Overview and Scrutiny Committee - Tuesday 26 May 2026, 6:00pm

Overview and Scrutiny Committee
Tuesday, 26th May 2026 at 6:00pm

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Mr Jake Hamilton
Cllr Alan Martin
Mr Jake Hamilton
Mr Jake Hamilton
Mr Jake Hamilton

1 Election of Chair

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Councillor Tony Hills

2 Election of Vice-Chair

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Councillor Tony Hills
Cllr Bridget Chapman
Councillor Tony Hills

3 Apologies for Absence

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Mr Jake Hamilton
Councillor Tony Hills

4 Declarations of Interest

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Declarations of Interest

Cllr Anita Jones
Councillor Tony Hills
Councillor Tony Hills

5 Minutes

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Minutes Public Pack, 07/04/2026 Overview and Scrutiny Committee

Councillor Tony Hills
Councillor Tony Hills
Mr Jake Hamilton
Cllr Bridget Chapman
Councillor Tony Hills
Councillor Tony Hills

6 Membership of the Finance & Performance Scrutiny Sub-Committee 2026-27

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7 Town Centre Operating Model (TCOM) : Strategic Direction, Funding And Delivery

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FHDC Officer
FHDC Officer
Councillor Tony Hills
Cllr Bridget Chapman
FHDC Officer
Cllr Bridget Chapman
Councillor Tony Hills
Cllr Anita Jones
FHDC Officer
Cllr Anita Jones
Councillor Tony Hills
Councillor Tony Hills
Cllr Abena Akuffo-Kelly
FHDC Officer
Cllr Abena Akuffo-Kelly
FHDC Officer
Councillor Tony Hills
Cllr Laura Davison
FHDC Officer
Cllr Laura Davison
Councillor Tony Hills

8 Implications of Introducing 20 Minutes Free Parking in Town Centre Car Parks

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OSC Report - Implications of Introducing 20 Minutes Free Parking in Town Centre Car Parks

Mr Fred Miller
Cllr Abena Akuffo-Kelly
Mr Fred Miller
Councillor Tony Hills
Cllr Paul Thomas
Councillor Tony Hills
Mr Fred Miller
Cllr Paul Thomas
Councillor Tony Hills
Mr Fred Miller
Cllr Anita Jones
Councillor Tony Hills
Cllr Alan Martin
Councillor Tony Hills
Mr Fred Miller
Cllr John Wing
Councillor Tony Hills
Cllr Laura Davison
Councillor Tony Hills
Cllr Polly Blakemore
Councillor Tony Hills
Cllr Paul Thomas
Councillor Tony Hills
Councillor Tony Hills
Mr Jake Hamilton
Councillor Tony Hills
Councillor Tony Hills
Mr Ewan Green

9 Strategic Approach To Sport And Leisure: Martello Lakes & Hythe Pool

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Cllr Anita Jones
Councillor Tony Hills
Cllr John Wing
Councillor Tony Hills
Cllr Laura Davison
Councillor Tony Hills
Cllr Paul Thomas
Councillor Tony Hills
Cllr Bridget Chapman
Councillor Tony Hills
Cllr Alan Martin
Councillor Tony Hills
Mr Andy Blaszkowicz
Councillor Tony Hills
Mr Ewan Green
Cllr Mike Blakemore
Councillor Tony Hills
Mr Andy Blaszkowicz
Cllr Abena Akuffo-Kelly
Mr Andy Blaszkowicz
Cllr Abena Akuffo-Kelly
Mr Andy Blaszkowicz
Cllr Abena Akuffo-Kelly
Mr Andy Blaszkowicz
Councillor Tony Hills
Cllr John Wing
Mr Andy Blaszkowicz
Cllr John Wing
Mr Andy Blaszkowicz
Cllr John Wing
Councillor Tony Hills
Cllr Alan Martin
Mr Andy Blaszkowicz
Councillor Tony Hills
Cllr Alan Martin
Cllr Anita Jones
Councillor Tony Hills
Cllr Paul Thomas
Mr Andy Blaszkowicz
Cllr Paul Thomas
Cllr Laura Davison
Mr Andy Blaszkowicz
Cllr Laura Davison
Mr Andy Blaszkowicz
Councillor Tony Hills
Cllr Bridget Chapman
Councillor Tony Hills
Webcast Finished

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Disclaimer: This transcript was automatically generated, so it may contain errors. Please view the webcast to confirm whether the content is accurate.

Mr Jake Hamilton - 0:00:04

Good evening and welcome to the meeting of the overview and scrutiny committee.

This meeting will be live to the internet.

For those who do not wish to be recorded or filmed will need to leave the chamber.

For members, officers and others speaking at the meeting, it is important that your

microphones are used, so 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.

With that being said, as it's the first meeting for this municipal year, we'll move on to

the election of chair and do we have any nominations?

I'd like to propose Councillor Tony Hills.

Thank you very much.

Cllr Alan Martin - 0:00:52

And do we have a seconder?

Councillor Wing.

Mr Jake Hamilton - 0:00:56

Mr Jake Hamilton - 0:01:00

Do we have any more other nominations?

Nope.

And can I have a show of hands please?

Thank you.

Mr Jake Hamilton - 0:01:14

So that's six four.

So that means Councillor Hill, she's been elected.

1 Election of Chair

It is very kind of you all.

I'm not sure I should say kind.

I hope you think it's good.

We'll find out later.

The voyage of discovery.

2 Election of Vice-Chair

Councillor Tony Hills - 0:02:15

Next on the agenda is the election of vice chair.

So do we have any nominations?

Councillor Tony Hills - 0:02:30

I'd like to propose Councillor John Wing.

Cllr Bridget Chapman - 0:02:33

Councillor Tony Hills - 0:02:34

Okay, do we have a seconded?

Thank you, Anita.

Any other further nominations?

Okay.

to have a show of hands to support them.

You can vote John, don't worry.

Okay, thank you.

John's duly elected as vice chairman.

So if they say, come on down.

3 Apologies for Absence

Right, do we have any apologies for absence?

Thank you, Chair.

Mr Jake Hamilton - 0:03:33

We have apologies from Councillor Elaine Martin and Rich Holgate, and Councillor Davidson

is running late.

Thank you, Chair.

4 Declarations of Interest

Councillor Tony Hills - 0:03:41

Right, Decorations of Interest.

Does any members have anything they wish to declare?

Yes, Nita.

Cllr Anita Jones - 0:03:48

I just wanted to say that I submit the poll in high regularly.

So I'm declaring that. I was there today, it was very nice.

Councillor Tony Hills - 0:03:58

I think that would be quite a long list of people.

Okay.

5 Minutes

Councillor Tony Hills - 0:04:05

The minutes of the last meeting, are we happy with those?

I need a chance to read them.

And are you content?

Agreed?

Okay, thank you.

All right.

Councillor Tony Hills - 0:04:21

Membership of the Finance and Performance Subcommittee.

Let's get the Subcommittee.

We have obviously our list of current subbing members.

I assume everybody's happy to carry on.

Do you wish any changes in that?

No?

Right?

And then those members must appoint a chair

for that subcommittee to be agreed,

member of the agreed members of that subcommittee.

Do we do that now?

Okay.

Mr Jake Hamilton - 0:04:53

Councillor Tony Hills - 0:04:53

Do we have any nominations?

Yeah.

I'd like to propose Councillor Alan Moulton.

Thank you.

Thank you, Paul.

Cllr Bridget Chapman - 0:05:11

Councillor Tony Hills - 0:05:11

Do we have time to second that?

Thank you, Joe.

Do we have any further nominations?

No, okay, can we have a vote on that, please?

Yeah.

Yes, I've been advised with whole committee.

Okay.

Thank you, Alan, you're in the post.

Councillor Tony Hills - 0:05:37

Not in the post, but in post.

6 Membership of the Finance & Performance Scrutiny Sub-Committee 2026-27

Right, so on

number seven on our agenda.

Town Centre operating model, strategic direction, funding and delivery.

Now which lucky person is presenting that?

That's you.

Okay, in your own time.

7 Town Centre Operating Model (TCOM) : Strategic Direction, Funding And Delivery

FHDC Officer - 0:06:17

We have a model initiative that the regeneration team have been working alongside the Folkstone

Brighter Future Capital Works programme.

So this is an update by way of an update on where we are.

There were some decisions that had to be made because of where we are with funding.

So I'll be able to share those with you.

But we're very keen to get insight from the committee

on how we develop the town centre operating model.

And as we go through, you'll see there's some roles

and some activity that we're looking to deliver

as part of this operating model.

And your feedback and insight

is what we would really appreciate.

Thank you.

So forgive what might seem quite an interesting way to present the town

centre as an integrated ecosystem. We see it kind of as the capital works are great,

it will create a space that is inviting, but we still need to create a reason for

people to come to the town centre. That's the reality and that was the

purpose of the development of the town centre operating model which started back in 2024.

So utilising the capacity planning money from MHCLG to deliver this.

So we've articulated this in five main elements.

So you've got the stage which is the capital works.

You've then got the performance which is the main guts if you like of the town centre operating

model. So this is bringing the stage to the town through consistent activity

and activation. So how do we activate the town centre itself and therefore drive

footfall ultimately that will support businesses and also local residents and

and visitors alike.

You then have other things that we're doing,

which isn't necessarily embedded

within the town centre operating model,

but is part of this integrated ecosystem.

So we've got the script,

so something that Jade has been leading with the UK,

shared prosperity funding, which is a skills programme

with local businesses within the town centre.

We also have, which we're articulating here, the rehearsal.

So we have over the last two years run a series of pilot events to see what works in Folkestone.

So a number of pop -up events, a number of markets, to kind of just kick the tyres.

What has and hasn't given us good feedback from the businesses and all residents as,

yep, that's something we would want to come to.

There's another initiative that is also going to be running concurrent called 19.

So this is the occupation of the former Bowerbaron site.

Again this is something that we'll be utilising, partly utilising UK shared prosperity funding.

And this will support our ambition for business incubation space and again community activity.

Now that's actually being led by Kent Fruitops.

Yeah, I'm looking at Jade because this is Jade's initiative

so not one that I'm leading.

So we've put that in here because it is all part

of the ecosystem, but what the remaining slides

really focus on is the performance.

So the town centre operating model.

So what is it?

So it's effectively a framework and a roadmap

to provide a better methodology

for the management of the town centre.

I'll come on to the operational shift shortly.

So where are we today and what are we looking to achieve

with this operating model?

But ultimately the key aims are that we boost the vital

housing of the town centre.

We've also got Boothoo Square that's been delivered

as part of folks in the brighter future.

So we're talking about what currently happens

in Guildhall Street and Sandgate Road,

but also what could happen in Bovary Square.

So this is what it would encompass.

There is a cost.

The cost is currently being funded by external funding.

So predominantly, the capacity planning monies

that are being received from MHCLG.

Again, I'll come into that in a little bit more detail.

shortly, but the intention will be this becomes

a self -sustaining, a self -financing model.

So there isn't a risk to the council moving forward.

That's ultimately the ambition of this scheme.

Animation of spaces, so the intention is that we utilise

the underused spaces, especially when we think

of Guildhall Street, we're constantly receiving feedback

from the businesses in Guildhall Street that they feel unloved, left out, everything else.

So with the capital works that will bring together the footbridge and it should reconnect once again

the north of Guildhall Street with the top of Guildhall Street, but also with some of the pilot

models that we have already delivered. So for example, the one that was in March had a choir

at the top of Guildhall Street,

it was received incredibly well.

And this was members of our community who were the choir.

So again, it's more of the same,

but not necessarily with the council having to tape

on the burden of the delivery of all of this activity.

