Cabinet - Wednesday 10 December 2025, 5:00pm - Folkestone & Hythe webcasting

Cabinet
Wednesday, 10th December 2025 at 5:00pm 

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  7. Webcast Finished

Cllr Jim Martin - 0:00:04
Good evening, members, and welcome to the meeting of the Cabinet.
This meeting will be webcast live to the internet.
For those who do not wish to be recorded or filmed, you will need to leave the Chamber.
The members, officers and others speaking at the meeting, it is important that the microphones
are used so the viewers on the webcast and others in the room may hear you.
Would anyone with a mobile phone please switch it
to silent mode as they can be distracting.
I would like to remind members that although we all
have strong opinions of the matters under consideration,
it is important to treat members, officers,
and public speakers with respect.

1 Apologies for Absence

So if we can kick off with declarations of interest.
Do we have any, oh sorry, apologies first.
Yes, sorry.
Microphone B - 0:00:56
Sorry, do we have any apologies?
Yes, we've received apologies from Councillor Speaker Moon.
Cllr Jim Martin - 0:01:02
So sadly, Jeremy can't be with us this evening.
He's not feeling very well.

2 Declarations of Interest

So if we can go to declarations of interest.
Councillor McConville.
Cllr Connor McConville - 0:01:14
To declare as a director of Audible Park
and withdraw from item four.
Cllr Jim Martin - 0:01:20
Okay, thank you very much.
Councillor Shrudam.
Yeah, and the same for me.
I'll withdraw from item four.
Cllr Rebecca Shoob - 0:01:26
Councillor Fuller.
Thank you, Chair.
Just on the de -pooling, I live in a council property.
Cllr Gary Fuller - 0:01:34
We don't pay fees, but I've spoken to the monitoring officer
just in case, and it's just a voluntary interest, basically.
Thank you very much, Councillor Fuller.
Any other declarations?
Cllr Jim Martin - 0:01:44
It's a full pack, so it's not surprising
we've got loads of people that are interested.
Okay, thank you very much, everyone.

3 Minutes

So the next item is to consider and approve
as correct record the minutes of the meeting
held on the 12th of November.
Do we have any issues or problems with the minutes?
Any queries, questions?
No.
So I will assign them as a correct record
if I could have a proposer.
Cllr Tim Prater - 0:02:14
Happy to move.
Thank you very much.
I'm happy to second.
Cllr Jim Martin - 0:02:19
All those in favour, please indicate.
Thank you very much everyone.

4 Otterpool Park LLP Transition Plan and Budget 2026-27

Moving on quickly to the first substantive item,
which is item four,
Otterpool Park LLP transition plan and budget,
pages 19 to 40 in the pack.
And who's gonna lead us through this?
Oh, me.
Well that's helpful.
Good.
So as many of you know,
there's an awful lot of work being applied
to Otipool at the moment,
as we work towards our second collaboration agreement
with Homes England,
and we help them try and make sure
and form their strategy for Otterpool Park.
You may recall from other conversations
that the Homes England strategy consists of three steps
in terms of item one is land acquisition,
item two is achieving outline planning,
and item three is updating the master plan.
And so our transition plan and budget
works very much towards that
and seeks to facilitate that.
So I won't say any more.
I'll happy to answer any questions.
The report's very clear.
Happy to take any questions regarding that.
Councillor Butcher.
Cllr Jim Martin - 0:04:12
It was a couple of questions.
Cllr James Butcher - 0:04:19
One was about, I think it's 2 .4, just to explain a bit about what defined market failure means.
And then the second question was about the overview and scrutiny comments and what the
response is planned to be to those comments raised by overview and scrutiny.
Okay.
Cllr Jim Martin - 0:04:36
I can deal with the first one and then I'm going to have to come back to you, Euan.
So the whole, well not the whole purpose,
but one of the primary objectives
of the collaboration agreement that we entered
with Holmes England was for them effectively
to do their due diligence on the site.
Now what we knew at the start
of that collaboration agreement is that
while overall Otipol was profitable,
To get to that profit, one had to invest
a significant amount of money.
And this amount of money really was not available
in the market.
You wouldn't get a Barrett or a Bellway or a Wimpy
to come in and invest that kind of money.
So Holmes England had to go through every calculation,
they turned every stone, they looked at every blade of grass,
in order to prove that to themselves.
And their conclusion was that Otipool was profitable,
but you needed so much money in order to
resolve all of the infrastructure issues,
the wastewater treatment plant, et cetera, et cetera,
that the scheme had to be considered as a market failure
because of the amount of money that is required, what the developers call their lock -up.
So it's the amount of money you have to invest in a site before you're able to start selling
houses effectively.
Does that answer your question, Councillor?
Yeah, okay, very good.
Who, you're going to do, yeah, you and I will take the second part.
Mr Ewan Green - 0:06:32
Thank you, Councillor Butcher.
Yeah, and we had a very good discussion with the OSC,
and previously to that, a very good discussion
at the tasking finish group,
looking at the detail of the heads of terms.
Some of the points that were raised at the OSC,
the committee thought that a bit more granular detail
in terms of the budgets and the way they presented,
so took that on board,
and, you know, we made an important due course on budgets,
and then when we bring this back the next time,
I think we'll spend more time preparing on that one.
In terms of the level of budget required for 25, 26, and 26, 27 in terms of the planning
agreement, that was really a comment around how if the planning agreement is starting
now, how is it being funded?
And what we were able to respond to is that the costs of the planning agreement are partly
in the current budget that's agreed and partly in the future budget as well.
Assessment of key risks, certainly that is something which we're very, very aware of.
and certainly from the LLP's perspective,
they have a risk register
and that's covered up their board,
but also that assessment of risk will be reflected
in the council's corporate risk register.
There's two items for that auto pool there.
So that will be reflected there.
I think the comment about confidence
was a general comment from committee
that they felt that what they'd seen and heard
that there was a general level of confidence
about the project and that things were moving
in the right direction in relation to governments
support and we were very comfortable that committee
asked a question about community engagement
and there has been a bit of a hiatus
because there's a lot of work going on
but not a lot to tell.
But so when the time is right and particularly,
probably when we get to the stage of resubmitting
or submitting additional planning information in March,
we'll certainly go back in with some more
community engagement, perhaps exhibitions
and events to do that.
Cllr James Butcher - 0:08:31
So does a note go back to O 'Hean's scrutiny or was that all verbal in feedback in the
meeting?
Mr Ewan Green - 0:08:39
I think the one thing we're doing now is we're going to start, we are starting to get capturing
actions and feeding back, so it will do at some point.
Cllr James Butcher - 0:08:48
So can we be copied in on that just so that we can complete the circle of seeing what's
in here and then understanding the details?
Oh, of course. Yeah.
Cllr Jim Martin - 0:08:54
Just to reassure cabinet members, you will be with us every step of the way on this.
Over the past two years we've been working very, very hard.
The officers have been really, really, in order to try and engage with Homes England,
to get an engagement with them.
We're now very, very confident that, to quote them, they're all in.
So you will get regular updates.
Up to now, I've really had nothing to update you on,
only that we're talking to Homes England,
we're trying to get them to do this,
we're trying to get them to do that, et cetera, et cetera.
Give me a couple of months and there will be
quite a defined timeline, there will be milestones,
all of those things that we could come back to.
As Ewan said, there's been lots going on,
but not a great deal to tell in terms of achievements.
I'm hoping that that will all change in the new year.
Cllr Jim Martin - 0:10:10
Well, if there are no other questions,
I'm happy to move the report.
If I could have a seconder, that would be,
Councillor Prater to second.
All those in favour, please indicate.
Thank you very much everyone.
And we move on to item five,

