, the Kent Police & Crime Commissioner and the Kent & Medway Fire & Rescue Service.

The report concludes the budget setting process for 2022/23. It set out recommendations for setting the council tax after taking into account the district’s council tax requirement (including town and parish council requirements and special expenses in respect of the Folkestone Parks and Pleasure Grounds Charity), the precepts of Kent County Council, the Kent Police & Crime Commissioner and the Kent & Medway Fire & Rescue Service.

Proposed by Councillor David Monk

Seconded by Councillor Mrs Jenny Hollingsbee and

Resolved:

1.        To receive and note ReportA/21/33.

2.        To approve the District Council’s budget for 2022/23 as presented in Appendix 1 to this report and the council tax requirement for 2022/23, to be met from the Collection Fund, of £13,591,730.

3.        To approve that the following amounts be now calculated by the Council for the year 2022/23 in accordance with sections 31 to 36 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 (the Act):

a)    £104,738,915 – being the aggregate of the amounts which the Council estimates for the items set out in Section 31A(2) (a) to (f) of the Act (as in Appendix 2).

b)   £91,147,185 – being the aggregate of the amounts which the Council estimates for the items set out in Section 31A(3) (a) to (d) of the Act (as in Appendix 2).

c)    £13,591,730 – being the amount by which the aggregate at 3(a) above exceeds the aggregate at 3(b) above, calculated by the Council, in accordance with Section 31A(4) of the Act, as its council tax requirement for the year (as in Appendix 2).

d)   £346.97 – being the amount at 3(c) above divided by the tax base of 39,172.25 calculated by the Council, in accordance with Section 31B(1) of the Act, as the basic amount of its council tax for the year.

e)    £3,240,855 – being the aggregate of all special items (including parish precepts) referred to in Section 34(1) of the Act.

f)     £264.24 - being the amount at 3(d) above less the result given by dividing the amount at 3(e) above by the tax base of 39,172.25 calculated by the Council, in accordance with Section 34(2) of the Act, as the basic amount of its council tax for the year for dwellings in those parts of its area to which no special item relates, ie Old Romney and Snargate.

g)   Part of the Council’s area

This report sets out the Housing Revenue Account Revenue and Capital Budget for 2022/23 and proposes an increase in weekly rents and an increase in service charges for 2022/23.

The report sets out the Housing Revenue Account Revenue and Capital Budget for 2022/23 and proposes an increase in weekly rents and an increase in service charges for 2022/23.

Proposed by Councillor Laura Davison

Seconded by Councillor Connor McConville to vote on each recommendation as follows:

1.            To receive and note Report A/21/30.

(Voting: For 27; Against 0; Abstentions 0)

2.            To approve the Housing Revenue Account Budget for 2022/23. (Refer to paragraph 2.1 and Appendix 1 of the report).

(Voting: For 23; Against 4; Abstentions 0)

3.            To approve the increase in rents of dwellings within the HRA on average by £3.52 per week, representing a 4.1% increase with effect from 4 April 2022 (Refer to paragraph 3.2 of the report).

(Voting: For 22; Against 5; Abstentions 0)

4.            To approve the increase in service charges. (Refer to section 3.5 of the report).

(Voting: For 22; Against 5; Abstentions 0)

5.            To approve the Housing Revenue Account Capital Programme budget 2022/23. (Refer to paragraph 4.1 and Appendix 2 of the report).

(Voting: For 27; Against 0; Abstentions 0)

Please note that Councillors Keutenius and Fuller left the room during this item.

This report sets out the Council’s proposed strategy in relation to capital expenditure, financing and treasury management in 2022/23 to be approved by full Council. The report also sets out the Prudential Indicators for capital expenditure and the Minimum Revenue Provision Statement for 2022/23 to be approved by full Council.

The report sets out the Council’s proposed strategy in relation to capital expenditure, financing and treasury management in 2022/23 to be approved by full Council. The report also sets out the Prudential Indicators for capital expenditure and the Minimum Revenue Provision Statement for 2022/23 to be approved by full Council.

