Folkestone Parks and Pleasure Grounds Charity meeting - Wednesday 21 January 2026, 4:15pm - Folkestone & Hythe webcasting

Folkestone Parks and Pleasure Grounds Charity meeting
Wednesday, 21st January 2026 at 4:15pm 

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  1. Folkestone & Hythe Officer
  2. Cllr Tim Prater
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  1. Ms Jemma West
  2. Cllr Tim Prater
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  1. Mr Andy Blaszkowicz
  2. Cllr Tim Prater
  3. Cllr Jeremy Speakman
  4. Mr Andy Blaszkowicz
  5. Cllr Polly Blakemore
  6. Mr Andy Blaszkowicz
  7. Cllr Tim Prater
  8. Cllr Connor McConville
  9. Mr Andy Blaszkowicz
  10. Cllr Connor McConville
  11. Cllr Tim Prater
  12. Mr Andy Blaszkowicz
  13. Cllr Tim Prater
  14. Cllr Tim Prater
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  1. Cllr Tim Prater
  2. Mr Andy Blaszkowicz
  3. Cllr Tim Prater
  4. Cllr Mike Blakemore
  5. Mr Andy Blaszkowicz
  6. Cllr Mike Blakemore
  7. Mr Andy Blaszkowicz
  8. Cllr Tim Prater
  9. Cllr Jeremy Speakman
  10. Mr Andy Blaszkowicz
  11. Cllr Connor McConville
  12. Cllr Tim Prater
  13. Cllr James Butcher
  14. Mr Andy Blaszkowicz
  15. Cllr Tim Prater
  16. Mr Andy Blaszkowicz
  17. Cllr Tim Prater
  18. Webcast Finished

Folkestone & Hythe Officer - 0:00:00
Cllr Tim Prater - 0:00:09
Good afternoon, everyone. Slightly unexpectedly, good afternoon and welcome to the meeting
of the Folks and Parks and Pleasure Grounds charity. This meeting will be webcast live
to the internet for both viewers. For those who do not wish to be recorded or filmed,
please leave the chamber. For members, officers and others speaking at the meeting, it's important

1. Apologies for absence

to use the microphones because they are used so viewers on the webcast and others in the
room may hear us and would anyone with a mobile phone please switch it to silent mode as they
can be distracting, I'm told.
In the absence of Jim, without apologies, I have been promoted to this chair, so we
will continue through the meeting.
I'm expecting somebody to signal him stomping down the corridor any minute, but we will
laugh.
That was him.
So we'll go to item one, apologies for absence.
Ms Jemma West - 0:00:59
We've not received any apologies this evening, Chair.
Cllr Tim Prater - 0:01:01
That's great. In that case, we'll see where we go.

2. Declarations of Interest

Item 2, declarations of interest in any item on this agenda.
As silence came to reply, we will keep going through.
Item 3, the minutes of the meeting of the 15th of October 2025, they were as circulated
with the agenda items, are people happy that they were a true and accurate record?
I've got a proposer from Trustee McConville and a seconder from Trustee Fuller, and all
those in favour please show that he's unanimous. Thank you very much.