5 Infrastructure Funding Statement 2025

the infrastructure funding statement.
2025 pages 41 to 100 in your pack.
And hopefully I'm not gonna speak to this one am I?
I am.
Okay.
Yeah, it's the gym show, yeah, absolutely.
So, yeah, so I'll read you as far as I can
on the introduction, in accordance with the latest revision
made via the community infrastructure level levy
from December 2020, local authorities must publish
an infrastructure funding statement, the IFS.
The IFS document provides a summary
of all financial and non -financial developer contributions
relating to Section 106 legal agreements
and the Community Infrastructure Levy, CIL,
as we know it, within Fosunhive district
for a given financial year.
This report seeks approval of the 2025 IFS
and identifies the infrastructure needs,
the contributions and the choices the authority has made
about how these contributions will be used.
So very happy to open for questions and discussion.
Councillor Prater.
Cllr Tim Prater - 0:11:55
Firstly, I'm very happy to second this
in order to help address that.
I think the only, the significant change in here
is around 3 .3 and I'm really grateful for the team
who've brought forward changes in terms of the transparency
of what we're doing here,
in terms of the apportionment of silk.
I think that the projects which it has gone towards
have been absolutely fine,
but there was possibly less clarity
in the process of how we got there.
And this paper starts to address that.
So that's going to go through as 3 .3 says,
in Agatha overview and scrutiny committee cabinet gets some oversight on that and can make some suggestions of how those things go forward.
And that's really important.
There's some member oversight in there.
There's some member opportunity opportunity for the space for members to put forward proposals,
which not promising they'll take, not promising that they're going to be more important than the things which are already in that schedule for expenditure.
But it gives it gives that clarity and it gives that oversight.
And I'm really pleased that that's been brought forward.
So I'm very happy to second the paper.
Cllr Jim Martin - 0:13:08
Any other questions or queries?
Councillor Blackmore.
Cllr Polly Blakemore - 0:13:17
Yeah, just a question on the schedule.
If a project appears on the schedule,
does that mean it's definitely going to happen?
Because I presume that's not necessarily the case
if there's still significant funding to be found.
So it was just to sort of understand
the status of the projects that make it onto the list.
Cllr Jim Martin - 0:13:39
Well, I think as any project, in particular some months or eight and a half thousand units
up the hill, it's put on the schedule with our intention to do it. But whether or not
it's guaranteed, it is certainly our intention to do what's on that schedule. So the seal,
that's our intention to allocate the seal
in order to deliver those projects.
Cllr Polly Blakemore - 0:14:08
I was looking particularly at public transport.
There's a Folkestone to Shoncliffe link,
public transport link,
which I know has been being talked about for some years.
And I think there's a comment saying that there's funders
to kickstart service enhancement.
And I was just wondering if that's the same project
that's sort of been hanging around for some years
This is something new.
Just to follow up on exactly where that has got, because it takes up a lot of my life,
public transport, and I will hand you to know the detail.
Thank you.
Cllr Jim Martin - 0:14:42
You have gone beyond my level of expertise, Councillor Baitmore.
Mr James Hammond - 0:14:45
Cllr Jim Martin - 0:14:45
James, are you able to offer?
Mr James Hammond - 0:14:47
Yes, certainly, thank you, Chair.
I can speak to that item.
So that specific one is the subject of discussion between officers and Taylor Wimpie, who also
stagecoach as being the principal operator and it's got its own agenda item for the bus
partnership meetings that we held quarterly. It's a key forum for the updates to be provided.
The money has been secured to be 106. It's a big amount that will come through the council
to be paid on to a provider. But at the moment we're working behind the scenes with stagecoach
of the partners at KCC to just define what that service would look like. So we can field
more information back through that partnership, the bus partnership.
Cllr Jim Martin - 0:15:36
Is that okay? Yes, that's perfect. I chaired the district
Cllr Polly Blakemore - 0:15:41
focus group bus partnership meeting, so that's fine. I'm keen to keep tabs on because I know
It's been floating around for some years,
and it would be good to get it tied down and happening.
Thank you.
Thank you very much.
Councillor Blakemore.
Cllr Jim Martin - 0:15:55
Thanks, Chair.
I just wanted to clarify, in the table under 3 .5, table 3 .1,
the FOCA healthcare facility,
Cllr Mike Blakemore - 0:16:03
I thought it was S106 money going into that.
Is it SIL money going into that?
And is that the million pounds, the entirety of it,
going into that project,
or is there another pot of money that's going into that?
Perhaps I can go to...
Sorry, Councillor Blame, I just missed the last part of your question.
Yeah, is there...
Is this the entirety of the money that's going either from S106 or SIL money
going into the healthcare facility
or destined to go into it?
There is a section 106 contribution as well as against development,
Mr Ewan Green - 0:16:41
But the timing and phasing of that contribution
doesn't align right now with the development programme
for FALCA, but certainly would be intentional
that section 106 contribution will come in at some point.
Thank you, so that would be in addition
to this million pounds that's listed here,
or is that basically the same money?
Cllr Mike Blakemore - 0:17:00
Mr Ewan Green - 0:17:01
It would be in addition, and it might not necessarily
go into the FALCA development,
but it will go against health provision.
Very good.
And, oh, Councillor Fletcher.
Cllr Jim Martin - 0:17:12
Yeah, this is Appendix 3, which sets out,
Cllr James Butcher - 0:17:17
oh, it's on page something like 99 on the PDF,
where it's setting out the programme for member engagement.
Is that, because it hasn't got years against the month,
is that this calendar year or next calendar year?
I can't specifically answer that.
Yeah, thank you. That will be effectively next calendar year. So what we've done this
year, the back half of this year, we've kind of caught up with ourselves. So the programme
that you see in Appendix 3 takes effect from January.
Mr James Hammond - 0:17:51
So the various bits, say, involving all portfolio holders, that's to come next calendar year?
Cllr James Butcher - 0:17:55
So maybe just a general principle about tables and things, it really helps just to have – if
you're going to put months to have years as well, just so we know, is that better clear?
Mr James Hammond - 0:18:08
I think the intention is that the programme follows the same process year on year and
it does indeed get from that, which is why we worked hard to get back on track for this
year so that we can...
So then this could be an annual thing?
An annual thing, yeah.
Cllr Jim Martin - 0:18:21
Yeah, I think this very much plays to Councillor Prater's original point in terms of we weren't
great at communicating this particular,
shall we say, area of communication,
and we're delighted now that this is all set out,
and many, many more members actually understand
a little bit more about CIL and how it gets spent.
So are there any further contributions or questions?
So I think I, did I move this originally?
Oh, I think, well, I'm very happy to propose it.
I think Councillor Prater seconded it.
So all those in favour, please indicate.
Thank you very much, members, thank you.