The operating model itself with the operational shift, today any event over and above the current

casual market that we have on a Thursday and a Saturday that has planning approval has to go

through the event process, which then has to go through the SAG process,

so the Security Advisory Group or Safety Advisory Group,

thank you, pardon.

And there's a cost to that, and it takes an eight to 12 week timeline

to go through that process.

Now, not every event is big enough to warrant going through that process,

but currently it has to.

The other thing is Guildhall Street and Sandgate Road

is a road, it's a qualified road.

So it's in KCC's ownership currently.

So whenever you want to deliver anything

on either of those roads or streets,

you have to engage KCC for permission.

So there's a whole raft of activity that has to happen

before you can even put on one small event,

even if it's just a one -day pop -up event today.

That in itself has proved challenging in the past

and has given some sense of avoidance

from operators wanting to come into our town centre.

The stakeholder contact, so there's never been one person,

that anyone that wants to do an event or wants to operate markets can talk to.

There isn't one person. There's a whole raft of different stakeholders at the

moment that that person would have to engage to move forward. So the plan is

what we're looking to do with this pre -approved framework is come up with a

series of operator -led model, where you would put the onus very much on the operator.

They would take on the active curation and the stewardship, but it would be, we've looked

at a town centre manager role that would also be the conduit between the operators and also

any of the key stakeholders within the council,

but also the businesses,

because what we want to ensure is whatever is delivered

compliments what's already there,

compliments what's going on in the harbour.

There's no point trying to compete

with what's going on in the harbour.

We'd never be able to do that.

So it's trying to understand

and have somebody that can effectively take on that role

of being that conduit.

Okay, so I think I've spoken about operator -led markets.

We're looking to streamline the activity.

We're looking to come up with what this role will do is go and seek out operators, sign

them up so that we have a series of activities and events set out for Bovary Square, Guildhall

and Sandgate Road so that there is always something going on.

They will talk to the businesses and ensure

that there's the appropriate support for them

where necessary and where we can.

There's a number of key components to the success of this.

So we've mentioned the town centre manager,

a single point of contact.

There has to be a land use agreement with KCC Highways.

So this isn't taking on any of the responsibility

of the maintenance of the highway,

this is just to enable a decision to be made

that an event could happen at a particular point in time.

And then the other thing is we want to update

the current planning consent that we have

because it is very narrow and it only currently allows

a market on a Thursday and a Saturday

in a certain stretch in Sandgate Road

and on a Friday and a Saturday outside of Foulka.

And you can only have six stalls

and you can only have this and you can only have that.

So, and that was from some 12 years ago.

So we're looking to consolidate it all into one planning

so that we have it for all of the spaces

within the town centre

and we'll give a level of flexibility.

The one thing it's also worth noting is the timeline.

So the funding for the town centre manager role,

as I say, we're utilising external monies

for the first two years for this role.

We see the role for the first two years

being very much on an upward curve.

We're also conscious that LGR is upon us in 2028.

The intention is one eye on a model that could be a lift and shift.

By lift and shift, we mean a model that can be delivered by whichever body is responsible for it at a particular point in time.

It could work for a unitary, it could work for us now as a district, or it could even work for a town council to deliver.

The methodology is effectively there.

We have a timeline here, which is an ambitious timeline between now and October, but this

is kind of needed now.

Bear in mind, the timeline of the capital works, we have to ensure that we've got something

going on in that town centre once the capital works are delivered, which is scheduled for

by September.

So I'm just going to look to Jay to see if I've missed anything fundamentally before

I open up for questions.

All good?

Okay Lorraine, that's very kind, thank you.

Right, who wants to be first?

I'll answer questions.

Alan.

Thank you, Chair.

First of all, I'm quite excited by this.

I really like the idea of it, which is quite new to me.

And in particular, the aim to sort of facilitate

overall activity, but also remove the friction

from approving events and all that kind of thing.

So it all sounds excellent.

I had two questions.

The first was, we talk about how this becomes

financially sustainable over a period of time which sounds absolutely great but

I just wonder if you could just explain how that happens I don't know whether

but for instance we take fees from the market operators or whatever but it'd

be nice to sort of better understand that and then the other sort of side

question I guess is just the extent to which some aspects of this could be done

in some of the other smaller towns and high streets like New Romney, Hyde, etc.

So I'd be interested in those two thoughts. Thank you.

FHDC Officer - 0:20:23

Absolutely, that there will be a fee paid by the operators.

however for the first year you'd certainly want to have some form of an

incentive to get the right type of operators into our town so with the

money that we have available with us we're looking at all options open to us

so that we can facilitate and incentivize the right type of operators

in for the first year and then it goes effectively on to a scale but there

there is a fee that would be expected for those that sign up for the operator licence.

And secondly, for the smaller towns, we've spoken about that and that is absolutely the ambition,

is that what you would be able to do with the town centre operating model is you can move it into scale.

So you can scale it up or scale it down depending on the area that you would be looking to do

and deploy it.

The role of town centre manager,

I obviously can't talk about specifically

because that is funded externally,

but the concept of the town centre operating model,

it was always intended that whatever we came up with

had to be something that could be scaled down

so it could be district -wide.

Happy with that, Anne?

Okay, right, next on my list is Paul.

Yeah, thank you, Chair.

Yeah, again, I think it's really good,

and I know Jay will definitely be,

we'll understand where we're coming from

in terms of discussions we've had

at Romney Marsh Partnership about what we can do

with New Bond High Street, for example,

and I will talk about other things later on.

So just in terms of the area this will cover,

this will be predominantly the area

which is currently being put together, if you like,

within Folkestone Town Centre.

In the fullness of time, would that also cover, for example,

you know, the community building on Grace Hill, for example,

in it, would that be something else

that could be incorporated into this,

as you've already said, in terms of the lift and shift?

It could be operated across the district,

the town, and the unitary.

So, is that, would that be feasible to pull not just the area, in the area looking at, you know,

any of the assets that are in the area that could be used for that?

Is that where the model would take us?

I think that's a really great point.

And I think this is where we can utilise that type of information and embed it

within the potential development of the role.

I mean, at the moment, it's such a new role.

we don't know what the demand will be initially,

because it was initially just the town centre,

you're right.

But if there are community spaces that we're responsible

for, you would say it would make sense

that they would have some element of

thought process as to what might be delivered into it,

or how it got occupied or whatever.

But I couldn't categorically say

that's what we've thought about now.

But I think, again, that's the purpose of why we're here.

Because that's something that I think we can certainly

put on the potential.

It's a three day a week role at the moment.

So yes, so it really will depend on how that role develops

as to whether we can expand its opportunities.

Okay, thank you very much.

So, well, the advert's out there already, isn't it,

for the Town Centre motion?

So what's the reporting line back into this organisation

for that role, how does that work?

Into the regeneration team.

Is it? Oh, great, that's great, thank you.

And so, again, my question was, what's the workload?

So you're saying three days a week

would be what you'd expect to be able to deliver,

certainly in the foundation two years then as well,

is that correct?

That's our estimate.

I think we didn't want to over call it

and say it was a full time role.

So we've gone a 0 .6 of ahead

and that role is also required to work weekends as well

when there are events happening. So it's quite a flexible role and because it's such a new role,

I think, you know, it would be a bit of suck it and see really.

Okay, thank you Paul. I think it's a case of watch the space and see how it grows, develops.

Right, Bridget, you're next on my list.

Councillor Tony Hills - 0:25:27

Thank you.

Thanks, Tony.

Cllr Bridget Chapman - 0:25:34

Thank you for your report, both of you, and all the work that's gone in.

It's very exciting.

I wanted to ask about Folk About Town.

And it says you've got the proven data and success of Folk About Town.

And I wondered if you could talk us through how that was assessed.

And if there's any chance of seeing the data you collected, I'd be really interested.

Absolutely.

So there is data that's available.

We have, oh, we have shared it somewhere, but apologies.

I think we can minute it and I can...

I can, we can get it minuted

and we can formally get it out to you, that data.

So that was pulled together back last year,

the Folk About Town activity.

So we had six events with the Folk About Town,

which you might be very familiar with.

So I think the most successful was the food event weekend that was put on.

The other one which was slightly hampered by weather was the skate event as well.

So they were the two that drew the biggest footfall.

and we got the biggest positive feedback

from those attending, the local businesses,

and also the stallholders as well,

because it was important that the stallholders felt

it was a place they wanted to trade as well.

But I can share the data with you after if that's okay.

That'd be really interesting.

So did you see an uptick in visitor numbers

as a result of those events?

Okay, yes, that's really excellent.

The first thing, it had to be a combination

of a market and something.

So what we found was a market wasn't enough.

It was a market plus music,

or it was a market plus a skate event,

or it was a market plus something.

That's when we got the increase in the numbers.

See, that's really interesting,

because I've been thinking about this quite a lot.

And I looked up at, I think folks have had a market

since the 1300s.

I think I'm right in saying it's,

but it's the market we have on Thursday and Saturdays,

I think we'd all agree is,

whilst no criticism of the storeholders there,

it doesn't serve the general population's needs,

I would say, and when you look at towns like Shrewsbury,

that have got, I think it's been voted,

it's a similar sized town in terms of population,

and I think it's been voted the best market in the country.

I visited it and it's, see, I think it's really interesting we're talking about events, but

I think what people want is a market that really serves their needs, a really thriving

market and that has, it has everything from, you know, sort of artisan wine, but it has

mobility aids and it has butchers that does game, but it has a very ordinary butchers

as well and it's kind of catering for absolutely everybody and it brings a massive amount of

and I was just wondering if there had been any interaction with any other councils that

had endeavoured to lift their market or lift the town centre in the way that we're doing

and what if you could talk us through any of that and if not maybe that's something

that the town centre manager is going to be looking at when they come into post.

FHDC Officer - 0:29:07

There are a few that when the consultants that were used as part of the town centre

operating model development did engage a number of East Kent councils as well.

But I know even since then, for example, Ramsgate have recently had a new operator in their

town market and that's been received really, really well.

and they're trying to achieve exactly what you've just said.

So I think it's a matter of timing.

And I think it's a great opportunity for the town centre manager

to just do some best practise share with other councils.

It would just be great to know that people are reaching out and like

Cllr Bridget Chapman - 0:29:51

instead of reinventing the wheel, talking to other towns,

you know, doing what we want to do.

Thank you so much for all your work.

Councillor Tony Hills - 0:30:01

Cllr Anita Jones - 0:30:04

I think that is what people are saying.

I think it is a great thing.

My initial reaction

was, can we do this

in the other towns

and how quickly can we do this?

Certainly in Hyde we have a business

and tourism Association

who try and run events

to draw people to the town

so they have to go through

the hurdles of all the road closures

and even though the road is closed

in the middle of the day,

I'm wondering how quickly we could get that kind of simplicity of land use agreement like

we are in Fokston, how can we get that over to the other towns, I'm sure New Romney, because

they have big events as well like that where they need to shut the road.

It would make it so much better for these, because at the moment we have volunteers obviously

running these events.

And again, Hive, I'm sure New Romney, and probably LID, they're all trying to draw people

and the other query was LGR,

but you've kind of talked about how you're going to make it sustainable,

and either to pass on to the town councils.

I guess, I mean, hi, if you've got, well, it's the Chamber of Commerce,

which is the Business and Tourism Association.

I don't know if there's a similar thing in Folkestone,

which oversees the City of London,

or is it not?

Because we do in Hyde, I don't know whether other towns have that.

I think the closest thing is the community forum

for the Business and Tourism Association

to be the first community forum.

Yeah, no, okay, I just wondered,

because obviously, you know, that's a good handover if there was one.

