Council - Wednesday 6 May 2026, 7:00pm - Folkestone & Hythe webcasting

Council
Wednesday, 6th May 2026 at 7:00pm 

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Share this agenda point
  1. Cllr Anita Jones
  2. Microphone Forty
  3. Cllr Anita Jones
Share this agenda point
  1. Dr Susan Priest
  2. Cllr Anita Jones
Share this agenda point
  1. Cllr Tony Cooper
  2. Cllr Anita Jones
  3. Cllr Anita Jones
  4. Cllr Tim Prater
  5. Cllr Tony Cooper
  6. Cllr Tony Cooper
  7. Cllr Anita Jones
  8. Cllr Tim Prater
  9. Cllr Anita Jones
  10. Cllr Tim Prater
  11. Cllr Anita Jones
  12. Cllr Anita Jones
Share this agenda point
  1. Cllr Paul Thomas
Share this agenda point
  1. Cllr Paul Thomas
  2. Cllr Adrian Lockwood
  3. Cllr Paul Thomas
  4. Cllr Nicola Keen
  5. Cllr Paul Thomas
  6. Cllr Adrian Lockwood
  7. Cllr Paul Thomas
  8. Cllr Nicola Keen
  9. Cllr Paul Thomas
  10. Cllr Tony Cooper
  11. Cllr Paul Thomas
  12. Cllr Tony Cooper
  13. Cllr Paul Thomas
Share this agenda point
  1. Cllr Paul Thomas
Share this agenda point
  1. Cllr Paul Thomas
  2. Cllr Tim Prater
Share this agenda point
  1. Cllr Tim Prater
  2. Cllr Paul Thomas
  3. Cllr Adrian Lockwood
  4. Cllr Paul Thomas
  5. Cllr Adrian Lockwood
  6. Cllr Paul Thomas
  7. Cllr Tim Prater
  8. Cllr Paul Thomas
  9. Cllr Adrian Lockwood
  10. Cllr Paul Thomas
  11. Cllr Jim Martin
  12. Cllr Paul Thomas
  13. Cllr Paul Thomas
  14. Cllr Tim Prater
  15. Cllr Paul Thomas
  16. Cllr Jim Martin
  17. Cllr Paul Thomas
Share this agenda point
  1. Cllr Jim Martin
  2. Cllr Paul Thomas
  3. Cllr Paul Thomas
  4. Cllr Tim Prater
Share this agenda point
  1. Cllr Tim Prater
  2. Cllr Paul Thomas
Share this agenda point
  1. Cllr Jim Martin
  2. Cllr Paul Thomas
  3. Cllr Tim Prater
  4. Cllr Paul Thomas
Share this agenda point
  1. Cllr Liz McShane
  2. Cllr Paul Thomas
Share this agenda point
  1. Cllr Abena Akuffo-Kelly
  2. Cllr Paul Thomas
  3. Cllr Abena Akuffo-Kelly
  4. Cllr Paul Thomas
Share this agenda point
  1. Cllr Abena Akuffo-Kelly
  2. Cllr Paul Thomas
  3. Cllr Abena Akuffo-Kelly
  4. Cllr Paul Thomas
  5. Webcast Finished