6 Housing Revenue Account (HRA) Service Charge 'de-pooling' for Council Housing

Moving on to item six, the housing revenue account.
Service charge depooling for council housing.
Hopefully I don't have to talk to this one.
Councillor Shroop.
Thank you.
Cllr Rebecca Shoob - 0:19:22
So I will, I know members are probably now
I'm very familiar with this,
but I will give a little bit of background,
hopefully for the final time,
about why we are doing this project.
So this is, obviously, this is,
we need to charge the accurate and actual costs
of services provided in blocks and schemes.
We need to charge those actual costs to the tenants
who are receiving those services.
And this project has been going on for two years
and it's come to light that we have been undercharging
for a long, long time now.
So currently everyone's paying rent,
is actually subsidising services that only some tenants receive.
And you'll see from the report that for next year, if we did nothing,
that would be well over 800 ,000 pounds
that is not being charged for the communal services
that people, some tenants are receiving.
So removing this subsidy and moving to full cost recovery
will mean significant additional income for the HRA
in future years and this will allow us to put that money
into our priorities, so that's investing in our existing stock,
acquiring new homes and continuing to provide a great service to our tenants.
And I want to stress that, you know, if we can invest more in our homes,
then we should be able to drive down some of the service charges,
service charge costs in future, particularly thinking around energy efficiency,
as that is one of the really significant costs
in communal heating and lighting, et cetera.
So the whole project and the move towards
de -pooling the service charges is around creating fairness
and transparency in the costs and following
the best practise as set out by the regulator.
As I am sure you are aware, it is long overdue.
We are behind in this.
95 % of council landlords across the country have done this already.
So in terms of consultation, this has been the cabinet overview and scrutiny, the strategic
tenants advisory panel, as well as the full tenant survey, which happened after the previous
cabinet meeting when we discussed this.
And you'll see the results are in the appendix.
And out of that affordability,
not unexpectedly came out as a key issue for people.
And I know that's obviously an issue for all of us.
It's something we have reflected on considerably.
So implementing the scheme, the approach has changed
since the last time it came to cabinet.
when we were looking at a cap as a way of phasing it in.
But following consultation and further discussion,
we're now looking at full cost recovery,
going straight to full cost recovery,
but with a generous scheme to provide assistance
for up to three years for people that are going to need help
transitioning to paying full cost.
In the paper you will see there is a fund allocated 350 ,000 over three years.
That is to be funded from the additional income that will be coming to the HRA through passing on the full costs.
Obviously, we want to stress that anyone in receipt of housing benefit or the housing
element of universal credit, the service charge is covered by benefit.
For anyone that is paying their own rent and service charges, the tenant support fund,
and note the change in name.
In the paper it's referred to as the transition support fund
but following discussion with STAP,
it was felt that tenant support fund
was a much simpler, plain English way to call it.
So that, you'll see from the paper,
there'll be 75 % assistance on anything,
increase over ÂŁ5 in the first year and then phasing to 50 % and 25 % so that by year four
hopefully everyone is then in a position to pay the full cost. There will however be discretion
available so that anyone that's really struggling and needs support above and beyond the standard
help available, about 75 % in the first year.
Officers will have discretion to award more
if that in extreme hardship cases.
I want to point out as well the welfare team
is going to be available to help anyone
that needs assistance and will be able to look
at their individual situation in the round
and hopefully that will be a way to address any longer term issues and maximise income
wherever possible. There will be flexibility built into the scheme, we'll be monitoring
progress throughout. We're not anticipating necessarily that the full 350 ,000 will be
needed, but that said, we'll have to monitor what happens in reality and respond accordingly.
So, very happy to move the recommendations.
Thank you very much, Councillor Shrew.
Cllr Jim Martin - 0:25:50
I won't repeat everything that you've said,
but just to emphasise a couple of points for me.
We are, the de -pooling has been going on for 15 years,
as far as I know, so we are well behind
the kind of the flow here.
So this is something that has to happen.
And the other point is the fundamental unfairness
of the pooled system in so much as some of the,
you know, the poorest people in our community
are subsidising other people, is fundamentally unfair.
And this is not gonna be an easy transition,
but I think it's a transition that morally we have to do
because of that simple unfairness of the system
that we currently work.
Last thing I would say is that this is an item
that we as a group have taken ownership of.
So I've been very pleased the way that we have worked
as a group with regard to this particular complex issue.
And I'm very, very happy to second
and open it up for debate and discussion.
Councillor Fuller.
Just a quick query on the Tenant Support Fund.
Cllr Gary Fuller - 0:27:11
I presume we're gonna make sure that all of the affected
tenants are aware of it, either through
out their online housing account or something like that,
or indeed the tenant's newsletter.
Cllr Jim Martin - 0:27:27
I think as Jill Butler said at the briefing,
there will be intense communications.
Sorry, do you want to add anything to that?
As we have the experts in the room, we might refuse them.
Folkestone & Hythe Officer - 0:27:39
Yeah.
Yeah.
We will be sending a targeted letter in January
to all affected tenants,
which will give them an indication
of what the increase is likely to be.
And from that, they can contact us via the housing services team,
in the income team and Andrea's welfare team
to ensure that we're providing support
for those that need it the most.
There's also going to be some included actual costs
that will be provided as part of the rent increase letters
that are sent at the end of February, beginning of March.
That will also set out the exact costs
and the same thing again where they contacted, et cetera.
So there's quite a bit of information out there.
We're also going to proactively target, or the team will proactively target those with
the highest increases to see if we can give them or if they need any additional support
from that.
Cllr Jim Martin - 0:28:43
Andrew, would you like to add anything to that?
Thank you, Jay.
Mr Andrew Hatcher - 0:28:48
I think Aaron Richards summed that up quite nicely, and I'd like to sort of reiterate
that point at the end.
We will actively go out and certain units where we know the charges are going to be
We will work with the independent living officers, for example,
which the team already have that relationship built up,
so we'll continue to build on that.
And once we have all the information, we can then act upon it.
And the support can start earlier, though we can start awarding,
until obviously the charges are there.
We can then start to look at their income and expenditure situations
and maximise their benefits
and other things that might be entitled to as well, early doors,
once we're aware of who these people are.
Because a lot of these residents won't necessarily be those on benefits,
as kind of Shu said, so they might not be people
aware of currently, so it's a new way for us to support more people as well.
Cllr Jim Martin - 0:29:31
Thank you very much. Councillor Prita.
Cllr Tim Prater - 0:29:35
I really wanted to thank Rebecca and Andy and Richard and Andrew and the entire housing
team, and apologise for the ringer we've put them through over the course of the last
few months on this. And I know that we have, we've had briefing and we've pushed back
and the first questions and the scheme has evolved
and I'm really grateful to everybody
who's been involved in listening to that
and evolving the scheme and coming up with that.
What that's meant is that we've ended up
with a larger tenant support fund
than we started with.
We end up, I think, we hope, on our projections,
we'll end up with more money going towards our housing stock
so we'll be able to repair more,
the world can fix more.
And we've included with them more flexibility
within the talent support fund,
that if there are issues in the really worst case scenarios,
our welfare team have the flexibility to help
in whatever way we need to do.
How about taking those, that's what I think.
So we have listened,
they have listened to the points which have been made,
they've come back, I think they've reacted
and come back with a better and a more flexible scheme.
As Rebecca said, there's an estimate in there in terms of the amount of financial support
that the support scheme will need over the next three years.
But we'll judge that as we're going through.
We've agreed that in a year's time, about a year's time, we'll see a report in terms
of how that's going.
And if that needs more money, or if that needs less money, or if we're pretty much in it,
then we'll react to that.
So we understand that there are gonna be people
who are nervous about this, we're nervous about this.
We understand that we're gonna have to see how it goes
as we're putting it in place
and make sure that we are supporting people
in the way that they need support.
And I'm confident as ever with Andrew's team
that that, Andrew's team and my housing team,
that that is gonna happen.
And that we're not going to assume
that this is a one and done.
We are going to watch it.
and if things need changing, we'll change them.
But the benefit, as Rebecca said,
of some more of that additional money going in there
is that a number of these fees and charges
are about things that we need to fix
in the communal areas in blocks,
things that we can make better,
ways that we can spend that money
to reduce those charges in the first place.
And our ideal world is that those charges
would be a lot lower anyway,
and therefore there'll be less people
having to pay them anyway.
So I'm really comfortable, really grateful for the direction this has taken over the
last two or three months.
And again, I apologise.
Andy in particular gave me a good staring at one stage in this process.
I'm grateful I could outrun him, but it was only during the period he was off his
feet.
So thank you very much, and I'm very comfortable supporting this paper.
Councillor Scufflin, will you indicate?
Cllr Stephen Scoffham - 0:32:38
Well, Councillor Prater, in his usual eloquent way, has said all the points that I was going
to raise.
I've been very impressed by the amount of care and detail which has gone into devising
this really complicated scheme.
And it's not a one -size -fits -all.
It's actually looked at absolutely forensic detail, at different groups, different people,
different buildings, different circumstances, and tried to anticipate the way that it will
actually play out on the benefits system. We have had some very detailed discussions
around this and it has been a real privilege to be part of it and the team has responded,
as Councillor Prita said, very thoughtfully to a whole range of things which have been
thrown at them in the discussions that we have been having. I am very happy to support
It's a very thoughtful paper which has been as difficult.
It may not work out perfectly, but it's difficult to know how...
It's as good as it can possibly get, I think.
Cllr Jim Martin - 0:33:36
Thank you very much.
Are there any other comments or contributions to make?
Cool. So, Councillor Stroub moved the paper.
I was very happy to second.
All those in favour, please indicate.
Thank you very much, everyone.