Proposed by Councillor David Monk

Seconded by Councillor Mrs Jenny Hollingsbee and

Resolved:

1.         To receive and note report A/21/31.

2.         To approve the 2022/23 Capital Strategy, including the Prudential Indicators, set out in appendix 1 to this report.

3.         To approve the Minimum Revenue Provision (MRP) Statement for 2022/23 set out in appendix 2 to this report.

(Voting: For 17; Against 12; Abstentions 0)

This report sets out the Council’s proposed strategy for its service and commercial investments in 2022/23 to be approved by full Council.

The report sets out the Council’s proposed strategy for its service and commercial investments in 2022/23 to be approved by full Council.

The Leader read out the following statement:

As part of the investment strategy for 21/22 it was agreed that all new investment made will be assessed to ensure they are in line with a shift to zero carbon by 2030. Although this decision is not specifically referred to in the proposed investments strategy for 22/23 members should note the carbon impact of investment schemes forming part of the council’s capital programme are assessed whey they are considered for approval.

The position for treasury investment is considered by the treasury management strategy statement that the council will be considering this evening.

In summary, CIPFA’s revised treasury management code issued very recently now requires local authorities to have regard for environmental or social and governance PSG considerations when making treasury investments. However CIPFA has recognised that ESG considerations is a developing area and further time is required to embed this by local authorities. Following advice from the council’s treasury advisor Arlingclose it is felt impractical to overlay ESG considerations for new treasury investments in 22/23, however this will start to be addressed from 23/24.

Proposed by Councillor David Monk

Seconded by Councillor Mrs Jenny Hollingsbee and

Resolved:

1.         To receive and note report C/21/32.

2.         To approve the 2022/23 Investment Strategy, including the Investment Indicators, set out in the appendix to this report.

(Voting: For 17; Against 12; Abstentions 0)

This report sets out the proposed strategy for treasury management for 2022/23 including Treasury Management Prudential Indicators.

The report sets out the proposed strategy for treasury management for 2022/23 including Treasury Management Prudential Indicators.

Proposed by Councillor David Monk

Seconded by Councillor Mrs Jenny Hollingsbee and

Resolved:

1.         To receive and note Report A/21/29.

2.         To approve the strategy for treasury management in 2022/23 set out in the report is adopted.

3.         To approve the Treasury Management Prudential Indicators for 2022/23 set out in the report.

(Voting: For 24; Against 5; Abstentions 0)

Under the Council’s constitution the Leader of the Council decides on the delegation of cabinet functions. The Leader may amend the delegations at any time by giving written notice to the Head of the Paid Service. Where such a notice is received the Head of the Paid Service must submit a report on the amendments to the next ordinary meeting of the Council. This report sets out the amendments made by the Leader.

Under the Council’s constitution the Leader of the Council decides on the delegation of cabinet functions. The Leader may amend the delegations at any time by giving written notice to the Head of the Paid Service. Where such a notice is received the Head of the Paid Service must submit a report on the amendments to the next ordinary meeting of the Council. The report sets out the amendments made by the Leader.

Proposed by Councillor David Monk

Seconded by Councillor Mrs Jenny Hollingsbee and

Resolved:

To receive and note report A/21/24.

(Voting: For 29; Against 0; Abstentions 0)

The constitution provides that, when an urgent decision is made by the Cabinet or Cabinet Member, for which any delay in implementation, likely to be caused by the call-in process, would seriously prejudice the Council’s or public interest, then the ‘Call-in Rules of Procedure’, Part 6.3, rules 1-6 do not apply.  Decisions, taken as a matter of urgency, must be reported to the next available meeting of the Council, together with the reasons for urgency. 

The constitution provides that, when an urgent decision is made by the Cabinet or Cabinet Member, for which any delay in implementation, likely to be caused by the call-in process, would seriously prejudice the Council’s

or public interest, then the ‘Call-in Rules of Procedure’, Part 6.3, rules 1-6 do not apply. Decisions, taken as a matter of urgency, must be reported to the next available meeting of the Council, together with the reasons for urgency.

Proposed by Councillor David Monk

Seconded by Councillor Mrs Jenny Hollingsbee and

Resolved:

To receive and note report A/21/23.

(Voting: For 29; Against 0; Abstentions 0)