Cllr Anita Jones - 0:00:01
Microphone Forty - 0:00:02
Good evening. If you would like to join me in this time of prayer, I warmly invite you
to respond with our men after each prayer. So if you'd like to let us pray. Tonight,
Lord, we give you thanks for Anita's time as chair of this district council for all
that she has done to represent the best of our district and forge links with different
communities. We ask you to bless Lord the incoming chair. May they continue that good
work of advocating for the people of our district and inspiring us to always work together for
the common good of all. Amen. Father, we give you thanks for all the work of our counsellors
and council staff. As Jesus taught his followers that the greatest call is that to service.
So, Lord, we thank you for the work of the councillors who serve the people they are
elected to represent and whose voices and views they strive to make known.
And thank you for the ministry of all the council staff who work tirelessly to serve
the people of the district and make this a thriving and flourishing place to call home.
May the staff and councillors always find joy and reward in their work.
Amen.
As our nation looks ahead to many local elections, we pray for all those standing for office.
May all those elected look to the example of this district council, as this has been
a space for rigorous discussion, helpful oversight and accountability, all for the good of the
people of this district.
Amen.
And as always, Lord, whether in our prayers, our hearts or simply our thoughts, we bring
before you all those whom we serve, the people of our district.
We ask you that you would bless them this night, giving joy where there is sorrow, community
where there is isolation, food where there is hunger, warmth where there is cold and
peace for all.
Amen.
Thank you.
Please take a seat.
Thank you.
Good evening and welcome to the annual council meeting.
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.
Cllr Anita Jones - 0:02:34
For members, officers and others speaking at the meeting, it is important that the microphones are used so viewers on the webcast and others in the room may hear you.
Would anyone with a mobile phone please switch to silent mode as they can be distracting.
I would like to remind members that although we all have strong opinions on matters under
consideration, it is important to treat members, officers and public speakers with respect.
Thank you.

1 Apologies for Absence

So moving on to the agenda, item 1, apologies for absence.
Dr Susan Priest - 0:03:03
Thank you, Chair.
Evening, councillors, colleagues and members of the public.
We've got two apologies for absence this evening
from Councillor Davison and Walker.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Cllr Anita Jones - 0:03:15
So welcome everybody to our meeting.