But anyway, I don't know if there's much of a question in there,

but it seems very positive, thank you.

I think the town thing is absolutely recognised.

FHDC Officer - 0:31:52

I think as it's a new role, this is a new encounter, if we have the opportunity to get it right in Folkestone, then it will make it far easier to get it right on a smaller scale in the other towns.

So I'm conscious I've got my director sitting over in the corner.

So I think we've just, again, just got to see

how the role grows and if there is any opportunity

moving forward with all of the other demands

we know we have.

I think I'm just looking at the LGR kind of timeline

Cllr Anita Jones - 0:32:35

and worrying that we'll lose that opportunity.

I think there's a lot of things that we're still worried

about losing the opportunity if we don't get it in place

before it all happens.

Councillor Tony Hills - 0:32:46

Thanks Anita. I just made a comment that we all worry about LGR but we can't do anything about it.

So we soldier on, like it's not happening but it is happening, but we will make it work.

It's all we can do really. Coming from the Marsh, that LID, we have LID Club Day and we have Romney Country Fair,

both very successful events, but they take an awful lot of manpower to run success fairs.

A lot of work goes in and a lot of sponsorship.

But middle acorns, you've got to grow as you go.

But regular monitoring of how it's going,

how you can improve things is vital.

Are there any more questions for Lorraine?

Bina, yeah.

Councillor Tony Hills - 0:33:25

Cllr Abena Akuffo-Kelly - 0:33:27

Yeah, so I will echo what everyone else has said.

It's brilliant that this work is being done.

There's lots of different ideas

that people are sort of floating.

And I come back to you saying that this town centre manager

will have three days.

And I'm wondering if that's going to be sufficient

to meet all of these sorts of aspirations that we all have.

So one of the things that I want to ask about,

because you're talking about the ecosystem

and the ecosystem obviously is including that section

that you spoke about and we're talking about regenerating,

but the ecosystem also includes the rest of town,

includes Tontine Street, includes Old High Street.

We don't want to take away from the brilliant work

that's been doing and being done there already.

We want to make sure that there's some sort of joined up

thinking and I'm imagining, obviously,

you want to speak to the traders,

the current traders as well.

You want to speak to the current businesses.

That sounds like a lot of work already

for one person to be doing.

So I wonder if who else is going to be involved?

What are the contingencies?

Is there money available to actually plough more

into the town centre manager role

to be able to do that effectively.

The other thing that I'm wondering about is that

you said that securing market operators quickly

is high likelihood risk.

And so where is the contingency if you can't get them?

I know you've got all of these different benefits

that you want to put in place

to make sure that they come in,

but what's the contingency?

If you can't, maybe you can get people,

but maybe they're not of the high level

that you're expecting once you've done

all of the research and so on,

what are you going to do instead?

And then, how are you going to measure success?

So what are your indicators?

Is it just footfall?

Is it going to be how much money the traders are making?

Is it going to be visitor numbers?

Is it going to be all of those things?

And because I always want to have my environment hat on,

you said something about environmental requirements,

but is it going to be binding or is it just advisory?

Is it going to be, are we looking at energy efficiency, waste reduction, low emissions?

How are we going to consider that part?

Because that's a really important part of what the council is trying to do as well.

How are we going to make sure that it's environmentally sound?

I know that's quite a few questions.

FHDC Officer - 0:35:55

I'll try to go through them as much as I can.

Thank you.

So is three days sufficient?

Honestly?

we don't know so we we have to start somewhere and we feel with what we've

got at the moment three days is sufficient the funding that we have

comfortably funds two years of this role three days a week so if other money

became available, be it through external funding,

or if there was a growth bid, for example,

and it was council money,

it could potentially then be a full -time roll.

So with the money we had, we were able to say,

we need at least two years

to get this properly up and running.

With regards to contingency on operating

We have one operator that has already expressed an interest,

so we've got one.

That's a start.

So, but again, it's one of those,

if you get one and they see a success,

then others may wish to come as well.

So we will start with one.

The contingency is that the regeneration team

have been working with people to put on pilot events

for the last two years.

If there was a need for contingency,

this town centre manager would look to deliver

some pilot events similar to what we've seen

over the last two years,

if we don't have the operators in place.

That's not the ideal, but that's the contingency.

Measure success, really great question.

I think we've got some in the job description, haven't we,

about measurement of success, what we see.

So we want to ensure that we've got performance indicators

within the role around, so what does good look like?

And what are we expecting this role to achieve?

So there's a differentiation

Cllr Abena Akuffo-Kelly - 0:38:17

between the performance indicators for the actual role,

but the actual, then there's the project itself.

And that's why I was asking about, you know,

how much is being paid to this person,

because if the project relies on how well

that person performs,

then that person is incredibly important person,

because basically they're the foundation of everything,

all the success.

So is there some other sort of entity

that will be involved in making sure that this is success

rather than just the town centre manager?

FHDC Officer - 0:38:53

So there's the backup of the team.

There is myself, there is Jade and there will be Rodleen as well.

We will all be part of this team to get this up and running.

The feet on the ground will absolutely be the town centre manager.

The feet in the town centre will be the town centre manager on a very frequent basis.

That is the intention. Thank you.

Councillor Tony Hills - 0:39:20

OK, thank you. Laura, you had a question?

Cllr Laura Davison - 0:39:26

Thanks, Chair. I had a similar kind of concerns in terms of just what is riding on this particular

role. Sorry, I should first of all apologise for being late to the meeting. It is obviously

a really important role and there is a lot riding on it. You wouldn't want to be in a

where somebody takes that on and then, you know,

it kind of finds that actually there's too much

to deal with within it, and it suffers because of that.

So I wonder if it would be possible

to maybe build in a review point to sort of reassess that

and look at whether actually there needs

to be more time allocated.

The other thing I was, and to say,

obviously there are other sort of bodies,

I think this is what Councillor Okufo -Kelly

was also alluding to her operating within the town

who would want to support this work.

There's the town council, for example,

and there are obviously lots of community groups

who want to see that success

as the business organisations as well.

And it would be great to see

everybody working together on this.

The other thing I just wanted to ask,

and apologies if I've missed this,

is is there a kind of set of,

is there a framework or kind of set of principles

which are kind of underpinning this in terms of,

and I think it comes back to the question about

what are we looking to achieve,

what kind of thing are we trying to create?

And I suppose it comes also back to

Councillor Chapman's point around,

if we're looking at a market operator,

what kind of market, what kind of feel

are we trying to create within the town?

And so are there principles that underpin that

and in terms of how the model is going to operate

going forward.

FHDC Officer - 0:41:18

So I think we can share some of the principles with you

outside of this meeting on what it is

we're trying to achieve.

We did debate with the report,

the town centre operating model feedback

that we got from the consultants is weighted.

It's a hundred and something pages long.

It's very big.

But there is a summary element to that.

So I think it will be worth sharing that summary document

with you all because it kind of sets out

what we're trying to achieve

with the town centre operating model, which is what everything else kind of underpins it.

Did that answer your question, Laura? Yeah, that would be useful, thank you. And in terms of the

Cllr Laura Davison - 0:42:13

use of the kind of memorandum of understanding that you're looking to establish in terms of use

of the town centre spaces, it would be useful to see, have an understanding of the principles

behind that as well, what might the space be used for, who might use it, how might people

access it, just to have an understanding that, you know, because there are all kinds of different

groups or organisations that might want to utilise the space.

So it's important, I think, to think that through.

Okay.

Councillor Tony Hills - 0:42:45

Anybody else before I wind this up?

No?

Okay.

Thank you for that.

I'd like to see you come back sometime

in the not too distant future to update us how you're doing.

Cause I think it's a case of hands on.

So we've got two recommendations committee.

Like to receive and note the report

and provide feedback to officers.

Do I have a proposer for those?

Yes, and seconder, thank you.

Got that, Jake, okay.

And a vote of hands.

Excellent, okay, that's good.

Now moving on, so thanks for coming.

8 Implications of Introducing 20 Minutes Free Parking in Town Centre Car Parks

Moving on, and you can stay if you want to.

The implications of introducing 20 minutes free parking

in town centre car parks.

And it's to be introduced by our local hero, Fred Miller.

Mr Fred Miller - 0:43:40

Good evening, Chair, good evening, members.

I'm just gonna take five minutes

just to introduce the report.

this report considers a proposal from a member of the public to introduce 20 minutes free parking

in town centres with the aim of increasing footfall and supporting local high

streets. There is some evidence from national studies that free or reduced parking can encourage

short stay visits, particularly for convenient streets. However, it is also clear that parking

alone does not address the wider causes of high street decline such as online shopping,

business costs and competition from out of town retail.

Locally, it is important to recognise that the Council already provides a relatively

generous parking offer. This includes free on -street parking in all shopping streets,

a discount resident car park permit scheme offering daily free parking and seasonal initiatives

such as free pre -Christmas parking. The key issue for members is the financial impact.

Based on current usage, introducing 20 minutes free parking is estimated to reduce parking

income by around £198 ,000 per year, with a potential worst case of up to £356 ,000

if driver behaviour changes.

This equates to between 11 and 20 % of parking income, which is a significant and currently

on budgeted pressure.

There are also operational considerations.

This proposal could increase demand for short -stay spaces, reduce availability for longer -stay

users and require additional enforcement to manage misuse. Members should also be aware

that there is no clear evidence that increased footfall from free parking would translate

into increased spending sufficient to offset the loss of parking income.

Finally, this proposal should be considered alongside the significant work already on the

way to support town centres.

Lorraine has just been covering those, which includes major external funding, regeneration

programmes and a new town centre operating model focused on increasing activity and food

for in a more sustainable way.

So to sum up, while the proposal could encourage short visits, it carries a significant financial

cost, on -sating economic benefit and a number of operational and strategic risks. The report

is therefore presented to members to note and to decide whether any further recommendations

should be made to the cabinet member for transport. Thank you, Chair.

Thank you, Fred. All right. Any questions? Abina?

Cllr Abena Akuffo-Kelly - 0:47:15

So, one thing that I was really interested to read about

was all of these additional benefits that you get

being a resident and discounts and so on,

which I wasn't aware of,

having lived in Folkestone for 20 something years.

So, I think I read in the report that you're going to

do a sort of new campaign to inform people of this.

And I'm thinking of the fact that obviously,

the report also says that when people part for 20 minutes,

because there's that sort of leeway of 10 minutes,

it might be that they actually part for 30 minutes,

and then that's going to increase enforcement.

So in addition to losing the money that you've already said,

there'll be additional loss

because you'll need more enforcement as well.

So I'm wondering about the costs

of the additional reinforcement

that you're going to have to bring in.

And if it's possible to maybe have alternatives

other than this, if it is going to be as costly,

so for example, actually informing people

who are residents that they can actually get these discounts

because I'm imagining the people who would use

that 20 minutes will not be the holiday makers

because they're not going to come drive all the way

to Folkestone for 20 minutes extra.

So those are sort of two things that I want to ask about.

But the other thing as well,

we need to think about,

obviously I always go back to the environment,

and are there things that we can do to encourage people

to actually take their trips by foot,

by bicycle or public transport,

rather than focusing on parking as well?

So are there other alternatives that we can think of in addition to that if that is a direction that we wish to take?

Thank you, Councillor.

Mr Fred Miller - 0:49:17

Yes, with regards to the car park resident permit scheme, that's been relaunched.

I am in discussion with communications ready, so we should

relaunch that next month.

So there will be publicity on that.

Because the uptick has been very, very low.

And as you say, it's heavily discounted, 20 pounds for three months.

And you can get parking for three hours in all of our car parks,

along state car parks, and two hours in short state car parks.

So it's just a fantastic deal.