7 Council Tax Reduction scheme 2026/27

Moving on to item seven, Council tax reduction scheme 2627,
1392242 in your pack.
And Councillor Prater is gonna lead us through this.
Cllr Tim Prater - 0:34:09
Thank you, Leader.
Yeah, I'm a bit proud of this.
It's not often that you get,
I'm proud of what we do every day in this chamber.
So sometimes you're doing things which are just principled
and sometimes you are dealing with a whole level
of pragmatic and weighing up what the worst
of the options is.
This is actually a good thing.
We are, I hope, in the next few minutes,
going to do something which is actually the right
and principle approach.
It's something that I became a cabinet member
for revenue and benefits in February 2020.
That's five and a half years.
It will feel longer for Andrew,
who's enjoyed my company all the way through that journey.
And it was something which we were looking at,
that when I came on, we were starting to talk about then,
but was not something that we could achieve.
And of course, the council tax reduction scheme,
it sounds dull.
Anybody who's looking at this agenda at this moment
has not picked this up and gone,
this is a interesting and sexy and principled decision.
And I know it sounds dull, but it's not.
What this scheme does, it helps people on low incomes
pay less council tax.
And I think that's a really important principle.
So what's changing is that we'll be giving more support
to the working age households who need it most.
Now, pension aid households could already get up to
100 % support this government policy.
And we're equalising that for those working age households.
And again, I think that's an important principle as well.
Actually, I think we should treat everyone equally
in that regard.
So instead of trying to make some people pay
at least 25 % of council tax, whether they can afford it or not, where they can't, where
the most needy households will now actually get 100 % discount and will stop trying to
chase money that they just don't have.
While we've wanted to do this in principle all the way through, but pragmatically there
was a cost and we were always going to have to justify that cost. And then this year,
due to a mix of things, we managed to get the stars to align so that we could bring
this forward today.
One of the stars to align was that in April we brought in the second home premium, which
the government has allowed us to do, which effectively doubled the council tax on unlet
second homes.
Now that's in line with other councils across the country.
It's allowed by government because it's the incentive to increase the supply of first
homes available to people locally.
And when we introduced that second home premium, we outlined our intent then.
In the report which we brought forward on that on the 24th of January 2024,
we said that the council will also explore using any additional income generated
to consider increasing the support offered to low -income households
via the council tax reduction scheme.
Any decision will be subject to further consultation and agreement
with county councillors and major preceptor.
Now, there is a caveat in this, is that plot twist, we meant it,
and we're delivering what we said.
We have consulted on it and Kent County Council
have sent us no response whatsoever.
However, we're going ahead.
And the additional income of about ÂŁ310 ,000 a year
at the second home scheme just about outweighs
the total cost of the improved Council Tax Reduction Scheme,
which sits at about ÂŁ282 ,000.
Also, as a note, just to say in the papers
that were on the website.
I was delighted to see in Appendix 4
an easy read version of this scheme,
which was awesome to be there.
There has been an amendment to that issued
during the course of the afternoon
because I read it and screamed and called Andrew.
The number, the cost to the council at the bottom
was incorrect originally.
It should now read $281 ,687
as opposed to mirror a million that it said earlier.
the wrong number was on there.
So before James got there, we found that number,
we fixed that number.
It is the 281 ,000 pounds that we discussed before,
and that's why that's how it balances
against the second home option.
And the other star which aligned in terms of doing that
is that up until now, up until last year,
Kent County Council were helping fund collection officers,
are helping fund officers to districts across the county
in order to support those who are on the lowest income,
effectively to get additional support to pay the 25 %
that they couldn't really afford to do,
which was a fairly twisted scheme,
but that was the way it worked.
And then they removed that funding,
so we haven't got the officers in place
to do that piece of work anymore.
And when I say it's twisted,
bear in mind that what we have here is a scheme
which says, okay, you're the lowest possible income band
that we can see, you're earning less than a thousand pounds
a month in your total household.
So we're going to charge you 25 % council tax,
but we're gonna have a scheme for you.
And that scheme will allow you to apply
by filling in an entirely different set of forms
and going through an entirely different set of hoops
with a member of Andrew's team,
we might be able to give you up to all of that money back
in order to pay your council tax.
Which sounds like an administrative nightmare
because it is an administrative nightmare.
But now Kent County Council aren't funding the staff
in order to go through that administrative nightmare,
there is no way that we can do that,
and therefore we need to simplify the scheme
in order to actually make sure
that people are getting the support that they need.
Now, we're not the only county council,
the only council in Kent making this move.
I understand that pretty much all of them are doing so.
Randomly, I got a Facebook advert from Dover yesterday
consulting on the same scheme.
Why do I think that advertising to me about this scheme
is interesting?
I don't know, but their algorithm needs a little work.
But we are pretty much the first to get to this point.
We're the first one to have gone through the consultation,
bring the paper to cabinet, and I'm really proud of that.
I'm only getting to move this proposal,
and I'm delighted to be able to do so,
but the legwork on it has been done by our officers
and the teams there.
Principally Andrew Hatcher, who after five and a half years
of my begging has finally succumbed
to putting this paper together.
So thank you for listening to my begging, Andrew.
And also to Alan for helping to make this possible.
He would be perfectly reasonable for the section 151 officer
to turn around and go, please don't spend money on this.
But he agrees as well that this is the right thing
to do in principle and pragmatically the right thing
to do as well at this time.
And I really appreciate the support of all officers in terms of delivering that.
So this is a good news storey.
We are doing a good thing in here.
I would really look forward to the support of cabinet colleagues in terms of taking this
forward to Council.
I'm really hopeful that Council will also see this as absolutely the right move for
our area, that we are targeting giving more financial support to the people who need it
most in our district, dealing with the cost of living crisis
and assisting in a really practical, useful way.
So I'm happy to move.