2 Election of Chair of the Council

It's my opportunity to say thank you to people.
So if you'll excuse me, I have a few words to say.
So thank you to everyone for giving me the opportunity
over the last two years to represent
Folkestone and Hyde District Council as your chair.
It has truly been an honour.
It has allowed me to discover more about our amazing,
diverse, and vibrant district and to support all the people
who work hard to make it a fantastic place
to live and work.
I have also had the opportunity to network outside
of our district, which as we head towards LGR,
is more important than ever.
Our neighbours need to be our friends,
and we need to understand and learn from each other
so that we can work together in the future
to benefit all our residents.
One of my aims when I became chair was to establish a youth forum in the district.
I am delighted that we have now seen two cohorts of young people from secondary schools across the whole district come together for our youth forum.
The forums have covered a whole range of topics that interest and concern the young people,
in addition to challenging us as councillors and scrutinising what we do.
By engaging with this age group in this more meaningful way,
we have grown in understanding as a council.
Many other district and borough councils have been interested in our forum,
and I hope that this will become a feature of the new Unit 3 Authority.
Thank you to the team here that have supported the initiative,
and also to the councillors who have taken part,
particularly Councillor Mike Lakewell,
Councillor Stephen Scoffin and Councillor Rebecca Shub.
One of my green aims as chair was to plant more trees around the district.
I have taken part in WIP planting initiatives, some more successful than others.
Thank you to those of you who helped.
I look forward to seeing the results over the forthcoming years.
I was keen to use this position to raise money and awareness for local charities.
I set out two years ago that I would encourage members to bring a food donation to full council
meetings for the Rainbow Centre.
Thank you to everyone for supporting this small but vital way of donating.
It's a good example to set. Bringing a tin or packet often feels easier than
donating money that can make a big difference to the lives of many people
in our district. I was also delighted that we raised a significant amount of
money for the Rainbow Centre through our very cold sleep out. Thank you to
Councillor Martin, Pateron, Polly Blakemore for joining me. My civic service and the
In addition, I was pleased to raise money for the South Kent Mind,
alongside Councillors Mike Blainmore and Councillor Tim Prater,
taking part in a fire walk. That was a bit warmer.
Councillor Jim Martin and I also raised money for the Folkestone High Scouts
and St Leonard's Church by abseiling off the St Leonard's Church Tower last year.
So, that was exciting.
I've supported our five town mayors in their charity fundraising events.
We are lucky to have some amazing mayors and councillors working hard in their towns.
I would like to thank the outgoing town mayors and congratulate those who are currently being
elected for the coming year.
I have lots of people to thank for helping me and supporting me over the last two years.
Firstly, my family.
Steve and my two sons have taken turns to accompany me to a number of events.
They have also put up with the unusual time commitments this position has required.
Thank you to Reverend Michael Darkins for leading us in prayers at the start of each
full council. Prayers have been meaningful and reflective and set a good tone for the
meetings. Thank you to Gemma, Jake and Alex for supporting me with my diary bookings,
council meetings and any other questions I've had. You're a fantastic team. Thank you to
Dave for ensuring that I arrive at the right time in the right place. I know that my dog
Luna will particularly miss the handful of treats that Dave brought with him each time
he picked me up. I've given all of them gifts to thank them and I've already done that,
so I thought that would be easier. And I'll just say, please forgive me for the cactus
gifts. As you know, I am very fond of green things that grow. I personally find house
plants challenging to keep alive, but I hope these should be resilient and long -lasting.
Finally, I would like to thank all the councillors for being an amazing group of people to work
with.
Despite our political differences, we have worked really well together over the last
three years.
Our common goal of working together for the good of our residents and communities is what
has made us a strong and effective council.
I am proud of all the work we have done together and plan to do in our final year.
Thank you.
I am going to be standing down and I would like to call for nominations for the chair
for the next municipal year.
Do we have any nominations?
Can I suggest a couple of polls?
Cllr Tony Cooper - 0:08:24
Cllr Anita Jones - 0:08:26
Do you have a seconder?
He does.
Councillor Prater to second.
Cllr Tim Prater - 0:08:32
Cllr Anita Jones - 0:08:32
Would you like to give a speech in support?
I certainly would.
Cllr Tony Cooper - 0:08:42
Basically, I have discovered that the amount of under -chairs would be inaccessible to me.
I think Paul, who comes from the Marsh, would be an excellent candidate and a good ambassador
for the district.
Thank you.
Cllr Tony Cooper - 0:08:53
And Councillor Proter, is there anything you would like to add?
Cllr Anita Jones - 0:08:55
Cllr Tim Prater - 0:08:58
Yes, I am delighted to be able to second Paul this evening as chair of our council.
What is even better is that I know I am not alone, because councillors from across this
have approached me and spoken to me over recent months
about their support for Paul as well.
In his time with this chamber, he's been an excellent
addition since his election.
He's thoughtful, balanced, well connected,
and excellent at making his point.
Sometimes annoyingly excellent at making his point.
He's one of those counsellors that if you find yourself
on the different side of the argument to Paul,
you should seriously consider your position
in that argument.
And then there are qualities that he'll bring
to this role in particular.
Every member will know that Paul will treat them
with respect, good humour, and absolute equality.
We'll all get told off when we're out of order,
and that includes Jim and myself,
and I hope that that will continue to be infrequently,
but we'll see.
And we also know that he'll engage outside this chamber,
as he always has, with the external groups and the public,
and he'll represent not just this office,
but this council and ourselves excellently across the district.
And that's the final point, is that I'm delighted that since 2023,
we will now have a Folkestone chair, a Hyde chair, and now a Romney Marsh chair of our district across that time.
I also know that was a priority for Tony and a key reason why he wanted to propose Paul this evening.
I would also like to thank Tony for his service as Deputy Chair to this Council and for nominating
Anita.
Paul will represent Romney Marsh, this Council and all of us brilliantly from the Chair and
that's why I'm delighted to second him.
Thank you and do we have any other nominations?
That looks promising.
Cllr Anita Jones - 0:10:44
So are we all agreed?
Agreed.
Thank you.
Congratulations Paul.
Cllr Tim Prater - 0:10:53
Thank you.
Cllr Anita Jones - 0:11:17
Okay, so you're up to now.
This power here and then the other.
Okay, thank you.
Okay, so I, Councillor Paul Thomas, having been elected to the office of Chair of Folkestone
and High District Council, declare that I take that office upon myself and will duly
and faithfully fulfil the duties of it according to the best of my judgement and ability.
Great, you're back.
Thank you.
Oh, sorry.
It works, it works well, I don't know.
There we go.
Thank you.
Thank you very much.
Cllr Anita Jones - 0:12:11
Well done Paul.
We're going to now retire to the chamber and we'll return in a moment.