3. Minutes

4. Events Policy

Then we'll go to item 4, the events policy, and I will hand over to that to Andy. Thank
you.
Mr Andy Blaszkowicz - 0:01:49
Thank you, Chair. The events policy was last brought to the trustees in 2023, where it
was previously approved.
A review of the policy has been undertaken
to ensure that it is up to date,
and additions have been made to the policy
to reflect current processes and procedures.
These include making the event organiser
more accountable for specific items
such as insurance cover and the level of documentation
that is required when submitted an application
via the event management system.
The policy also outlines that a 50 % charge
will be made for set up days for events
as previously this was not included.
This will clarify the charges for organisers.
A track change version of the old policy and new clean policy are included in the pack
for your consideration.
Following the approval of the policy by the charity trustees this evening and later this
evening by cabinet, the document will be sent by email to all of our regular event organisers
to advise them of the changes in the document and it will be published on the Council's
website.
Happy to take any questions.
Cllr Tim Prater - 0:02:46
Opening it up to Councillors.
Trustees, Trustee Speaker.
Cllr Jeremy Speakman - 0:02:49
Just a very small point on the event application, which has now got the event management plan,
risk assessment, et cetera.
Is that a pro forma online or something?
Is there a process for that particular?
Mr Andy Blaszkowicz - 0:03:04
Yeah, the event application will author over all the information that needs to be provided.
It's just downloaded?
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Okay.
Cllr Polly Blakemore - 0:03:17
Yeah, just a quick question on, I think it's paragraph 7 .2.
Just out of interest, if we cancel an event due to poor weather, does the applicant get
a refund of their application fee?
I don't suppose it happens very often, but I was just interested in the process.
Mr Andy Blaszkowicz - 0:03:38
I can't remember where it has happened previously, but I imagine in those circumstances, yes,
we would refund.
Cllr Tim Prater - 0:03:47
Trustee McCombbell.
Thanks.
Cllr Connor McConville - 0:03:50
Just curious, the safety advisory group, the representatives, are they the same representatives for a fixed period of time?
Or do you just sort of meet every sort of, so often when there's a number of applications and it's just whoever is sent by the organisations to attend?
Mr Andy Blaszkowicz - 0:04:06
We have the same reps from the council.
I don't attend, so I couldn't actually tell you who attends from the other organisations,
but there'll be someone there from police, depending who it is.
And the SAGs are generally called, depending on the events, they're not periodic, they're
called depending on the events.
If there's an event which is big enough to have concerns, then a SAG will be called in
order to consider that event and the measures that have been put in place to mitigate any
risk.
Cllr Connor McConville - 0:04:34
And no.
Okay.
Cllr Tim Prater - 0:04:41
I'll offer two to cover for Colin while he comes up with that.
Firstly, under 8 .3, we say council land.
This is clearly the trustee's, Parks and Parks trustee's meeting though.
Presumably where it says council land throughout this policy, it means council and or charity
land.
and would it be helpful if it said so or are there any areas where it's divisible?
Mr Andy Blaszkowicz - 0:05:04
It does mean charity land and council land. Refer to under -council land, I think, as far
as members of the public are concerned. I don't think we really need to differentiate,
unless of course trustees would like us to.
Cllr Tim Prater - 0:05:17
I think as to this as a trustee, this is our policy. It would probably be worth mentioning.
But it doesn't need to say council. It doesn't say every time. I just thought it would be
if it said it once that when we say counsel,
we mean counsel and or trustee,
just because at some stage there's going to be a,
there might be a separation between those two bodies
and therefore it would be easier to separate
if there was a clarity on that.
The second point was just to note with satisfaction,
the excluded events clause, so 6 .1.
So for instance, where people are often concerned
that whether events that give away animals as prizes
are allowed on counsel and no, they are not,
this policy says so, where people are concerned that there are balloon and lantern
releases that may happen from counselling.
That is not a acceptable use policy, and it is good to see that that is written
down there. So thank you for those exclusions there. I've got nothing to add to them.
I just want to note that they're there and happy with them.
Cllr Tim Prater - 0:06:12
As we seem to be exhausting, I'm happy to move the recommendations here.
I've got a second.
I'm going to Trustee Blakemore on this, okay? Trustee Munklebakemore.
Are there any other questions, comments or elimination on this item? All those in favour,
please share. That is unanimous. Thank you.