Clearly if there are any detailed questions,
Andrew and Alan are on hand for those.
Thank you very much.
Cllr Jim Martin - 0:41:41
Councillor Prater, yes, very happy to second
and reiterate your sentiment
that this is the right thing to do.
So very, very happy to open it for questions and queries.
Councillor Fuller.
I stole my thunder, but I'm still going to say it.
Cllr Gary Fuller - 0:41:59
I'm really happy to see an easy read version.
Also, just to note that although KCC
didn't get around to responding,
we did have the two consultation responses.
And broadly, their response was,
please don't take money away from us,
whilst ignoring the fact that we'd just given them
an extra lump of money thanks to the second home scheme.
So, should people reading about this policy
be worried about police funding or fire funding?
and they should be assured, yes,
assured by the fact, or reassured by the fact
that that funding has already increased
and that therefore the police and fire authorities
are not really taking a hit.
They're just not getting another increase this year,
in essence.
Thank you very much.
Councillor Blakenore.
This is really good to see, a really positive scheme.
Fantastic.
Cllr Polly Blakemore - 0:42:50
I just had, you mentioned that we're at the vanguard of introducing a scheme compared
to our neighbours.
I'm just wondering what this kind of means for April 2028, if such be the date, in terms
of harmonisation with this scheme and other schemes in whatever unitary we end up in.
Yes, thank you.
I'm happy to answer that.
Mr Andrew Hatcher - 0:43:20
Yeah, other councils are a similar time to us,
waiting for cabinet decision as we are here today.
Ashford are a similar time frame,
and Swale and a few others.
And percentages are either 100 % or 90 %
being offered depending on the council
and obviously what the support is from the cabinet.
So, but our neighbours are going to be very close.
I think most have gone asking for what we've done today
and proposing that.
Obviously that can always change
when it comes to this stage or indeed a full council.
But the intention was always to push for 100 %
across the board, where councils could agree again
with their finance officer support, crucially,
and their cabinet.
And this is a decision I've made without discussing it
with our neighbours, rather than the benefits
and revenues leaders across Kent.
We've been discussing this for several years,
and obviously crucially since the Kent funding disappeared,
it obviously became very important for us to see
if it was worth doing and yeah, that's why we're at this stage.
So we're all aware of what we're all doing and there's small tweaks with a neat scheme
because obviously each council has its own priorities and extra special bits.
But it was bearing in mind when we came to this stage that by 2028 we're going to have
to align anyway.
So we're trying to get closely to that as we can at this stage.
So those conversations have happened in the background as well.
Thank you very much.
Cllr Jim Martin - 0:44:41
Councillor Bightmore.
I also welcome the scheme. I think it's really, really good and absolutely the right thing
Cllr Mike Blakemore - 0:44:47
to do. I just wondered on the second home premium, presumably the intent of that is
that you have fewer second homes. So does that mean that pot of money is going to shrink
have we projected what the impact of that is going to be?
Cllr Jim Martin - 0:45:02
Mr Andrew Hatcher - 0:45:07
Potentially. Looking at the second homes this year, they haven't dropped off dramatically,
which, well, for a finance point of view is encouraging.
Not necessarily bringing the homes back in use,
but a lot of second homes,
although there was a lot of noise about earlier on in the year,
it has quite known a little bit since then.
And I think a lot of people who have second homes,
except they have the second homes and they're not disputing that now,
we kind of got past that stage.
The second homes you kind of have in the system now are second homes.
And those that are, like for sale and things,
they are not included in those figures because they're an exception anyway now.
So if those come out of the list, they do.
Obviously, there will be small movements within it,
but we don't envision major moves in those second homes,
unless obviously something dramatic happens in the market.
But yeah, so as it is now,
it's probably going to be reasonably consistent,
I would imagine.
Councillor Butcher.
Cllr Jim Martin - 0:45:59
Yeah, just to add my thanks and appreciation,
I think it's really brilliant that we're doing this.
Cllr James Butcher - 0:46:05
And I think also just to pick up on the second home premium,
I mean, no one's gonna welcome having to pay that,
but if you're paying it and it's going towards something
really clear and changeable and good,
rather than it just disappearing
into the general council coffers,
I think that really, really helps
in terms of transparency and reasonableness.
And just to add appreciation for the easy reaping,
I think it's so brilliant to see that.
I'd love to see it more upfront,
because it's quite a long way before you come
and realise that after however many pages you've gone through,
there was actually an easy to read version.
Love to see that up front, or if it can't go up front,
at least to say, right at the beginning,
easy to read version here.
Because I think just the way people's brains work,
you want the summary first, and then you know
what you're slotting all the detail into.
And I think it's partly for our benefit
for making good quality decisions,
but it's also, if these are, I've said this before,
but if these are public documents,
how on earth were people supposed to make sense
of these kind of 400 page PDFs
with that kind of thing.
So it's brilliant to see and really appreciate that.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Councillor Troop.
Cllr Jim Martin - 0:47:08
Thank you.
Yeah, echo everyone's comments.
Cllr Rebecca Shoob - 0:47:14
It's a brilliant thing to be doing.
For me, there was a lot of food for thought
in the comments, in the consultation appendix.
And one really stood out for me.
It seems too good to be true.
I think this is a really brilliant example on a micro level of using a tax on wealth
to benefit those really struggling.
It does show that things don't have to be the way they are and that we can change things.
I think as with so many things that support the most vulnerable in our communities, ultimately
It benefits us all, just for starters,
that it will save this council time and resources,
chasing debts from people that don't have the money to pay.
Obviously, as a local council,
we're obviously limited in what we can do,
and we all know council tax is long overdue and overhaul.
But I think, yeah, this is a brilliant thing
that we can be doing, so we're very, very happy to support it.
Councillor Scuffland.
Cllr Jim Martin - 0:48:26
Cllr Stephen Scoffham - 0:48:28
I'll try and say my piece in one sentence, which is it's difficult to think of a policy
which would reach 5 ,000 households.
We've got about 50 ,000 households in the district, so this policy will benefit or bring benefits
to up to 10 % of the population in our district.
And it's brilliant.
Cllr Jim Martin - 0:48:49
Thank you very much, everyone.
and Councillor Prater proposed.
I seconded.
All those in favour, please indicate.
Thank you very much, everyone.