2 Election of Chair of the Council

Cllr Paul Thomas - 0:13:01
I'd like to thank my proposer, Councillor Cooper, and my seconder, Councillor Prater,
for those very kind words.
and I'd like to thank all members of this council
for electing me to the position of chair.
It's a great honour,
and the hairs are standing up on the back of my neck.
Thank you very much for that.
My chaplain will be Reverend Chris Hodgkins
from St Nicholas Church, New Romney,
our New Romney Trendy Vicar,
and he'll be here at the meetings in the future.
I'd like to invite members to stand or sit
when speaking in this chamber.
But I would ask all members to be respectful
when another member is speaking
and not hold side conversations which can be distracting.
So again, I think we'll just set that up there at the start.
My thanks to Anita Jones for the fantastic work
that she's done in the past two years.
And I will be continuing with the youth forum
that Anita has set up.
And it's an absolutely fantastic foundation
on which to build, which I'm really looking forward to.
I won't go on for very much longer, you'll be facing this.
So finally, the next 12 months will be the most challenging
this council has ever faced.
And I would ask members to provide our excellent officers
with the same level of support as in the previous three years
so thank you very much for that, thank you.
So I'd like to ask Anita if she'd come.
Yes, please.
Come on.
I'll put that in.

3 Election of Vice-Chair of the Council

So we'll move on with the next item on the agenda, agenda item 3, which is election vice
chair.
And I'd like to ask for nominations for that particular role, please.
Thank you.
Councillor Lockwood.
Cllr Paul Thomas - 0:15:42
Thank you, Chair, and welcome.
Cllr Adrian Lockwood - 0:15:45
And I'd like to propose Councillor Tony Cooper.
And do we have a seconder?
I'd like to second Tony Cooper, please.
Cllr Paul Thomas - 0:15:51
Okay.
Cllr Nicola Keen - 0:15:53
Cllr Paul Thomas - 0:15:55
Do we have any other nominations?
Not seeing anything around the room.
Councillor Lockwood, would you like to say a few words?
Thank you.
Cllr Adrian Lockwood - 0:16:06
Just very briefly to say that Tony has done a fantastic job
for the last two years.
Last year he is customary for the deputy chair
to step up to the chair role.
I think that's been historically what's happened
and recognised.
Last year he chose, or it was agreed he would stay there
so that Anita could have a second year,
and that's worked out very well for all of us.
And again, this year he's elected to stay where he is
so that Paul can be chair.
So, and just finally, we have two councillors from Romney Marsh as chair and vice chair.
So I will stop listening to anybody that says that this council ignores Romney Marsh.
Councillor Keene, would you like to say a few words?
Cllr Paul Thomas - 0:17:11
Cllr Nicola Keen - 0:17:13
I think Tony's holding his breath, wondering what I'm going to say.
I've known Tony.
I've known Tony for a very long time and we've had some very interesting conversations over
that time.
Tony, you still won't control me sitting up there, but I'm really pleased for you.
You've been a great friend and you've always listened to my moaning, but I've listened
to more of yours, so good luck for the next year.
Thank you very much.
Cllr Paul Thomas - 0:17:39
We've got no other nominations, so I'd like to ask members if they agree with the nomination of Tony as the Vice Chair of this Council.
Agreed.
Thank you.
Cllr Tony Cooper - 0:18:05
I, Councillor Cooper, have been being elected to the office of Vice -Chair of Folkland and
our District Council, declare that I take office upon myself and look duly and faithfully
fulfil the duties of its according to the best of my judgments and ability.
Okay, thank you very much. So Tony, would you like to say a few words?
Cllr Paul Thomas - 0:18:45
What a pleasure it is to be the Vice Chair of this council again and what a pleasure
Cllr Tony Cooper - 0:18:49
it is to be supporting and offering support to the chair. At the end of the day, I have
got surgery planned in the next couple of months and due to the limitations I have got
which all members are aware of, my being a chair would not be practical. So that is why
I have suggested Paul and Paul come to the Marsh as well. But I would like to thank all
for supporting me and also for your continued support in the future. Many thanks.
Cllr Paul Thomas - 0:19:22
Thank you Tony and we'll work very well together as we've proved over the last three years.
Thank you Tony, thank you for that.