5. Folkestone Parks and Pleasure Grounds - Update report

Cllr Tim Prater - 0:06:46
Great. In that case, we move to Item 5, the Folks and Parks and Place Round Update Report.
Andy.
Mr Andy Blaszkowicz - 0:06:53
Thank you, Chair. This report provides the Board with a six -monthly update in relation
to all those decisions taken by the Chief Officer for Corporate Estate and Development
since July 2025, together with any other matters that are relating to charity land. The recommendations
of the report are to receive and note the report and to agree that the Chief Officer
of Corporate Estate and Development be given delegated authority to agree a new lease rent
of Little Switzerland campsite if it's valued in excess of £30 ,000 per annum.
Updates for the coastal park include an update on the new play area where the winning bidder
has been appointed. Works are expected to commence following completion of the cliff
stabilisation works and be complete in time for the summer holidays. A further update
is provided on the leases for the beach huts. Since the report was written, officers have
been dealing with the aftermath of storm Goretti where a number of the beach huts were displaced
and damage. All of the tenants have been notified, beach huts have been re -sited where possible
and works are underway to commence necessary repairs. Enquiries have been made with the
Council's insurers to ascertain whether these costs can be recovered.
Updates for East Clifton Little, Switzerland include an update on the lease for the campsite
at Little, Switzerland and the current position following land movement on the Warren campsite.
With regards to Little, Switzerland, officers are currently negotiating a new lease. This
This is expected to be higher than £30 ,000 per annum, so the trustees are asked to provide
delegated authority for officers to proceed.
With regards to the Walring campsite, it is proposed that this is permanently closed due
to the issues highlighted in the report and allowed to rewild.
Officers are in discussion with Canterbury Archeological Trust regarding a new lease
for 2026 through to 2028, and creative folks are seeking new three -year leases for two
of the latest triennial artworks.
Radner Park works have been completed to open up the inside of the Radner Park lodge and
a tenant has been secured for the cafe paying an annual step rent commencing at just under
20 ,000 per year. And finally, the statue of Fodson's patron saint has her new head and
has been returned to her former glory. Happy to take any questions.
Cllr Tim Prater - 0:08:57
Trustee Mike Letmore.
One question, one observation.
Cllr Mike Blakemore - 0:09:02
It's a very far -sighted report,
because it talks about decisions taken since July 26th,
which is remarkably far -sighted of us.
But, not that smart ass remark.
I was interested in the, sorry, the old campsite.
Lost the name of it now.
The Warham campsite.
So, just that we're going to let it go back to nature.
So, I just wondered, obviously, it mentions in the report
about there having been some vandalism there
and people getting in there.
So, is that likely to happen again in the future?
Are there still things which could potentially be dangerous?
Are we having to spend money to put that right?
And I'm just wondering, is it going to be fenced off
in the way it is now?
Will it be open for people to access that area?
And then further to that, I know there's a lot of people
go and park down that very narrow road where they're not supposed to, would we want to,
is there scope for allowing people to park on that old campsite area to alleviate that
problem on the road where people park there and people who want to go and use the beach
down there, could they conceivably park there?
That was it.
Thank you.
Mr Andy Blaszkowicz - 0:10:19
I'll have to come back on some of that because I don't have all of the information.
I'm not aware that there's anything else there that can be particularly vandalised.
I think it's all being done, to be honest.
The land movement there is basically prohibitive to future users.
You've lost a lot of the campsite anyway.
And despite me badgering the team to see if we can open it up or not,
because obviously it's an income generating asset
and we'd like the income for the charity,
and it's also an asset for the Wharram and a good place to stay,
it really isn't usable.
The works that Network Rail are currently doing on the apron aren't going to do anything
to particularly stabilise the campsite and with obviously the electricity cables and
water main issues that I've had down there.
The cost to value ratio of putting it, trying to put it back together and then doing any
land stabilisation works far outweighs any income that we can get.
So basically that would apply to parking as well.