With regards to the other measures that we can look at,

Yes, I am in discussions with KCC regularly about cycling,

about signposting, that sort of thing.

So, yes, I can reinforce the importance of that to Townsend.

And I believe Lorraine is already doing some work

in that as well from the train station as well, signposting,

all that sort of thing.

We had discussions about that earlier today as well

when we had our bus partnership meeting.

So, yes, we're looking at all of those things.

So yeah, hopefully in the next few months,

we'll start going on those.

And the additional amount of money

that we might have to pay for the additional enforcement.

Yes.

Have you sort of got any figures on the projected?

We discussed that at length because it was quite complex,

but we are employing a civil enforcement officer

would cost around 32 ,000 pounds.

So that's initially what we were kind of saying

that it would cost about 32 ,000 pounds to get that additional enforcement.

But I should say, the various things that we need to consider.

So we decided not to include that in the report.

Okay. Paul.

Councillor Tony Hills - 0:51:09

Yeah, thank you, Chair.

Thank you very much for the paper.

Cllr Paul Thomas - 0:51:17

I mean, I support everything this is putting, you're putting to us this evening.

So, I mean, primarily, the purpose of this stimulate high -tissue economies.

I mean, that's what we want to do by increasing football.

Football, not football.

That comes shortly, not today.

The one thing you haven't talked about is the potential for reducing nuisance parking.

So if you make parking spaces available, people are more likely to use it than they are

to abuse some of the existing facilities around.

And again, just recently in Euromna, I'll pick on Euromna specifically,

You know, our policeman, Steve Putland, put a piece out about people parking on zigzags

outside a particular chain of pizza stores in New Romney High Street.

They've got a perfectly adequate car park at the back, but people don't want to pay

for parking at the back, so that's that.

Whatever we can do to help High Street businesses, I think it's within our gift to do, I think

we need to be looking at that.

You know, they're under increasing pressure, aren't they?

Business rates.

I know Tony Vaughan has written to the minister recently about trying to do something

about business rates in the district.

You know, business rates, energy, the fixed costs associated with employment, you know,

with changes in minimum wage and changes in national insurance contributions.

I mean, all those things are massive pressures on our high street businesses.

Well, all businesses, but the high streets.

For the reasons you've identified as well, the fact that you've got other, you know, you've got online shopping, which is pushing high street business margins.

It's all those kind of things.

So I think in principle, you know, it's really good.

You've identified the cost, $198 ,000, but potentially $356 ,000, depending on how it is.

Back in July last year, Councillor Cuffo -Caley identified that we were nearly £500 ,000 over forecast

and we discussed that at the OSC meeting last year.

When you have a look at that and say how does that relate to things that have come through the Finance and Performance Subcommittee meeting,

so back in November, the off -street parking favourable position was £22 ,000

and that was with the projections updated based on actual run rate.

So it's tweaking the figures from the previous year to do with run rate and not actual values.

And then the on -street parking with the enforcement side was in a £190 ,000 favourable position,

again, using...based on actual run rate.

But when you look at February this year, and again, the same figures for the revenue budget monitoring,

the off -street parking favourable variance was 81 ,000 pounds

and the on -street parking enforcement side was 256 ,000 pounds.

So again, I think when we look at that,

what we haven't done is tried to balance that equation

to say here's the downside, but by the way,

we're already in a favourable position

with what we're doing currently.

And if we're going to reduce nuisance parking

and we're going to potentially introduce more enforcement,

which is the point that Councillor Coosle Kelly also made,

then I think we need to understand, you know,

the full picture financially in terms of what it's going

to cost the district.

So again, just if we could just think about that

and just make sure that the decisions we make look,

you know, a little bit wider than just, you know,

the figures you presented in the report.

I think it's a position which is probably more,

it's a fairer position if you like,

in terms of the true impact to the taxpayer,

which is what people will want to know going forward.

The other thing, and I know I'm going off piece here

a little bit and somebody might not be very happy

with me about this, but we also need to think

about the impact on coastal communities

when we think about car parking and parking charges.

You've got three councils in the room

whose communities have been adversely affected

by poor bathing water quality year on year on year

with no end in sight at this moment in time,

based on the meeting we had last week that was on.

So again, I just ask if we could,

at some stage later in the year,

when we come to decide the charges for next year,

just have a look at what we're doing

with trying to assist those businesses

in coastal communities that are really struggling

with all the same issues about fixed costs.

And they've got the added issue

of having additional parking charges

and this six o 'clock to eight o 'clock change,

which they have to contend with in the summer.

So again, I just ask if we could get some data back on that,

ready for us to make a decision about parking charges

for the next financial year.

So if we could get that back by October,

when we've had, we'll have had two years worth

of six to eight o 'clock, what's it actually benefited to us

against the dis -benefits that could have accrued

from our communities?

That's my comment, thank you, Chair.

Sorry it was a bit long, but there you go.

Councillor Tony Hills - 0:56:38

I think you made some very good points there, Paul.

And it's all about us understanding the data

and getting the data here so we can make

the correct decision.

And that's Barry Lipon for it.

Do you want to say about what Paul is saying, Fred?

Mr Fred Miller - 0:56:57

Yes, of course. I would take that one forward about looking at the wider finance.

The Finance Director, Alan, did make some comments on the finances, on the reports,

but I will obviously look into that as well, see if we can look at the wider picture.

With regards to the car parks, charges in the car parks, we do vary the charges in some car parks.

For instance, down in Sandgate, the charges are lower than in Folkestone and the Marsh.

We've also got cheaper charges there, parking charges in Church Road car park, for instance.

So one of the car parks is cheaper than the other one.

So yes, we already have very charges.

Yeah, thank you.

You come back.

If you don't mind, yeah.

Yeah, thank you very much for that.

Cllr Paul Thomas - 0:57:48

But again, one of the things,

and it's gonna be a big improvement

when we get decent water to bathing,

changing tides, massive capital investment for this,

and a brilliant facility on site,

stymied by the fact that we've got no bathing,

we've got poor bathing water there.

The charges for that are £2 .90 an hour,

and they've got the six o 'clock to eight o 'clock uplift

this year as well, so they'll be seeing that

for the first time.

So if we're trying to encourage people

to come and use that facility,

we've got a captive audience with the people

who are the beach hup lessees on that particular site.

So again, I just want to make sure that whatever we do,

we're not cutting off on those despite our face

with regard to parking charges against providing

the kind of facility that we have there.

We've invested a lot of money and effort

into providing that and the water sports facility,

when it becomes available to us.

So if you could consider that as one, I'd appreciate it.

Thank you very much.

Thank you for that, all those points well made.

Anita.

Mr Fred Miller - 0:58:53

Councillor Tony Hills - 0:58:53

Thank you.

I think it's always a contentious issue,

Cllr Anita Jones - 0:58:56

as I'm sure our cabinet member realises.

I've had a resident parking permit

for as long as I can remember,

and it's excellent value.

Particularly if you park at the Coastal Park,

really good value there,

because obviously the parking charges are higher.

So you get, and you know, I think we just need to,

again, I know you've had campaigns over the years

to sort of make people aware.

And I don't, I still don't know how people aren't aware,

because it's been on all kinds of publicity

that's been sent out over the years.

I think that's the best thing.

And you're right, there are also,

there is quite a lot of free parking

on the streets in Folkestone.

I've found if I'm popping in,

You can often get a space quite easily.

You might have to walk a tiny bit further,

but you can get, if you're popping in for an hour or so,

you can find a space somewhere.

So I am concerned about the big loss of income,

and I'm concerned about having to hire somebody

to then enforce all of this.

We're a massively stretched district,

and obviously one person won't be able to do that alone.

I would rather see the money that we're

reinvested into sustainable travel and active travel.

I think that would be a much more positive way forward.

I think there are far too many cars on the road.

We've got excellent bus service which goes along our coastline.

And we should be...

I'd like to see that used more.

I'd like us to see reduced bus costs.

I know it's not the same for every village.

There are certain parts of the marsh which are hard to get to.

but I think in Folkestone,

there's a lot of good transport links.

And then obviously we're focusing on this initially,

they were saying it came from a Folkestone resident.

And again, I say it's not a popular view,

but you look at the amount of cars on the road

and that is not sustainable.

We can't keep travelling like that.

We need to be looking at other ways.

So I'd love to see the money reinvested

into positive ways we can encourage sustainable travel,

people walking, you know, I don't know how we can do that,

but I'd like to see it going in that direction

rather than saying we want more cars filling our streets.

I say I think the cost is gonna be a massive loss

to the council.

So there are places to park.

As long as we can keep our free on -street parking

for an hour here, there, and everywhere in the high streets,

I think that's quite useful for those people

who want to pop in.

But I realise that's probably not a very popular view,

so apologies.

You want to make any comment at all, Fred?

Councillor Tony Hills - 1:01:25

I'll just note that and move on.

Okay.

I'll come to you, Bonnie.

Are you making comments?

When you're ready, okay.

Next to my list is...

Thank you.

Cllr Alan Martin - 1:01:43

So I think I'm going to echo the conclusion of the report and what everyone else has said,

but a couple of thoughts at the end.

I definitely see this, although well intended,

would be really complex to enforce,

and I also see, I'm reflecting on New Romley,

and as a resident myself going in there,

I think most of my trips into New Romley

would be under an hour, in that sort of half an hour

to 40 minute kind of zone, and therefore you're gonna have

all kind of blurry lines around, you know,

in forcing people over staying there, they're welcome.

And I think frankly, most people would take a bit of a risk

that the enforcement officer won't be there

for the 10 minutes that they,

or 15 minutes that they go over.

So I can see it being a bit of a can of worms

in that respect.

And the loss, you know, we can't ignore the loss of revenue,

which is really quite significant.

And the fact that the permit is really good value,

and I echo what you're saying in the report,

but everyone else saying we should make more of that

as something that we sell to our residents.

I can't remember when it was, but a couple of years ago,

we had a discussion around whether we should bring charges

in for on -street parking,

and I think we pushed back quite hard on that,

and then the council changed direction,

which was really well received.

So I feel quite passionate around the fact

that there should be, for instance, in New Romney,

access to free parking,

where that is sort of officially there for one hour

on the high street and sort of just generally available

on some of the side streets still.

And I think all local people are aware

of where those spots are and make good use of them.

So I think that caters to the audience

who are looking to sort of efficiently come into town.

I have the impression, although perhaps not

because you said something different,

but I have the impression somebody doesn't live in Fosun,

but have occasionally tried to park in Fokston.

There's a few more roads where there's permit holders only

and whatever, and that's certainly for someone

from outside of Fokston coming in occasionally,

that's quite difficult to navigate.

So I can see that might cause some issues.

Slightly different but similar point to Paul's.

Just in terms of enforcing, so I know talking to

Some of the shop owners on New Romney High Street, their view, you wouldn't know it as a resident because you go in once a week and you're not analysing what cars are there,

but the shop owners will tell you that quite a few of the cars that are using up the free parking on the High Street are people who work in New Romney,

and quite often those cars are there for the whole day.

So under that banner of can we make more efficient use of existing free parking to free up for its intended use,

I'd be interested in thoughts on how we can do that.

And then finally, I need to be careful where I'm going with this, I'm not suggesting we stop it,

but it does raise an interesting question around what we do at Christmas.

And I guess my first question would be, is that a bit of a gift to residents,

or was that originally intended to be something that supports businesses at a crucial sort of trading time?

But here we are talking about essentially bringing an element of free parking in throughout the year

and I wonder the extent to which there was ever an expectation that that washed its face financially or not.

But I think in the report you're saying that that is worth about £90 ,000?

I think.

10 ,000 pounds.