4 Declarations of Interest

Item 4 on the agenda is declarations of interest. Any declarations from around the room?
Cllr Paul Thomas - 0:19:40
Okay, item five on the agenda.

5 Minutes

Is the minutes of the meeting held on the 7th of May, 2025?
There was one minor change from that was
to the minutes that were posted
in that there was a minor error in item 12,
which has been corrected on the minutes
that I've got in front of me.
So members happy that I signed them
as a true and accurate record?
Agreed.
Thank you.
Cllr Tim Prater - 0:20:16
Cllr Paul Thomas - 0:20:16
Thank you.
Thank you very much.
Okay.
Moving on to the next item on the agenda,

6 Appointments to Committee's and Sub-Committee's of the Council (including the appointment of Chairs and Vice-Chairs)

Item 6 is appointment to committees and subcommittees.
We've got paper in front of us associated with that.
So there are three recommendations.
The first is to receive a note report, A26 -02.
It should be noted that there was a minor error
in paragraph 3 .2.
The political group for Councillor Chapman is incorrect
and should be shown as an independent member.
And that has been corrected in the modern .gov version
of the PAC.
The second recommendation was to make necessary appointments
to the committees and subcommittees of the council
for 2026 -27, as set out in the body of the report.
Sorry?
So I'd like to take those two first
before we move into the individual chairs
and vice chair of the quadrants.
Proposer?
Thank you.
And a seconder?
Cllr Tim Prater - 0:21:30
I'm happy to second, but there is another note to make
on that, is that on the audit and governments committee
membership, it shows Councillor James Butcher as an
nominated member, and I believe that should be
Councillor Rich Holgate, is the member of the
audit and governments.
So with that amendment, I'm happy to second.
Okay, so I'll just cheque with Gemma, and that amendment will be fine.
Thank you very much.
Cllr Paul Thomas - 0:21:58
So we've got a proposer and a seconder for the first two elements of this.
Are we all agreed?
Agreed.
Thank you, members.
We can move on to the appointments of chairs and vice -chairs.
We start off with audit and governance.
So could I have a nomination for chair of audit and governance, please?
Thank you, Chair. Happy to nominate Councillor Liz McShane.
Cllr Adrian Lockwood - 0:22:32
Cllr Paul Thomas - 0:22:37
And do we have a seconder? Sorry, Councillor Cooper, just got the before me.
And would either proposer or seconder like to speak?
Cllr Adrian Lockwood - 0:22:56
Just briefly to say Liz has done a fabulous job from the start and I can't see the changing
in the last year would be, I can't see any point for that and she will do a brilliant
job for this final year.
Thank you.
Do we have any further nominations?
Not seeing anything.
Cllr Paul Thomas - 0:23:13
Are we all agreed on Councillor Liz McShane as Order in Governance Chair?
Agree, thank you very much members.
The next item is the audit and governance vice -chair.
So could I have a nomination for vice -chair please?
Councillor Parrata.
Cllr Tim Prater - 0:23:37
In order to correct my earlier misspeaking, I'd like to pronounce Councillor Richard Holgate
for vice -chair.
And the seconder please.
Cllr Paul Thomas - 0:23:44
That's Councillor Blakemore.
Do we have any other nominations for that position?
No?
Okay, we agreed on Councillor Rich Holgate for auditing the Government's Vice Chair.
Thank you, members.
The next one is Planning and Licencing Committee Chair.