access road really isn't in a condition that should be driven down and the campsite itself
has experienced serious land movement.
So as I say, we have lots of inquiries about it all the time and we have to turn people
away which is a shame.
But I say the cost to value ratio of putting it back together just wouldn't be viable for
the charity.
Cllr Mike Blakemore - 0:11:40
I just wondered about parking because obviously I completely agree the state of the road is
terrible.
People drive down it anyway, don't they?
And then park on it,
which potentially creates additional problems.
So I just, maybe it'd be better just to close the road
to vehicles and so that they can't do that.
But I guess that's not a decision for us.
Mr Andy Blaszkowicz - 0:12:04
It's something that we have looked into previously
with access and closing, particularly to prevent
and then motorcycle access and stuff for people at the Warren and then we get complaints about
accessibility from other users. So it's a balance now. But I'll ask the team and see
what can be done.
Trustee Spingman and then the Com.
Cllr Tim Prater - 0:12:27
Cllr Jeremy Speakman - 0:12:29
Yeah, just a couple of questions. I was following on actually from a previous comment. The Warren,
I mean there's network rail involved but I assume it's Ireland. I mean, would that, you
were talking about returning to nature, is that something that would come under the management
of the White Cliffs partnership or not necessarily, I mean is that part of that land?
It would fit into the wider Warren estate, yeah.
It would be part of that, okay.
And the other question I have actually is relation to the beach huts.
So I noticed that you said there's been some antisocial behaviour done.
I just wonder what nature that is and whether it's under control.
Is that a particular problem?
It's been a bit of an issue.
Mr Andy Blaszkowicz - 0:13:04
I'm not sure exactly what this bit relates to, but I'm aware of some damage previously
to the ones with the flat roads, the stepped ones that go up the cliff.
So I think it's generally under control, but I don't think we've got too much of an issue,
but it's just worthy of mention.
Just move the recommendations.
Cllr Connor McConville - 0:13:27
Cllr Tim Prater - 0:13:30
Councillor Butcher.
Thanks, Jay.
Yes, just again on the rewilding bit of that.
Cllr James Butcher - 0:13:36
I mean, what's the reality of that with the current toilets
and the buildings and so on?
I mean, what are we thinking that's going to look like
over time?
Because I guess rewilding sounds as if it's going to kind of
return to nature, but it's kind of for,
yeah, what happens to the buildings and all that ending.
Mr Andy Blaszkowicz - 0:13:54
Again, I'm going to have to come back to you on that,
but I'll follow up after the meeting.
Cllr Tim Prater - 0:14:01
Just to note that the leader and Councillor Scotham have joined us, both of whom have
just learned that it said 4 .15 on the agenda. Just back on the one side, because Andy's
going to continue to enjoy this, totally understand the position. It's no longer going to be stable
enough for camping, get that, can't get cars down there, get that. The building
which is there under the toilet block and what was effectively the shop -stroke
reception facility for it, given the fact that the Warren is a very well -used area
and there are issues around litter and toilets and, well, buying an ice cream,
is there any scope in repurposing that building so that it supported that sort of
thing as opposed to anything else? Again, in a, what do you call it, a building
presumably whereby income made from the creation of a kiosk there would support the costs of
a public toilet or something like that.
Mr Andy Blaszkowicz - 0:15:02
Again, I look into it, I think it's unlikely. I think another issue down there on top of the
water main and the electricity supply is that the main septic tank which serves all of the buildings
is now about four metres away from a reasonably major landslip. So again, it's going to cause us
further problems and this comes back to the cost of trying to regenerate the area and
from what you would get from a lease of it just wouldn't have a viable payback period.
But again, I will look into it and come back.
Cllr Tim Prater - 0:15:35
Okay. I'm going to come up with that because there's exactly no lines about a septic tank
and land slip and what that could lead to. I'm happy to second the recommendations on
that basis. Are there any further questions or comment on this section?
In that case, all those in favour of the recommendation, please share. That is again
unanimous with the exception.
It is now again unanimous.
Thank you.
I think that concludes the business of this meeting, and cabinet will convene at 5 o 'clock.
Thank you for playing.