Oh, 10 ,000 pounds, okay.

It's not quite as high as I thought then, so maybe I'll get less uptight about that.

But it does raise a question that we should be consistent in, and I'm not sure, might

be wrong, I'm not sure people would be coming into our towns at Christmas specifically because

there's free parking, but maybe traders would disagree with me, I don't know.

Thank you for that.

Councillor Tony Hills - 1:05:55

Do you want to answer that now, Fred, or should we move on and come back later on that?

Mr Fred Miller - 1:05:59

Now I'll just cover the bit about the free parking, because that's what most people find

difficult, members of the public find difficult to accept that there is a cost to free parking.

Enforcement is so difficult.

We've got two hour limited waiting in Folkestone, two hours down in New Romney, in Sandgate,

and one hour down in Hive.

and the cost of logging vehicles going away and coming back,

it is incredibly expensive.

So there is a cost to the free parking,

but it is what it is.

Okay, thanks for that.

John.

Thank you, Chair.

Cllr John Wing - 1:06:38

My first point is really, from what I see sitting here,

I mean, folks in the world, as far as I know,

if I use a supermarket, you can get free parking,

providing you buy something from the supermarket.

So I think perhaps we're talking about so high,

New Romany and so on,

which obviously are in a completely different circumstance,

which I fully understand Thomas's point about the traders.

And also about St. James's retail park in Dover,

that's free parking, but it's got cameras,

so I suppose it's a lot easier to manage it.

And on Sundays, you don't pay for parking there anyway,

you can just drive in and park there.

But again, you've got cameras and things,

So it's itself regulating.

I can see sitting here, they have a say.

I know something they look at,

you know, when look at the budget is value for money.

And I struggled to see how we're gonna justify

if we changed it, how we're gonna justify,

you know, when they come to look at our budget for the year,

how are we gonna justify this is value for money

for all the community.

So it's difficult.

I mean, going back to Councillor Martin's point

about the traders, I know one trader in Chariton

who looks at his watch and he moves his car every so often

when his time's up and he moves it round and you know,

and I think that happens a lot.

And you can't blame them really if they've got the work there

you know, they've got a park somewhere.

So it's difficult, but I keep coming back

to value for money.

How would we justify this when the audience

is looking at the books?

We have to justify this.

And that is where I struggle.

I can see both sides really.

Okay, Joan, thank you for that.

Laura.

Thanks, Chair.

Councillor Tony Hills - 1:08:22

Cllr Laura Davison - 1:08:27

Yeah, I think looking at the report, it is kind of quite clear in terms of the analysis

of the position and the costs involved.

I agree with the idea of looking at it in a holistic way,

so thinking about how people are able to use the town

and access the different things within the town

in different ways.

We've got an item coming up on our agenda this year

on pedestrians and improving walking accessibility.

accessibility.

But I accept that that and cycling, for example, that it is not suitable for everybody.

And you do have to think about accessibility for people.

And I notice actually in the introduction to this, that is one of the things that the

resident who wrote in raises accessibility and people who may be less willing or able

to use mobile -based parking payment systems.

So I think it would be just interesting to hear whether that's been reflected on or what our response might be to to those concerns.

And obviously, whenever anybody contributes or puts thoughts into the council as part of our process to invite topics, I think it'd be good if we were able to go back to the person with a response, having considered this today in the round.

Thank you for that. Polly.

Councillor Tony Hills - 1:09:55

Cllr Polly Blakemore - 1:10:00

Thank you. It's been good to be here and hearing everybody's views.

Particularly about the residents car park permit, which I think we've had conversations for the three years I've been in post now about getting that out there more.

and every single press release that goes out about parking,

and there are a few, always mentions it.

And yeah, we've been trying relentlessly

to get the word out there,

but it's still not known about enough,

which is why we're giving it a rebrand and another push.

So it is, if you're a regular visitor,

you don't even have to be that often.

For 20 pounds a month, it's really just a no brainer

for a lot of our residents, our guests.

So we just need to get that message out there

because that will sweeten the pill

of a lot of this kind of stuff.

I also wanted us to have a word about

the sustainable alternatives,

because yes, you're absolutely right,

that we shouldn't just be looking at

options for car parking and making parking

potentially cheaper or easier.

And my portfolio does of course cover

all kinds of transport, not just cars and parking.

And you may be interested to know that I'm being

in conversation with, well, it's Southeastern Rail now,

because Network Rail and Southeastern trains

are coming together, but that's an ongoing process.

But they are actively looking at five stations

in the Southeast region for just seeing how easy it is

to integrate that integration between different modes

of transport, and also the wayfinding and signing,

because I think those of you, probably all of you,

who are familiar with Fokston Central,

if you were a newcomer to the town,

it's really disorienting when you come out of that station

to know where you are, which way to go,

which side of the road the bus to the harbour goes,

which side of the road the bus to Hyde goes,

so there is work to be done,

and you'll be glad to hear that that is now

beginning to happen.

And I'm also trying to bring together

our district bus focus group,

and the contacts that we now have at Southeastern Rail

so they can work closer together.

And look at things like timetabling,

just some integration between busses and trains,

so it does become more of an option.

So yes, there is more out there, now our options,

and it's us getting people talking together

and bringing that together.

And of course, I hardly dimension it,

but we do have active travel schemes

that have delivered in the town already.

I'm talking specifically about Folkestone here, but obviously the Cheriton Road scheme

and also coming forward the Folkestone Brighter Future scheme, which will make it easier to

walk and cycle around town.

So yeah, it's the holistic view that we're aiming for.

Thank you for your thoughts and input.

Councillor Tony Hills - 1:13:01

Right, we're almost there, but not quite.

Paul?

Yeah, thank you.

Cllr Paul Thomas - 1:13:07

If I could just comment on a couple of things that have been talked about.

When you look at some of the national schemes and you look at the feedback from national schemes

where they've offered different scales of parking, they do talk about increased football.

Football, I'll say that again.

The lunchtime football where people will pop in and do something for 20 minutes and come away,

you know, that's an important part and that features as a factor.

The casual passing trade, you're more likely to get people

to stop and do what they need to do and then move on.

Just coming back to the transport links,

well, two busses an hour is not a brilliant service.

One down the avenue, one down the high street,

that's not the way it works.

We don't have a railway station.

Well, MIG does, but doesn't have any trains

going through it, of course.

So it is that much more difficult

with an ageing population as well.

And I think the point that Councillor Davidson made

about that's made them report about accessibility. This is not just you know

the spaces that might be available in the high street for those people with

blue badges. We're talking about all the populations who are not eligible for

that but would struggle to get around anyway. So anything we can do to help

accessibility and the more vulnerable members of our community that need to

get to the shops because they don't have a choice but to go to the pharmacy in

street in New Romney, they can't go anywhere else. So again, I just think that I do recognise

that the financial impact this will have and active travel schemes are fine. All the time

you've got an infrastructure around you which gives you a choice of what type of travel

you can use and that choice is very, very limited on Romney Marsh. That's all I'll say.

Thank you, Tony.

Paul, you are singing my song.

Councillor Tony Hills - 1:14:59

Yeah, I think it's an interesting situation.

If I just move on now to, if no one else wants to say anything,

I shall move on to the conclusions.

Obviously we'll note the report, thank you Fred,

but I feel we should make a recommendation to the cabinet member

to have a little think again, not do a complete Dick Richardson,

but to look into more details of what's been raised by the committee.

there's lots of different bits there.

And obviously everybody's coming from their own area

with their own knowledge.

Be on foot, on bike or by car, but not as by train.

So I'd like you to have a little think again

and come back to us if you could.

Is that okay?

Are you happy with that?

Go and see.

Yes.

Right, great.

Moving on.

Councillor Tony Hills - 1:15:49

Oh dear, dear, dear.

Right, it's going to be, might be late finish.

Strategic approach to sports,

and there's your Martello Lakes and Hive.

Mr Jake Hamilton - 1:15:59

Councillor Tony Hills - 1:16:00

Paul, Ewan, you're on.

Thanks, Fred.

9 Strategic Approach To Sport And Leisure: Martello Lakes & Hythe Pool

Councillor Tony Hills - 1:16:28

Mr Ewan Green - 1:16:44

Thank you, Chair, evening members. You recall that we came, I think it was the start of

when we started to talk about sport and leisure provision

and some of the priorities I wanted to talk to you about.

So tonight, really just an update on who we've got to

following that first presentation.

And by no means the last ten, this will be here,

so it's kind of entering just to update you

and take some soundings as well, as always.

So, I'll give a little bit of recap

on what we were talking about before.

touch on the feedback from you as a committee

and how we've tried to incorporate that into the thinking.

Then I will give you a bit more about Martello Lakes

that you've seen in the pack already

and then Andy will pick up on the options

for a high pool redevelopment.

So you recall that the kind of wider

spoken leisure strategy work, the bigger piece of work

will come forward now as part of the local plan

and actually a timetable for local plan

has now been approved, ready to go.

So that work on that strategy will start later this year

and be fed into the process for the local plan

over the next couple of years.

But ahead of that, there was the issues around swimming

and the future of Highpool and the land

that Mark Terrell leaks, which we have,

is reserved, for what a better word for the council,

for sport leisure and community use.

and as I said previously, we were here talking about that in January.

So post that, what's been happening, so Cabinet agreed the grant to the Sports Trust

to support the reopening of folks in the Sports Centre swimming pool

and what to conclude that grant agreement and get things in places well under way.

I think recalling the last meeting this year,

the proposal around the development of high pool

I think was received very positively.

So we've undertaken some more design work,

which Andy will cover.

And we're back here now, May,

and hopefully heading to cabinet probably in July

for that one, we'll touch on that in a minute.

The Rotella Lake section 106 contribution

that we received of 5 .5 million pounds

that has been allocated against

both the Sports Centre Trust grant

and the High Field Development.

We've undertaken some,

looked at material lakes in a bit more detail,

thinking around what might be best suited for that land.

We know, I think, from the last conversation we had

that it wasn't about a new leisure centre or swimming pool,

but that absolutely there should be other uses

for the site that the council should be very interested

in providing support and leisure facilities for the community.

So yeah, onto Martello.

And I think just given that we're back,

and we're talking to our residents as well,

I've just summarised a bit here around the feedback

from you as a committee on the Martello discussion

the last time.

And certainly, that wider point about swimming provision

hasn't been lost, as I said.

And certainly, the point that wasn't lost again

and was well made by members, which was around the need

for greater, an increase in facilities

in the Romney Marsh area and consideration

of the Marsh Academy as a potential opportunity there

in due course.

And that's the work that we'll cover

in that wider support and leisure strategy

linked to the local plan.

But also I think that the point that was made

about Martell Lakes and the numbers of residents there

that's expanding and there was limited access

to sort of community support and leisure facilities.

And I think as a committee, you emphasised the importance

of getting, using the land to support community cohesion

as well and that we should not,

we should take the opportunity to think about

what can be done at scale

and significant investment if possible.

I think he can call you definitely,

I think express the support for acquiring the site.

And we said we'd come back and give you an update

on where we've got to.

So in terms of Martello, just to remind you,

that's the site in yellow there,

so it's right in the centre of Martello Lake's development

there in the Nickles Quarry area.

Significant number of houses coming forward.

And these dates are the important bits again about that.

By the 29th October this year,

we must make, the council must have made a decision

to take the land and then that gives us a year

to submit a reserve matters planning application

for whatever use we feel we wanted to do to promote there.