Could I have nominations for that role, please?
Councillor Lockwood.
Happy to propose Councillor Jackie Meade.
Cllr Adrian Lockwood - 0:24:18
And seconder for that, Councillor Keane.
Cllr Paul Thomas - 0:24:20
And do we have any other nominations for the role of Planning and Licencing Committee Chair?
Not seeing anything around the room.
Okay.
Are we happy to appoint Councillor Meade to the position of Planning and Licencing Committee
Chair?
Thank you members. The next item is Planning and Licencing Vice Chair. Do we have any nominations
for Planning and Licencing Vice Chair please?
Councillor Martin.
Could I nominate Councillor Anita Jones?
Cllr Jim Martin - 0:25:00
And a seconder for that position?
Cllr Paul Thomas - 0:25:06
Oh, Councillor Keene.
Do we have any other nominations for Vice Chair of Planning and Licencing?
Not seeing anything anywhere.
We all agreed on Councillor Anita Jones for Vice Chair of Planning and Licencing.
Thank you, members.
That takes us on to personnel committee chair.
Cllr Paul Thomas - 0:25:38
Do we have any nominations personnel committee chair?
Councillor Craitor.
I'd like to nominate Councillor Connor McConville.
Cllr Tim Prater - 0:25:47
And a seconder for Councillor McConville.
Cllr Paul Thomas - 0:25:48
Thank you, Gary.
And sorry, Councillor Fuller.
and do we have any other nominations
for chair of the personnel committee?
Not seeing anything anywhere.
Okay, so no other nominations.
Are we agreed with the proposer
that personnel chair will be Councilman Conville?
I would agree.
Thank you, members.
And then we have the personnel committee vice chair.
Nominations for that?
So, Councillor Martin.
Happy to nominate Councillor Nicola Keene.
Cllr Jim Martin - 0:26:32
Thank you, and a seconder for that.
Is Councillor Wood good?
Cllr Paul Thomas - 0:26:36
Any other nominations for Vice Chair of Personnel?
Not seeing anything.
Are we agreed for that position to be,
for that nomination to that position?
Agree.
Thank you, members.
Thank you. So that completes item 6. Item 7 on the agenda is delegation of

7 Scheme of delegation of non-Executive functions

non -executive functions. So we have three recommendations to receive a note
report A2603, to agree the scheme of delegation set out in the appendix to
this report, insofar as it relates to the non -executive functions of the Council,
and three, to agree an alternative delegation to the Head of Paid Service of Senior Information
Risk Owners, CSIRO, and Data Protection Officer.
Do we have a proposer?
Councillor Martin.
Cllr Jim Martin - 0:27:33
I'm very happy with the report, Chair, and very happy to move it.
Thank you.
And seconder?
I'll call to second.
Thank you.
Cllr Paul Thomas - 0:27:40
Cllr Tim Prater - 0:27:42
Cllr Paul Thomas - 0:27:42
So, members, are we...any comments on that?
Are we happy to vote on that delegation
as proposed and seconded?
Agree?
Thank you, members.
Item eight on the agenda is schedule of meetings

8 Schedule of meeting dates 2026/27

for 2026 -27.
So recommendation, receive a note report A2601,
and the second recommendation to approve
and adopt the schedule of meetings for 2026 -27
as appended to the report as appendix one.
So could I have a proposer for that please?
Happy to propose.
Sorry?
Happy to propose.
Cllr Tim Prater - 0:28:21
Oh, thank you, Councillor Proater.
And a seconder?
Councillor Martin.
Cllr Paul Thomas - 0:28:26
Any changes?
Nothing came ahead of the meeting, Gemma?
No, did it?
Okay, so members are happy that we accept that schedule?
Agreed?
That's agreed.
Thank you very much.