8 Fees and charges 2026/27

And the next item is number eight, fees and charges.
Councillor Prater.
Cllr Tim Prater - 0:49:11
It doesn't really feel very fair that this is my report,
but I'll move it anyway,
because obviously this is everybody else's report
because your portfolios have in some way
to set these fees and charges.
However, obviously the key headline in this paper
is that on the whole, the only thing,
the major change to the fees and charges here
has been the CPI increase, and that is all.
So it's 3 .6 % pretty much across the board.
I don't think, I haven't seen that there are a number
of exceptions within the paper in terms of things
which have been frozen, or are less than the CPI.
So, and the reasons are given for those instances.
There are a couple of new fees which are proposed.
I particularly enjoy the description under 2 .13 of a sexual entertainment
venue.
A new fee is proposed and will follow on completion of a benchmarking exercise.
Now, quite what the benchmarking is in terms of sexual entertainment venues, I don't
know, but I'm looking forward to receiving more detail on that.
But apart from those, the fees are broadly in turn in line with the CBI, with exception
of one of the other ones which has been frozen. I'm delighted that Polly has successfully
managed to do freeze. You're not having it. I'm getting there first. Frozen the resident's
car park permit for another year. So, again, and for both people who are watching
this broadcast at the moment, I can't stress it enough.
If you are a resident of this district, the resident car parking permit at 80 pounds
a year or, indeed, 20 pounds a quarter is an absolute bargain.
And if you park in the district more than once a week and don't have one, you're
doing something wrong.
Get yourself one of these things, and the cost of it won't increase next year, and you should have one.
Aside from that, as said, we have done our best to hold fees and charges income,
fees and charges at no more than inflation throughout.
I thank everybody for their work in terms of doing that.
We don't like having to increase fees and charges, but without getting that additional
income, that would mean that there would be services that we could not deliver in the
area because our costs have gone up as well. The cost of delivering things have gone up
by inflation because that's what inflation does. So that's why we have to go through
this process. We have looked at each of them individually and taken them seriously. I thank
every portfolio holder for doing so. I look forward to the POMI also explaining the advantages
of the residential car parking permit now. Happy to move.
Cllr Jim Martin - 0:51:57
Well, I'm very happy to second and open it up for discussion or questions or further
explanation.
Councillor Blakemore, over to you.
Cllr Polly Blakemore - 0:52:13
I was going to back down, but I am going to say it anyway, that I did work hard to get
that residents parking permit frozen again.
So yeah, as Councillor Prater says,
if you haven't got one, you're missing out.
So don't know how long we're gonna be able to freeze it for
so get in there this year.
Cllr Jim Martin - 0:52:35
Just in passing, again, I would like to thank
Councillor Blakemore for the work she puts in
in this really time consuming and energy sapping area
about our business and I will always be grateful for your contribution, Councillor Blakemore.
If no one else, I certainly understand what a major contribution it is. So thank you for
all of us, for everyone in the district for the work that you do. Sorry, back to the paper.
Any other questions or queries? Oh, Councillor Busch.
Cllr James Butcher - 0:53:15
I was just going to ask, in 215, it talks about a fast track proposed. And I wondered
is that a new principle that's being established that some people can get a... I mean, it sounds
like some people can get a better service if they pay more, which sounds a bit different
to a cost recovery principle, which I understood that's what you were sticking with, so...
Cllr Jim Martin - 0:53:33
I will have to defer to Alan.
Ewan, yep.
Mr Ewan Green - 0:53:41
I think it's a new principle, it's different,
but it reflects what happens across other councils
and reflects feedback from the development industry
when we engage with them.
So it's an additional offer that we're going to be putting
as part of the planning service.
With a view to supporting development coming forward
as quickly as we can to the housing.
Cllr Jim Martin - 0:54:03
Cllr James Butcher - 0:54:08
I sort of get the pragmatics of that. It just feels like a different principle is being
established rather than cost recovery. Because I guess the fastest service doesn't cost any
more to deliver, does it? And it's the same service, just somebody gets it faster than
somebody else. So isn't that just a hue management?
Mr Ewan Green - 0:54:25
Not necessarily, because it might be about how we engage support to bring things forward
so there might be additional fees required to do that.
And indeed, other things may slip, you're right,
but the principle would be about applying more resources
to the application at that time.
Jonathan, please then.
Cllr Jim Martin - 0:54:41
Thank you, Chair.
Jonathan Smith - 0:54:43
So I mean, the Fast Track service only applies
to certain items, so household applications
for Planning Commission, household proposed
lawful development certificates,
details pursuant to conditions where the application
is for one condition, and only where a decision
can be made without the need for external consultation
and any non -material amendments.
There are some specific criteria that it applies to.
And in the case of householder applications
like extensions, garages, and servatories,
the service would be clear that any determination date
would be subject to no need to elevate
to a planning committee.
And so the service has provided some additional detail
behind this that, yeah, just,
there are sort of elements that it applies to
in terms of the service.
Cllr Jim Martin - 0:55:28
Does that spoil your query, Councillor Puchet?
Yes.
I just have another.
Very good.
Can I carry on?
Yes, for sure.
Certainly, David.
Appendix 3.
Cllr James Butcher - 0:55:42
I'm just trying to understand.
So, I understood from the report that CPI at 3 .6 % is being used.
So, should that mean then that everything,
because it's just got type of inflation, CPI or frozen,
one or two bespoke ones. But it, I mean, you haven't sort of specified in there
what percentage is being used each time, but on the face of it, it looks like something
is going up by different percentages.
Please do, Charles.
Cllr Jim Martin - 0:56:13
Thank you, Councillor Butcher.
Jonathan Smith - 0:56:17
So, yeah, the, in terms of the rate that's used, we, I mean, the fees and charges
policy is Appendix 1 to just sort of discuss about sort of rounding as well. So we have
to a CPI percentage, but also for operational reasons,
there's an appropriate level of rounding
that's applied to it.
So it might be to like the nearest 10p,
it might be to the nearest pound.
And so those sort of fluctuations obviously
need to be factored in, which is why we mentioned
on the schedule we say CPI and then put rounded in brackets
because there is an appropriate level of rounding
that's been done to those fees and charges
just to make them sort of operationally sort of effective.
But say if you don't mean I'm just looking
at almost the first one, short -stay,
Cllr James Butcher - 0:56:53
upper payers park. It's the same point I raised with politics. So it's car parking
Cllr Mike Blakemore - 0:57:01
has to go up by a 10p unit so in effect if you were paying a pound for parking
you'd pay one pound 10p for parking because we can't increase it by less
than 10p. So unfortunately it does mean that parking charges go up by more than
CPI until you're parking for several hours at which point it would then match
or you get a resident permit and then you don't have to pay.
Cllr Jim Martin - 0:57:31
It just shows the level of expertise within our cabinet, which is astounding.
Cllr Jim Martin - 0:57:42
Is that okay, Councillor Butch?
Is that the only?
Cllr James Butcher - 0:57:49
to the 3 .6 % with a bit of rounding?
Thanks, yes, so yes, it's basically that you have
the rounding, but you may have, for example,
as I said, other operational reasons.
Like for example, in terms of the metres, for example,
there'll be certain restrictions,
we can't do anything about those.
That's why we use the term rounded,
because obviously we do that exactly where possible.
and obviously minimise any movements,
but it's an operation that we have to,
in certain instances.
Thank you very much.
Jonathan Smith - 0:58:21
Cllr Jim Martin - 0:58:22
We have a proposer in a council operator.
I was very happy to second.
All those in favour, please indicate.
Thank you very much, everyone.