So, having looked at this in a bit more detail,

and the sports consultancy team helping us with that work,

what's come out as a recommendation is that a mix

based around racket sports, some junior football

and community use, we feel would provide a really positive

and beneficial use for the area.

picking up on what is very current and very prominent

across the country now in terms of Paddle,

multi -use tennis courts offering a bit more flexibility

on what they could be used for in the area,

junior grass football, so this is smaller pitches

to support young people in sport and football,

changing facilities and that sort of community studios

a multi -purpose room that would give a bit more

of a focal point for the community in the area.

And actually, from the work, it was noted

that there was a really strong commercial interest

in provisional paddle course,

and that's generally in the southeast

and across Kent at the moment, actually.

To provide something like this,

we feel the estimated cost at the moment,

and this is really a stress high level,

and just at a first pass at this,

it was about 2 .5 million pounds.

To move forward through the feasibility study

that I'll touch on in a minute,

and through to the reserve matters,

which is really the detailed level that you need

for the planning application, it's about 250 ,000.

This, I apologise, slightly misleading.

All I'm demonstrating really here is that

the general mix of paddle changing facilities,

sort of community use, tennis courts, small football

pitches can fit onto the site that's earmarked

for the council.

So that was really the first bit of testing we had to do

with this to ensure that it can go on there.

That, what you're seeing there is not what it looked like.

It might change in terms of the way things are laid out.

But as a test and fit, we feel this does work.

So next critical stage is really about real feasibility,

getting into the detailed design,

refining what the mix of facilities is in the layout,

how it works, how it fits on the site,

really getting more robust capital costs.

And then I think critically as part of that,

we need to think about the consideration

of management options in the operating model.

There's different ways of doing this.

And we know that if there's a strong private sector

I think another interesting paddle is a role

for the private sector and that element of it, potentially.

But recognising that this is a new facility,

the Council promoting it, we have to have a very robust

appraisal of the management options,

and a business plan that stacks up,

and we can share about the revenue assumptions,

and from that work, recommend a way forward.

As part of all that and underpinning this,

as I hope you'd expect, and as the points that you made

to us the last time was that consulting on this

is really important.

So consultation and engagement with High Town Council,

the youth forum, other stakeholders and the community

to help inform the detail design and the facility mix.

And what's the ways that we'll do that moving forward,

but certainly, just to reassure you that that feasibility

work has to absolutely be underpinned

that local engagement.

And the report to cabinet,

so we're aiming to go to cabinet in June

to get the agreement to go forward

and move into that feasibility work.

So, first of all, agreeing to secure the land,

which is a significant step and a positive one,

then agree to go out to the feasibility study,

agree to go to consultation,

and of course note that we'll come back with further reports

and that the funding for the 250 ,000 pounds

for revenue -stoke capital required for the feasibility lot

is available and allocated in current budgets.

So we can move forward on this one fairly quickly

in the next period.

And how's that looking?

There's a timeline.

So Cabinet June or July, I'm hoping June actually,

when we kick off in the feasibility work,

through consultation,

we notify landowner formally of our intentions,

and that takes us probably around to June 27th

for cabinet approval to submit

the Preserve Matters application.

And of course, that's underpinned by the feasibility work

and the business plan.

And then we ensure that's in there by 29th of October, 2027.

and I've got a lot of steps in there.

The only thing I have admitted, and I do apologise,

we'll obviously come back here and cheque in with you

as I know of you in committee as well

as that's moved forward.

But there's a decent amount of time there

for us to move this forward and ensure that what we do come,

we do bring to the council for approval is robust

and is something which is not only based on the thinking

that we've had as officers in the work,

but has got a strong community buy -in as well.

I might just pause there, if that's OK.

That's the Martello piece.

I'm happy to take any questions on Martello just now and then move on to the house.

So, I have to say.

It's great for the idea.

Are there any...

My niece is straight in.

And John.

So, yeah, really exciting, bringing this forward.

Cllr Anita Jones - 1:27:40

I think it's really important for there to be a really good community space at Martello Lakes.

And, yeah, some great ideas.

I think there was a concern to me about the cost of Paddle,

just because the High Town Council had discussions

with the Paddle operator in recent months.

And it does seem very pricey, so I want to make sure

that whatever facility we put in is affordable for the residents

to use, because it would probably bring people

in from other places.

It's also quite a noisy sport, so I think we might just need

to think about placement as to how close to houses.

I don't know how close this will be to houses.

But I know it's massively popular at the moment.

So it's good to get people playing sports.

My other question was, you've put container pavilion.

It'd be really nice to have a really lovely

community space there.

I was reflecting on the beautiful one down in New Romney,

which was recently built,

which has changing facilities downstairs

and a multi -use room upstairs.

I think it would be a shame not to do it really well down there,

because I think it's a growing community

and you need these spaces to bring people together.

Likewise, on South Road and Hyde, that's a really nice community space.

The latest one down in New Romney is wonderful

and I'm sure the sports groups are appreciating that.

More than just a container would be nice, if that's possible.

I know it's expensive.

Thanks, Anita. John?

Councillor Tony Hills - 1:29:11

Cllr John Wing - 1:29:15

Thank you, Chair. Very much the same as Anita, actually. I was concerned, well, not concerned

so much with the D -pad. I'd like to know how it actually works. Do we build a pad when

the firm comes on and takes it over and runs it? We share the profits from that. That would

be very interesting. And again, I am concerned about the containers. It's on my ward and

I've seen how much it's growing down there. And there is nothing else down there. I mean,

can see a lovely lake but there's a fence between them and the lake so they got a small area of

plate all seems to be constantly flooded. It all seems to be watering there but that's not our

problem basically and I'm very pleased to hear he's going to come back to us because it just

saying the report got back the cabinet but I'm pleased when you said them but yeah it seems

seems good so far and I agree that we should sort of acquire the land should we say.

Anybody else?

Councillor Tony Hills - 1:30:07

Laura?

Yes, thanks.

Cllr Laura Davison - 1:30:13

Similarly, with the container, I didn't quite understand what it meant, container pavilion.

And also, I wasn't clear exactly what that was designed to do.

but I think it'd be interesting to know how these proposals have been come up

with, what's been considered and what's perhaps been rejected in terms

of thinking about what could be on the site and what sort of lenses have been

looked at through in terms of who the residents might be or who might use it

from outside. Is it designed to cater for lots of different

Demographics, thinking about access inclusion.

I don't have a handle on that at the moment.

I think what you're saying is that the next stage would be those proposals going forward,

as opposed to a consultation about what people might want to see.

So I don't know if that's happened already or how we've arrived at that particular list of things.

Right, thank you. Paul?

Councillor Tony Hills - 1:31:25

Yeah, thank you. Well, a couple of things, if I may.

Cllr Paul Thomas - 1:31:29

The first, just in terms of the funding side of things, and you commented on securing the land.

Is there any tie -up between the Section 106 agreement, the funding, and the land use?

So are we clear about making sure there isn't anything there which requires to go back

and renegotiate the section 106 or, you know, have a deed of variation or something of that nature?

I think secondly, just in terms of who should be included in the list of consultees,

have we talked to Sport England about what they understand to be the areas that need improving

because they'll have the bigger picture,

not just across the district, but across Kent.

And then, of course, we've got to talk about

the lack of swimming provision on Rony Marsh as well, haven't we?

You know, we can't swim in the sea.

You know, we've got no, we haven't got adequate swimming pool provisions.

So somewhere on the way.

I would like that side of it, which is a bullet point

in the text here, to be elaborated on in the future.

I would see some kind of idea,

the definition of needs, statements,

something like that, where we can get some kind of outline

as to what could be achieved with the space available

at some location on Romney Marsh

and what the indicative cost would be.

Because again, I just come back to this

in terms of how we pay for all of these things.

We have got in the capital programme funding identified

for leisure facilities there over a number of years,

which we said that we'd borrow money for

and then we'd service that.

That was something that goes up, I think, to 2030

in part of that programme.

So again, I'd be really interested to see

how anything like that in terms of swimming provision

on roaming wash could be provided

and factored into that programme going forward,

bearing in mind that with LGR,

that would be out of our hands anyway.

but if we've got something which is on the table,

at least it gives us something,

it gives us a bargaining chip, doesn't it?

That's all, thank you, Chair.

Thank you, Paul, but just to make a quick point there,

Councillor Tony Hills - 1:33:50

LGR, this is gonna happen, you all know, in its own way,

but the work we have in progress will still carry on,

I believe, so we have to work on the basis,

whatever we decide, it will be carrying on into the future.

It might not, but we have to work on the basis it will.

So that point of view.

Right, Bridget.

Thank you, I did put my hand up at the same time as Anita.

Cllr Bridget Chapman - 1:34:17

I wanted to make the similar point

about the container pavilion.

I'm assuming that means shipping container

modular type building.

And I'm assuming that might be cost related,

but I would like to see residents

as having a proper purpose -built facility.

So I just wondered if you could talk a little bit

about what it does mean and if we could,

if that's something we could be looking at.

Okay, thanks for that.

And I think you're quite right, by the way.

Councillor Tony Hills - 1:34:49

Alan.

Yeah, thank you.

I agree with everything everyone has said,

Cllr Alan Martin - 1:34:57

particularly about the pavilion.

and the proposal looks really good.

One of the questions I did have,

which maybe, I mean, I guess this will come through

in the feasibility work, but just better understanding

the demand for the sports that we've chosen.

I'm aware of the fact that in LID,

we've had some tennis courts built,

and it's widely regarded in the area

as having been a bit of a waste of money

because no one uses them.

Now, they maybe have been managed that well or promoted that well or whatever, but I guess

we want to avoid things like that from happening.

So in the feasibility, I'll be interested to see how we've sort of equated for the demand,

but maybe more importantly, thinking about how we run the facility, so the extent to

which it's privately owned or there are private businesses running it, which gives them an

incentive to promote it, the extent to which we would promote the facility if it's under

our kind of ownership and the extent to which we would facilitate or seek to encourage the

development of clubs and whatever to use the facilities partly to support the wider sort

of community piece but largely to ensure that people are actively using it.

Interestingly, I live in Ivy Church, but most of my sporting activity I do in Ham Street,

where there's quite a nice little pavilion and some running clubs, football clubs, netball and so on.

But the local council and a sort of an amenities group actually does quite a lot to think through what residents need

and to encourage the fostering of different kind of groups and clubs and so on.

And then finally, I'm sure you would have already thought about this, but just in terms of funding, I don't know whether

there's an extent to which we can seek funding as part of the

initiative with the local ICS through the NHS. I know

we spoke about the fact that we're trying to get some funding for the Marsh Academy, for instance.

I just wonder whether that's another pot of money we can tap into.

Councillor Tony Hills - 1:37:22

Thank you for that. All good points. If I could just say about LID, it was an existing

tennis court that was renovated at great expense, but with the help of Sports England. That's

not quite the same. That's the end of part one for you. I'll make a few comments before

We move on to part two.

Mr Andy Blaszkowicz - 1:37:47

With regards to the container, the container was in an earlier iteration of our thinking

and as it developed amongst officers, following the last OSCE, it became clear that there

was something a bit grander in scale, would be well met by the local community, which

Which is when we started thinking more along the lines of what we've got off at Shawn Cliff,

for example, with the changing rooms downstairs, and it's pretty much like the space that you've

referred to, I think.

Probably not on the scale of the Pavilion at South Road, but certainly something with

a yoga studio that could double up as a play group, or you could hire it for a birthday

party with changing rooms and showers and toilets.

It just hasn't been updated on the plan.

I say that was an earlier iteration, but as our thoughts developed following your input

at the last meeting, that was the direction it was going.

And I say this is very much a feasibility stage

at the moment, so this is all very much part

of the process about designing it through.

And with regards to getting to the current mix

of where we are, we employed the sports consultancy,

as Euan referred to earlier, to look at the early,

well, the leisure approach that we've brought to you before,

they were commissioned to do that,

which was the early work to the new local panel

and the sports provision within that.