9 Annual report on policies and strategies adopted by Cabinet and update on urgent decisions 2025/26

Item 9 on the agenda is the annual report on policies and strategies adopted by Cabinet
and an update on urgent decisions for 2025 -26.
So two recommendations to receive and note report 82604 and to consider including any
of the policies and or strategies outlined in this report in the policy framework.
Over to you.
Councillor Martin.
Very happy to propose, Chair.
Thank you.
Cllr Jim Martin - 0:29:14
And seconder for that report?
Happy to second.
Cllr Paul Thomas - 0:29:17
Councillor Craitor.
Cllr Tim Prater - 0:29:20
So members, any comments?
Cllr Paul Thomas - 0:29:21
Are we happy to approve that report as is agreed?
Thank you very much.
The next item on the agenda is the annual report

10 Annual report of the Audit and Governance Committee 2025/25

of audit and governance 2526, and this is to receive a note report 82605.
And do we have a proposer?
Councillor McShane.
And a seconder?
Councillor Holgate.
Any comments or are we happy to approve that as written?
Would you like to speak?
Just to say to pass on our thanks to the officers and the team.
Cllr Liz McShane - 0:30:13
It's always a big job, especially in the first quarter of this year when they've got the
accounts to sign off and each year they kind of succeed the previous year.
So they've done a really fantastic job.
So just really our thanks.
And thank you very much for your hard work as chair on the committee as well.
Much appreciated.
Cllr Paul Thomas - 0:30:29
So I think we've agreed with that as well, haven't we?
Agreed with that?
Got that, thank you.

11 Annual report of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee 2025/26

Okay, item 11 is the annual report of the overview and scrutiny committee 2025 -26.
So the recommendation is to receive a note report A2606 and a proposal.
I'm happy to propose.
Cllr Abena Akuffo-Kelly - 0:30:51
Cllr Paul Thomas - 0:30:52
Councillor Kufa Kelly, thank you. And the seconder, Councillor Wing.
And would you like to speak on that, Councillor Kufa Kelly?
Cllr Abena Akuffo-Kelly - 0:30:59
Yes, so I also would like to thank the officers.
They provide us with a number of very comprehensive reports
and they do actually listen to the points
that we put forward and the reports have improved
considerably over the year and thank you very much
for all that they do and also for the actual councillors
on sitting on that committee as well
because we do have some very interesting discussions
And I'm sure even though Councillor Thomas is now chair of the council,
he will still ask four questions in succession,
every single, on every single item.
I'm sure that won't stop him.
At the very least, thank you.
Any other questions on that?
Cllr Paul Thomas - 0:31:51
If not, are we agreed with receiving and noting that report?
We agree.
Thank you very much, members.

12 Annual Scrutiny Work programme 2026/27

And item 12, annual scrutiny work programme for 2026 -27.
So this is to receive a note report 8 .2607
and to approve the annual scrutiny programme for 2026 -27
as set out in appendix one of this report.
Councillor Kufle -Caddy, would you like to say?
I'd like to propose.
Proposed, thank you very much.
Cllr Abena Akuffo-Kelly - 0:32:19
And a seconder for that report, please.
Cllr Paul Thomas - 0:32:21
as Councillor Elaine Martin.
And would you like to say a few words
on that, Councillor Cooper -Cayley?
No, that's fine.
Cllr Abena Akuffo-Kelly - 0:32:31
Any other comments on that schedule as presented?
Cllr Paul Thomas - 0:32:34
No, are we all agreed to accept the schedule as presented?
Thank you very much, members.
That's it.
That is it.
That is it.
Okay, thank you very much.
Thank you very much for attending this evening.
And if you'd like to join myself and Councillor Jones,
we've got a few drinks and nibbles in there
if you wouldn't mind.
So thank you very much, everybody.
That's very kind of you.
Thank you.