9 Oportunitas - 24/25 Full Statement of Acccounts and Q2 progress report 25/26 to 30 September 2025

And we move on to opportunities, item nine.
24, 25, full statement of accounts and quarter to progress, report 25, 26 to September 2025,
pages 295 to 330 in your pack. And Jonathan is going to lead us through this one. Right,
good stuff. Over to you, Jonathan.
Jonathan Smith - 0:59:04
So this report outlines the opportunity to us companies audited statement of accounts
for financial year ending the 31st of March 2025 and also provides an update from the
board of opportunity limited the company on activities undertaken during the first two
quarters of 2526 financial year including a projected out term for the profit loss account
for the period to the 31st of March, 2026, compared to the original forecasted
budget. And this is based on activity up until the 30th of September, 2025. The report
is in line with the requirement contained within the shareholders' agreement regarding
or between the company and the Council.
Important to highlight in the report is that the, I mean, it contains information about
the loan restructure at paragraph 3 .5. The accounts have been externally audited and
and approved by the board at its board meeting
on the 26th of November, 2025.
And paragraphs 4 .4 to 4 .6 outlines the position
with respect to shareholder benefit
and updates on the revised business plan for 26 -27,
which will obviously both come forward in due course.
Taking some of the appendices in turn,
so the Appendix A, which relates to the 24 -25 accounts,
the set of accounts provided at Appendix 4 to Appendix A,
so Appendix 4 to the board pack,
which are taken forward,
are those which the auditors have confirmed
as true and fair, that's the statement of accounts.
So I will draw your attention to the letter of comment,
which is provided at appendix three to appendix A,
page two of that.
It highlights the changes that were required
to the accounts, and from this you'll see that most
of the balance of the movements
relates to the loan restructure.
The only other large item is a double counting
of an insurance premium which was processed twice.
This was an unfortunate human error,
and we are considering how best to avoid recurrence
of that. Of course, the auditors picked up on this and it's since been corrected. And
the remaining items are relatively trivial and largely common items that are seen in
the course of an audit. In terms of the 25 -26 Quarter 2 reporting, this report obviously
contains the Quarter 2 projections for the company. There's not too much to highlight
and save the small movement in rental income related to the new LETS and sort of some one
of costs relating to large maintenance items at Claremount Road and then the impact on
and the known restructuring reversal.
And so long as obviously tight cost control
is maintained by the company,
it will be beneficial for the UN position.
Happy to take any questions.
Cllr Jim Martin - 1:01:34
Very good.
We'll open this one for debate and discussion.
Any questions?
Councillor Breyer.
Cllr Tim Prater - 1:01:43
Just a quick one on the point of detail.
And it's mainly to the monitoring officer, I guess.
One of our, the recommendations here is that we are
the annual accounts to April 25th.
Counsellor Butcher was the chair for that year of opportunitas and was a director
and the chairman of that, and we should at least be noting that previous interest,
I think.
I don't know whether that should be something that he shouldn't vote on or matter
because I don't have an issue with that.
I just, a little concerned that there was an interest there.
The interest no longer applies, but it kind of does,
doesn't it, because we're marking his homework.
So I just want to get with the military officer
and make sure that we record this correctly.
Ewan, would you like to comment on it?
Cllr Jim Martin - 1:02:33
Mr Ewan Green - 1:02:34
Thank you.
I think on the basis that there has been the change,
I think it would be probably appropriate
to record a voluntary position on this at the moment, and then I think that gets us
back on track. That's okay.
Cllr Jim Martin - 1:02:58
Councillor Butcher, are you happy with that?
Yes.
Cllr James Butcher - 1:03:03
Cllr Jim Martin - 1:03:03
Cllr James Butcher - 1:03:04
Cllr Jim Martin - 1:03:05
So we will record a declaration of prior interest, as it were, not a current interest, but just
for the sake of completeness.
So thank you very much for that.
Any other questions or queries?
Oh, Councillor Butcher.
I probably ought to know the answer to these on that basis.
No, really.
Cllr James Butcher - 1:03:25
But I was just looking at the profit and loss account.
Which I think is page 316 in the package.
Just want to understand,
because there's been a substantial drop,
I think, hasn't there, in the cost of turnover.
So from 13 ,500 down to 4 ,912.
So I just wondered if there's anything significant we should be aware of that's contributed to that,
or it's just one of those fluctuations that we tend to see.
Jonathan, would you like to offer an explanation?
Thank you, sir.
I think the cost of turnover will relate to sort of a number of items.
I would need to cheque the detail, but it might have to do with the provision of some of the
services, for example, some of the grounds maintenance.
But of course, there's lots of fees that are split between the cost of turnover and also
the administrative expenses line as well.
So there are a number of movements.
In terms of the specific detail of that, I could find out the specifics behind that number.
But of course, in terms of the overall position in the budget, it may be that there's just
been some normal movements.
As we know, the cost of turnover and even the administrative expenses are probably the
ones that have the items that we are most in control of the company in terms of the
demand that might be flowing through those particular items.
Thank you very much.
I'm going to guess it's just a general question I've asked before about how, you know, when
we're looking at the kind of hundreds and hundreds of numbers in a report like this,
which are the ones that we ought to be honing in on and what are the changes?
And it's quite difficult, I think, to how do we satisfy ourselves collectively, the
companies in the sort of shape it should be.
So I appreciate that.
You know, that may not be a key one, but it's one that I'm telling.
The other question I was going to ask about was the letter about, from Begbie's, which
you now can't find, about the loan.
So that's page 305, where it talks about the loan agreement not having been ratified.
And I wasn't sure I'd sort of heard that language used before, that although the loan
and restructuring had been agreed by the board
and by cabinet, in some ways it hadn't been ratified.
So what's the ratification process
that hasn't been gone through,
and kind of was there a reason that it hadn't gone through?
Yeah, just clarify that if you would.
Thank you, Chair.
The ratification of the load obviously is,
Jonathan Smith - 1:06:09
it requires a formal agreement
between the council and the company,
and it's about having or ensuring
that is all also the agreement is fully signed, completed,
and also all comments were completed.
And at this stage, there was not the,
we hadn't gone through the entire process
of completing all of those items.
Obviously a draught, a full draught had been prepared
by solicitors and all and the like,
but it hadn't been fully completed and ratified,
and which is a government's requirement,
obviously in terms of dealing with these legal agreements,
certainly between the council and the company.
Cllr Jim Martin - 1:06:45
Cllr James Butcher - 1:06:49
I'll say to Zumi then once we've sorted out all the complexities around everything, then
we'll go back to that process.
Thank you very much, everyone.
Cllr Jim Martin - 1:06:56
If there are no further questions or queries, I am very happy to move the report if someone
would care to second.
Councillor Prater, thank you very much.
All those in favour, please indicate.
Super.
Thank you very much, everyone.
Moving on to item 10, quarter to performance 25, 26, and presumably this is Councillor
Proycer.
Cllr Tim Prater - 1:07:25
Always.
As ever, I didn't do the work on this.
It's led by Gavin and I remain hugely grateful for it.
They went to the Finance and Performance Subcommittee a couple of weeks ago, and they
had a few questions, but I don't think that there was anything substantive in terms
of questions and responses to come out, so that they were happy with the answers
that they received, because, as we know, this is an ongoing performance report,
and there will be another one along in two or three months' time before the end of
me reassurance in this report is that if everything was green in here and we didn't have to do
anything, that would terrify the hell out of me, because we'd either set our targets
wrong at that stage or we were measuring it wrong.
What's really important is that we are actually looking at things realistically, that we are
happy to say out loud sometimes, happy to say out loud when things aren't working and
what we are doing to fix it. And that particularly you can see that in sections in the report,
for instance, around 2 .4, where we know we've missed target on things like temporary accommodation,
homelessness prevention, rough sleeping, stuff like that. And we're doing something about
it. Literally at our last meeting, we made an agreement, you know, making an investment
in that which will help to start to address the issues which are there.
So the report and the appendices and the numbers within it,
I think flag up where we've got issues.
They also flag up where we have successes.
And certainly knowing some of the compliance areas,
Gary might wave a flag for some of those in a second.
I'm enjoying spiking other people's input there.
So again, the report's in front of you.
any detailed questions, absolutely Gavin is going to cop for because he enjoys that very much.
But I'm very happy to move this report. I think it is showing that we are on the whole
moving the way that we want to. But as I said, if any time Gavin turns around and goes,
we're green on everything, I'm going to question how, because we should be
challenging ourselves to be better. And that's what this report does every quarter.
Cllr Jim Martin - 1:09:48
Thank you very much, Councillor Proctor. I'm very happy to second – sorry, Councillor
Fuller, would you like to second?
Cllr Gary Fuller - 1:09:57
I would be very happy to second, yes. I shall tell you why. Yes, as Tim, even though I stole
Cllr Gary Fuller - 1:10:04
my thunder, I am very pleased to see that in information governments and complaints
we have a range of green ticks, thanks to the fantastic work of the team, lots of things
improving on the previous year as well, which is brilliant.
Just to be fair, the only slight fly in the ointment
is we do seem to have more complaints than last year.
But I'll blame that on every other service area.
We're still managing those complaints really well.
So yeah, just thanks to the team for all the hard work
and for continuing to sort of deliver on the improvements
that they've managed to find.
Terrific.
Cllr Jim Martin - 1:10:48
Any other questions or comments on – Councillor Fletcher.
Just to pick up on Gary's point about improvements, because I think when you first look at it
Cllr James Butcher - 1:10:56
and you say, okay, this is a green tick, we've met our target, and then when you look at
the far left, not only have we met the target, but also improved on – and I just wonder
if there's a way, at some point, of looking at how one highlights that, whether it's
a double tick or a – I don't know what.
But it – or you – what's that?
Okay, got it.
Thank you, yes, got that.
Cllr Jim Martin - 1:11:21
Great stuff.
Okay, thank you very much, everyone.
So, Councillor Prater proposed,
Councillor Fuller seconded.
All those in favour, please indicate.
Thank you very much, everyone.

11 Q2 General Fund Capital Prog Monitoring 2025/26

And we move on to quarter two,
General Fund Capital Programme Monitoring 2526, pages 363 to 378 in your pack.
And Councillor Prater will lead us through it.
Cllr Tim Prater - 1:11:54
Not in any great detail.
I don't know if Alan has any detail to add to it.
You will remember from Council we amended the Capital Programme with putting in a number
of elements at our most recent meeting, and that's mentioned within this. Clearly, there's
a considerable amount of capital expenditure happening this year as we move all of the
bricks in Folkestone alphabetically to the left. And that process continues, and there's
a considerable amount of expenditure on that. But unless Adam has any detail to flag within
in this, the monetary report is as in front of you, a number of capital areas, a number
of capital projects getting towards completion, and the variances are set out on that report
under 3 .2. I don't know if either Alan or anyone else wants to have any detail.
Cllr Jim Martin - 1:12:55
Thank you very much. Would you like to add anything to that, Alan?
Mr Alan Mitchell - 1:12:59
No, no, Tim's covered it very well.
Just obviously in paragraph 5 .2, he just points out in terms of the variances,
a number of projects have been reprofiled and just given some detail effect in that paragraph.
Thank you, Chair.
Cllr Jim Martin - 1:13:16
Thank you very much.
Cllr Tim Prater - 1:13:21
So are you happy to propose this, Councillor Proater?
Definitely thought I'd proposed that, but I recall I didn't.
So yes, I'm very happy to do that.
Cllr Jim Martin - 1:13:27
I'm very happy to second.
If there are no further comments or contributions,
could you please indicate?
Thank you very much, everyone.