So as part of that, as part of the report we received,

they've assessed the sports provision across the district

and what we've got where, specifically looking

at the three things we'd asked them to,

which is the uses for Martello Lakes,

Foson Sports Centre, and Hyde Pool.

So we could design a strategy around those three things,

which were the most pressing things

that we needed to address.

So we looked at our sports provision

around the catchment of Martello Lakes,

and essentially a long storey short,

that is the mix that they've come up with from that.

There is a document that underpins this and that is the use.

Judging from the fact that senior football is generally catered for,

junior football, there's always space needed.

Paddle is obviously massively booming.

There's only one provider in the district, I think, at the moment,

which is at the Three Hills.

So there's definitely room for that.

Tennis is largely provided for, but it could be some additional capacity.

Hence looking at two courts, which are multi -use,

so they can double up for basketball

and hard surface football and things like that as well.

So we thought it was a general mix, a good general mix,

obviously consultation can feed into that.

And obviously any feedback that we get from you

can also feed into that and we can take that away with us.

Okay, do you want to carry on?

Councillor Tony Hills - 1:40:25

Yeah, go on then.

Yeah, go on.

Sorry, yes, just lots of great feedback, thank you.

Mr Ewan Green - 1:40:30

And things we'll again take on board and follow up with.

I think you talked about the cost of power,

I think a couple of comments, not lost on us at all,

but I think in terms of the feasibility,

we don't want to create something here, sorry,

that's not accessible, that's for sure.

So there is something, and that's why I think

we majored on that in describing the feasibility study,

and looking at the operating models,

because there may be a role for privacy,

but maybe not, maybe it's not where you want to go

as a council.

In terms of noise, we think there's probably a,

it's a good point,

We feel that the courts here probably will be covered

and there'll be probably some noise abatement involved,

but certainly it's definitely a consideration.

In terms of, Councillor Thomas,

you asked me a specific question about 106.

There is no tie, no link.

There's no need to do anything else.

The contribution from Martella Lakes

has been paid by the developer.

Council's received it, so everything's clear in that sense.

This is not currently funded,

So I think any avenue for funding will be looked at from anything from the council's capital to sell to grants and including health funding

So absolutely we've been looking at that as well

And I think that's maybe a two or three bits of quick follow -up, if there's anything else I've missed I'm happy to

You whatever. Yeah, thanks. I just want to pick up on the point that Alan made about

Cllr Mike Blakemore - 1:41:54

Fostering community involvement in developing clubs because I think that's a really really good suggestion. I hope we can look at that

I also agree with everyone about the container.

Andy knows, that was exactly the first question

I asked about it, is does it have to be a container?

So we're all in agreement, we don't want a container.

Okay, you're in?

We're gonna proceed, time's going on, so.

Councillor Tony Hills - 1:42:16

I can see Andy wants a beer.

Mr Andy Blaszkowicz - 1:42:36

Today or indeed recently this is going to look at the redevelopment of this and we're

starting here with the current layout just so you're familiar with it because I appreciate

not all of you may have been in there.

So as you'll see there that's the existing pool the entrance around the side where the

red dot is, then you've got the changing rooms that come off that and then you've got like

a zigzag your way all the way through to the pool hall where the learner pool is and the

main pool and you can see it on the plan there in relation to South Road you've got the car

park at the front and then South Road and then you've got the beach to the south to

the bottom of the picture. So I won't dwell on that too much longer. Some current pictures

of our lovely retro asset, which we work hard to keep in usable condition. Unfortunately,

it is ageing. We all know this. I won't dwell on these, but it was just again for if you

haven't been in there recently, to give you a quick look. And the bottom left image there,

that was recently where we had seawater behind the pool liner, which was pushing it out.

and the team had to work very hard to acquire what we thought was an obsolete pump, but managed to get one

to pump it out and to get it back again. This is a problem that we constantly have with the pool

is the rising and falling tide every day, or twice a day.

Change of rooms, probably your childhood memories I'm sure.

There's not a lot to be said further on that I think, I think go on your own.

This is the plant room, which is a compliant plant room, but it is far from ideal.

We do a lot of work to keep it compliant.

I'm sure there's some things in there with gaffa tape on them and things like that, which

definitely is in need of modernization.

And that's the outside of the pool.

So you've got the main pool bit there, which has got a relatively new roof, which we do

believe is actually well -liked by all the users because it lets so much light into the

building.

And then you've got the flat roof building next to that there, which has got some issues

with the roof and will need replacing.

So again, I think that probably says it all.

So we've commissioned a team of consultants to look at this.

These are experts in pool, well, both new pools and pool redevelopment.

They've done lots of projects locally, and they are basically the go -to consultants for

this type of work.

and what we've commissioned so far is essentially REVA 1 which isn't actually

concept design, it's feasibility, it's initial feasibility, so it's looking at

what options there are and how you might want to take that forward. So we've

looked at a number of options from option one from a basic refurbishment

through to a remodelled option based on that refurbishment but the sort of next

thing up remodelled using fully green technology, getting rid of the gas,

getting rid of all the ageing plant,

and then an enhanced option.

So I'll run through those quickly now.

And any feedback that you wanna give us

on any direction of travel,

which would be really useful to take back.

So the basic refurbishment is essentially

looking at what is there now and making it newer.

So we know the building doesn't work particularly well.

The changing room layout is small and cramped.

Modern facilities tend to have a changing village.

You have to walk in the door

and then you turn right to come down to reception and pay and then you have to walk back through the zigzag to the pool or through the change of rooms depending on obviously if you're swimming or spectating.

So the internal layout of it doesn't really work particularly well.

However, we can turn, we can do that.

These are indicative costs and I will stress massively indicative.

This is pre -survey.

Surveys come at Riva too.

I mean, the surveys for the building will cost in the region of £100 ,000 for all the different surveys that we need.

So obviously we haven't commissioned that yet.

So these are very high level indicative costs

which are subject to change.

But they're priced from experience

so that they're a reasonable ballpark.

All options would include a larger car park.

We're gonna car park around the rear as well

because we do recognise that the facility is busy

and if we are gonna modernise it and make it better,

it will become busier and require more parking.

So that is a life -to -life replacement.

So it will look brand new inside.

It will have all new tiling surrounds, it will have new pool liners, it will have new

changing rooms, it will be painted. The outside of the building will have minor works to repair it,

I wouldn't imagine for that price it will be fully clad and looking all shiny and new from the

outside but it will be a decent facility inside that will give it a much expected extended

lifetime. So on to option two, the main difference here is the internal layout of all the

user facilities if you like.

So you'll see number 11 there, that's a new extension.

So that basically, what that does is bring the plant room

away from where it was at the top.

So the plant room was essentially that section

where you've got number nine, eight, and 12

at the top and the red dot.

The red dot is now the new entrance.

That is where the plant room was.

So by moving that plant room, it gives us a load more space

to play with on the interior,

which allows far better movement flow

coming in straight away to a reception waiting area then you've got the option of going through

into the spectator area or dropping down into a new changing village. Now that's not the ideal

changing village size, a new building would have a slightly bigger changing village than that,

but I'm sure you'll agree it's probably a vast improvement on what we have currently.

And with the plant room being moved to where number 11 is, this gives shorter cable runs,

pipe runs and everything else and actually is a more efficient location to have it in.

You'll notice we have included the learner pool in all options. There was an option presented to us

by the consultants which removed the learner pool but we didn't think anybody would like that and

swimming lessons etc etc so we didn't even entertain that we discounted that straight away.

This does retain gas in the building and it does retain some of the plant and equipment which we

must recognise is old, but where it can be reconditioned and some of it will be utilised,

that is essentially the plan for this option. So not too much more expensive on that, but

it doesn't tick the green boxes, it doesn't improve the thermal efficiency of the building,

but it does again create you a new facility that's going to last for a number of years

and it gives you a much better internal layout and will be much more user friendly. And all

of these options it will look and feel like a new pool inside will have higher use numbers,

will have a higher income for etc. So moving on to the next one now. This is essentially

the same, but with removing gas as the primary heating source. So you'll be looking at solar,

you'll be looking at air source heat pumps, you'll be looking at heat recovery through

the building, you'll be looking at improvements to the fabric of the building and thermal

efficiency of the roof, for example, that comes at a cost, as you can see. This does include

the majority of professional fees and things like that, so it's not all the build costs,

but again I must caveat that these are very early costings pre -survey and things like that.

So that is one of the options that we would suggest going forward with, if not the preferred

option. However, if we go to option four, there is another alternative which is looking at an

enhanced facility which would provide more leisure facilities for the local area and local residents.

That includes demolishing the side building which had the flat roof that I showed you earlier,

so where all the changing room and other facilities are now, that building would come

down and then it essentially be rebuilt in a double storey to the rear of the building.

Again you can see from the plan there so this would include obviously the refurbished pool hall,

a bigger changing village, office and other space downstairs, entrance around the side again,

it's a slightly different configuration but notably on the first floor it's going to include

or could include I should say, a gym and studio space. Now this does enhance the facility

quite notably, but also you'll see that it enhances the cost also. I think that's probably

what I need to say on that one for the time being. So from a finance perspective, we've

got six million pounds in the budget now. As we know that's split across this year and

next year with two million in this year and four million in next year. So we can work

with that amount of money or depending on the option, we can look at budget setting

next year, what members decide what your guidance is, what capital they then decide to take

forward from an option. There is room to grow the revenue of the building. At the moment,

it's quite a significant cost to the council, it costs the council about £285 ,000 a year

That's the deficit, essentially that's the general fund here if you like of running the

pool, of what it costs us in gas, electricity, repairs and income netted off.

All of the options improve that position.

Option one, and again these are high level but these have been done across similar facilities,

across the last 10 years looking at income flows and stuff with similar swimming pools.

So just doing a complete refurbishment of what's there now, like for like, would probably

take our net revenue position, so costing the council rather than 285 pounds, costing

the council about 45 ,000 to run. That's basically on slightly more efficient layout, things

newer and enhanced revenue by more people willing to use the pool and maximising

maximising that usage. Option two, there's actually a little bit more to run,

about 50 ,000 pounds a year to run, but still reducing the current 285 quite

significantly. Option three, which is the getting rid of the gas, takes you to about

37 ,000 pound deficit a year. But again, these all need to be worked through

massively because you've got all your surveys, all your M &E, design, so your

mechanical and electrical systems and everything to work it all out properly

and do the proper calculations. Interestingly, option four turns that,

although you've got a much more significant cost, does turn that into a

potential surplus position. So you've got your gym and your studio pulling in

income as well as the pool's cost money, gyms are normally there to supplement the cost

of running that, which is generally what we hear from people that are experienced in this.

So Reba stages two to four, which so two is concept design, three to four goes through

your detailed design planning submission, and four is sort of the detailed specification

and getting you ready to go out for tender,

as I'm sure most of you know.

Any additional budget will have to be formally agreed

through formal budget setting processes.

Thanks again.

So recommendations in, through the July cabinet report

are gonna be to consider the options presented

and identify preferred options.

Now it could be one option to go forward with,

it could be two options to go forward with.

To go to REBA 2, we can essentially go for two options.

There's probably about a 30 ,000 pound difference.

So whilst we wouldn't want to have any abortive costs,

to make a proper decision on this,

I guess the question, and what I'd like your feedback on is,

do we have to have, to make a proper decision

to have really firmed up costings before you can proceed,

or choose an option now to proceed with. That's kind of what's on the table in front of us.

Reba Stage 2 is going to cost in the region of about £350 ,000 to take two options forward.