12 Q2 General Fund Revenue Budget Monitoring 2025/26

Cllr Jim Martin - 1:13:43
We go on to quarter two,
general fund revenue budget monitoring 25 -26,
pages 379 to 390,
and Councillor Prater will lead us through it.
Cllr Tim Prater - 1:13:58
Again this has been too scrutiny, out of finance and performance for scrutiny. We'll have a
look at this. The headline is written in the summary of this and says, and it's not a headline
that makes easy reading, but at the end of quarter two the financial position shows a
projected year -end unfavourable position of ÂŁ435 ,000 from the net revenue budget of 22 .3
We, what is important is that, again, with, when you're doing monitoring like this,
is that you are watching what you are doing and that you are monitoring it and
you're being careful and that you then take the appropriate action in terms of dealing
with things. The reason for that under the Fable position is set out in the paper,
and one of the key reasons for that is the previously mentioned temporary accommodation
costs. It's not the only one, but it's one of the significant drivers to that. I can
promise that Alan is all over this. I think it was last week where he said that that is,
you know, a primary focus for the backside of this year is to try and help manage that
overspend back down again appropriately. But there are only certain levers that we've got,
but it's a primary focus as we look ahead.
But the variances are there in front of you.
Again, I think it's important that when you're marking
your homework at this stage is that you do it honestly,
and then you watch what you're doing,
watch what you're doing,
and take the necessary corrective action.
So it's not a perfect picture.
It's moving back in the right direction.
I think it was a slightly higher variance
at the end of quarter one that we were projecting, I think,
and has moved slightly back in our direction.
I hope it's going to move further back in our position
by the time we get to the year end.
Not promising, it's a projection, not a science,
but I'm happy to move the paper which is in front of you.
And again, thank Alan and the team for all the work
in terms of the monitoring that goes on.
Cllr Jim Martin - 1:15:58
And again, Alan, do you have anything to add
to Councillor Prater's introduction?
Yeah, thank you, Chair, for you.
Mr Alan Mitchell - 1:16:05
So this is obviously the second quarter.
Second quarter can be quite a tricky one because where we are in actually in terms of financial
year, in terms of, you know, a lot of projects are still anticipated to be delivered, but
as we move through the year, they're refined in terms of either profile or costs.
So what we tend to, when you see with the quarter three come back, that's one that we
really can like is a real metric in terms of where we're going to be towards the end
of the year.
But I think the team have done an awful lot to try and improve the clarity of the report
to make sure that it's as easy read as possible.
We will look to do an easy reversion as well.
I think that's actually a point that we can pick up.
But I think hopefully the report makes it very clear in terms of where we are financially
and the challenges that we currently face.
Thank you, Chair.
Thank you very much.
Cllr Jim Martin - 1:16:59
Are there any questions or – Councillor McConville.
Thank you.
Cllr Connor McConville - 1:17:03
Yeah, I'd just like to echo Tim's thanks to yourself, Alan, and the entire team.
I mean, it's quite stark.
You know, if you look at 1 .4, where it says that the unfavourable variance was nearly 1 .3
million, but obviously the work you've done, especially with readjusting like MRP payments,
you know, has been able to bring that down.
As Tim knows, that's the big issue of mine for a couple of years.
So it's great that since you and the team
have been in place, we've been able to address those
to the benefit of the council.
So thanks very much.
Cllr Jim Martin - 1:17:39
Are there any further questions or queries?
So I, Councillor Prater, would you like to propose this?
Oh, you did, you did, I'm sorry.
I've omitted to second.
So I'm very happy to second this.
So all those in favour, please indicate.
Thank you very much, everyone.

13 Q2 HRA Budget Monitoring 2025/26

And we move on to item 13,
quarter two, HRA, budget monitoring report 2526,
pages 391 to 400.
And it's Is it Councillor Shrew
who's going to take us through this? Thank you.
Thank you.
Cllr Rebecca Shoob - 1:18:22
So this report provides projection
On the revenue expenditures in the capital programme of the HRA,
as at the end of September this year,
you'll see in section two, on the revenue side of things,
there's a ÂŁ19 ,000 overspend,
and that is largely due to items that were reported already
back in quarter one.
On section three details the capital budget.
There's currently an underspend projected just under 6 million in the capital programme
that's largely due to delays in building works, which has slightly delayed acquisitions, but
I think we're still on track to bring them into the HRA stock as soon as possible.
So I'd like to move the recommendations.
Cllr Jim Martin - 1:19:20
Thank you very much, Councillor Fubbe.
I'm very, very happy to second the report
and open it for questions or queries.
Very much a steady as she goes kind of report, this one.
Would you like to add anything, Alan?
No, nothing at her turn, this one.
Mr Alan Mitchell - 1:19:41
Cllr Jim Martin - 1:19:42
Terrific, okay, so Councillor Shrew proposed.
I was very happy to second.
All those in favour, please indicate.
Thank you very much, everyone.

14 Q2 Treasury Management Monitoring Report 2025/26

And we move on to item 14,
quarter two, Treasury Management Monitoring Report,
25 to 26, pages 401 to 420 in your pack.
And Councillor Prater, for the last time tonight,
will take us through it.
Cllr Tim Prater - 1:20:09
For the last time tonight, you probably won't.
I'd like to thank Danny for this report,
which is as ever is detailed and comprehensive.
You can see the detail, which effectively is how the investment and Treasury
management markets are moving. There is a great deal of commentary around that.
There is some commentary around the local context in Section 3.
But broadly, our Treasury management, despite the fact that we have a significant
amount of debt in terms of where we've borrowed in order to buy land, for instance,
But effectively, our borrowing costs and our investment income are broadly equal, despite
the fact that we have quite significant net borrowing. And that's magic. And it is to
the huge credit of Danny and the finance team that that magic works. And long may it continue
to do so. I'm grateful for their work. And it's not done by tricks. It's not done by
It's done by all of the words in this report and all of the management done within them.
Again, I don't know if Alan's got anything to add in terms of the detail on this, but
I'm very happy to move it.
Cllr Jim Martin - 1:21:24
Alan, would you like to add anything to that?
Mr Alan Mitchell - 1:21:27
Just really to say this is one of the SIPPA -recommended reports that we bring to yourself during the
year.
And I think what it clearly demonstrates is that there's significant controls over both
our borrowing and our investment and actually we're running particularly well in terms of
our boundaries and where we need to be in terms of our targets. I think the – I'm
very pleased in terms of our borrowing position. I think that's been well managed and running
in accordance with the budget and as well as our investment. I think we're obviously
quite a risk -averse authority, so obviously our investment opportunity is, you know, quite
and I think the return to that actually that we are receiving overall is actually pretty
positive. So I'm happy with the current position. Thank you, Chair.
Cllr Jim Martin - 1:22:15
Thank you very much, Alan. Councillor Foy.
Cllr Gary Fuller - 1:22:23
Thank you, Chair. Just a note that's good to obviously see the sustainable development
goals mentioned in the report and the fact that we are aiming to invest ethically sort
of within those goals.
Cllr Jim Martin - 1:22:36
Thank you very much, Councillor Fuller. I'm very happy to second the report. Just to say
that although this is often a kind of very foreign area for me, I was extremely pleased
in all of the number crunching that KPMG did for local government reorganisation to find
out we're sort of top of the bottom third in times of our borrowing, which demonstrated
to me that it compared with other Kent District Councils. So I was very pleased to know that
our prudence was paying off. So thank you very much to all of the finance team.
So Councillor Prater proposed. I was happy to second. All those in favour, please indicate.
Thank you very much everyone,
and that concludes our business for this evening.
And happy Christmas to you all.