Now about £100 ,000 of that is survey work, not just building surveys, ecological surveys

and all the other surveys that you have to do for the planning submission. If we just

proceeded with one option, depending on what option that was, that could reduce that by

about 30, 30 ,000 pounds.

There are some other options within that cost

at the moment as well, which I think when we sort of

go through the scope a little bit, we can take out.

So I think we can probably save about another 20

to 30 ,000 pounds on that 350 as we move through it.

So this is the question that will be getting put to cabinet.

And then to note that a further report will be presented

after REBA II works are concluded,

and for CAB, can add cabinet to confirm which option

they would like to proceed with to the next stages

and for the project.

We've got a brief timeline next.

So overview and scrutiny committed tonight.

July cabinet, REBA stage two and site surveys would commence after cabinet and run until about October.

Cabinet approval then following that with the preferred option in November 26.

Riva three to four from November to March 27 and then we'll be bringing it back to OSC

prior to cabinet for approval of the scheme and then you'll see the rest of their planning

submission through the spring, summer 27 and contractor appointment in autumn 27 with work

starting in late 27, early 28. Ambitious timeline but I think we can deliver that if

we get the right approvals in place and get moving.

Happy to take any questions.

Thank you for that.

Cllr Abena Akuffo-Kelly - 1:56:59

I just wanted to ask, you said something about extended

lifetime for option one.

I assume that's the same for one and three.

So have you got any idea about how many years

you mean by the extended lifetime for those?

And I've got another question.

Do you want to answer that one?

Mr Andy Blaszkowicz - 1:57:20

Okay, I think when we set out and we first presented this as part of the leisure approach,

we'd also always said, looks at getting Otterpool online. So when the sports facilities, they're

likely to be coming forward. So I think we've set out a minimum of 15 years, 10 to 15 years.

However, we're dropping like steel pool lighters and things and this, it will last, in theory,

it will last a lot longer than that. Because we'd like to keep this facility going past

that point anyway, to provide that provision within the district.

Cllr Abena Akuffo-Kelly - 1:57:52

Thank you. I was just asking about, so in regards to calculation, so it sounds like

option three is a preferred one, and that aligns more with our climate commitments as

a council anyway. So I just wanted to cheque. Obviously, it's going to be $6 .8 million.

You've said that the budget is $6 million, so where's that extra money going to come

but also if the running costs of 37,

which are actually quite good compared to the others,

have you looked at how over time the offset

of the additional outlay evens out,

or does it even out how much extra

we're actually going to spend?

So number one, the positives are that it

aligns with our climate commitments.

Number two, we're actually using equipment and facilities

which are aligning with some of the changes

that we should be making anyway,

in regards to buildings.

And then number three, overall,

if it is actually going to be cheaper to run,

because we're not using the gas,

and we have solar, we have all those other things,

will it, although it's more expensive initially,

overall, will it, after those 15, 30 years,

would it actually be cheaper in the long run?

Mr Andy Blaszkowicz - 1:59:07

The short answer is a little bit early to say.

Ultimately, the option three to which you're referring, it's going to remove gas from the

property.

So straight away, it's going to be reducing the carbon footprint, but we do obviously

we then just can't put electricity in the building, we've got to look at how we generate

that electricity.

This is really the stage one feasibility work so it's very early to say we need to look

at the site surveys, we need to look at the capacity for the building, what solar we can

get in there, what power draw it will be for the pool heating, space heating, that's why

I use the mechanical heat recovery, etc.

So we need to look at all those capacities, which is all part of the M &E design, so that

will all flow.

So these are indicative, it's all moving in the right direction.

I mean, we'd like to get it to as close to carbon zero as possible, very difficult to

do with an old building.

However, you've then got, we don't want to demolish the old building because then you've

and we've got carbon offset from that as well.

So it's getting the balance right

and working through the next reaver stages

to see what is the most efficient way of running a pool

and what is the capacity for things like solar panels

and stuff like that.

Does that make sense?

I can't think of anything else.

Yes, but it's sort of future proof set

by adding all of those things as well.

But I just want to cheque with the new bill,

Cllr Abena Akuffo-Kelly - 2:00:21

so with option four,

do you have all of that incorporated as well?

So all the sort of solar and...

Mr Andy Blaszkowicz - 2:00:31

Yes, and you've got a bigger roof to put solar panels on.

With option four, that doesn't demolish the existing pool hall, it's extending at the

back.

So it's demolishing the side building where the changing rooms are.

So just to be clear, it's not a whole new building because you're not going to build

a ledger centre for that sort of money.

So it's retaining the existing pool hall, it's taking down the building at the side

and building a new building at the back.

Thank you for that.

John.

Councillor Tony Hills - 2:00:54

Thank you, Chair.

A couple of questions.

Cllr John Wing - 2:00:57

and his first question is about the finance.

The 3 .1 million left over from Marta and Alexis,

106 money for the actual facilities in Pomeranian hive.

I presume that's falling into the midterm capital programme

is part of this money, this six million pounds,

is that correct?

Yeah, I just want you to have that money.

So it's just falling into, so it's part of the,

in fact, it's in double, almost double,

so that's good, in fact.

The other question is,

I'm concerned about Councillor Jones going back to swimming again.

I presume those options take longer.

And option four, obviously the pool will be shut for quite a while,

while this demolition work goes on and then the new facilities are made,

where option one is probably going to be shut for a short period of time.

We just re -dig everything and put the new plant in.

Is it further down you go, the longer the pool will actually shut for?

Mr Andy Blaszkowicz - 2:01:55

That needs to be worked through. I think option four might actually be the quickest potentially

because I know again don't quote me on this because it is early days. I know I keep saying

that but it is very early days but in theory you might be able to build a lot of that at

the back before you touch anything else whereas all the other options is complete refurbishment.

You are essentially gutting the whole building taking all the water out of the pools relining

doing everything and doing everything from scratch,

taking out all the plant, et cetera.

So option four might actually be the quickest,

but we haven't explored that yet,

but we can explore that as we go through the next stages.

And the other thing is I'm aware that the pool

Cllr John Wing - 2:02:33

is very popular with the hive.

If you built, and the roof is opposite,

you're gonna stay the same, you need an option four then,

because the new roof is gonna go on the back of it.

Is that correct?

Yeah, so the pool, the actual pool itself,

it would look similar.

Yes, we need to look at it because we do need to look

at the thermal efficiency of the existing roof,

which isn't particularly thermal efficient.

Mr Andy Blaszkowicz - 2:02:56

So we do need to look at that,

but obviously we'll take on board what we've heard

about the light and everything like that

and see what we can do.

Excellent, thank you very much.

Cllr John Wing - 2:03:07

Thank you for that.

Alan.

Thank you, Tony.

Councillor Tony Hills - 2:03:13

Cllr Alan Martin - 2:03:16

And yeah, really good reports and nice options laid out there.

As you know, when we discussed this before, one of my concerns is around the extent

to which we pile more money into an ageing facility with the risk that it might fail

versus building, you know, something new.

And also thinking about the sort of financial

and environmental sustainability of the setup as well.

So in my mind, as you sort of go down the list, I get more interested.

So three and four kind of appeal to me because it feels like we're getting quite close to a new facility there.

And I really like, I mean, obviously more numbers need to be kind of processed by, although it's a lot more expensive,

I kind of do warm to the fourth option on the basis that it is sustainable and it feels the more we do to make it a new facility there.

the better. The only points on my mind which is sort of reinforced when you see the aerial

view of it is just the open question are we limiting our options by assuming that

we have to say option three and four we're almost building a new pool but on an

existing site and I can see there is advantages to doing that but it's such a

small site I still have a question in my mind as to whether we're

limiting our options by insisting that it's on the same site.

And I just wonder whether there's any benefit

in looking into whether other sites would work

and the extent to which if you were to take a,

I'm not, just to be clear, I'm not talking about that.

It's just a genuine point on the economics of it.

But if you had a bigger piece of land,

would you build something better and would it therefore be even more

economically viable is my only point. It would also enable NEET to

carry on swimming whilst the new facility is being built and I know when we

just discussed it before one of the tricky balancing acts for us was that

you know so we've invested in Fodston swimming pool to ensure that

there's at least one pool open,

but if we were building it somewhere else,

we could build that and with a bit of luck,

maintain two pools possibly in the meantime.

So just be interested in your thoughts on that.

We have looked at this before.

Mr Andy Blaszkowicz - 2:05:50

We'll be looking at delivering a pool,

Okay, it's not in the immediate future, but that is the primary focus for the council

so it was what we could do to make the best use of the budget that we essentially we have

available to get folks and reopened, and to do something at high pool.

Now you talk about options three and four been essentially new pools, they're not the

option three is a new interior with a new heating mechanical system and option four

is closer to a newer facility, but you're taking down the side building, leaving the pool hall as

it is, albeit refurbished, then with a new building to the rear. Now the estimated cost for that is

10 .4 million or whatever it was, I don't know, 10 .8 million. Looking at current pool costs,

the cheapest you're building a new standalone pool with some minimal facilities at the moment

is about 25 million pound.

So there's a huge difference there

if the land was available.

And as the council's primary focus at the moment

is obviously to ensure we've got swimming provision now

and into the future, our strategy,

which has been obviously agreed by yourselves,

endorsed by yourselves and agreed by cabinet

was to pursue Martello Lakes, Heithpool

and the Poston Sports Centre.

So that's what we're pursuing.

And we think we've got a good combination of the options.

and I agree with the options three and four.

That's probably as an officer,

that's what I would suggest putting forward.

And I think it's a really good compromise on the site

that we know works and is well located,

avoids the catchment issues that we have with Martello

and things like that.

And we know everybody likes it.

Are you okay with that, sir?

Councillor Tony Hills - 2:07:41

And then you want to pause on the mic.

Yeah, no, so, no, that's really helpful.

Cllr Alan Martin - 2:07:48

I mean, I guess if you were looking at a new site,

a balancing item could be if you choose a site

that's cheaper than the one that you might sell

having closed the old pool,

but you would have looked it out anyway.

So, but yeah, I think four leaps out at me,

albeit it's risky because it's more money, yeah.

Okay, Anita, do you want to dive in?

Certainly.

Cllr Anita Jones - 2:08:14

I'm really enthusiastic about this.

It's such a well -loved pool and it's such a good location.

So I know when you talk about the locations,

but people can walk there easily.

There's good parking along the road at the moment.

More parking will probably be useful actually.

So there's a lot of land,

which is not being used at the moment.

So it's a very sensible idea.

Really keen to look at you taking option four forward,

just because there's no kind of gym facility

in Hyde at the moment.

And I think that would really transform health

and people's wellbeing in Hyde if they had that option.

There was a little gym in the pool years ago,

but it was a tiny little sweaty room, I think, wasn't it?

So I think that would really transform it.

And the fact that it would then make it financially viable

would be great actually,

if it could balance the costs.

Change of facilities, it would just, yeah,

anything's going to be an improvement really, isn't it?

Looking forward to that.

So yeah, I mean if you could make option four work,

I don't know, I assume there's grants available

from Sports England or Swim England.

I don't know, I assume the council will look

into things like that.

I don't know if that's a possibility,

but it'd be fantastic for the residents in time.

And I say it would be great if it's not shut for too long

because if you go on a Tuesday or Thursday evening,

there are hordes of children learning how to swim.

It's so important that young people learn to swim.

So, yeah, if we can keep, and it'll help the marsh

if it's not shut for too long as well.

Thank you.

Okay, thank you for that.

Councillor Tony Hills - 2:09:55

Paul, your turn.

Yeah, thank you, Chair.

Yeah, thanks for that, Andy.

It's good to see it laid out in a way

Cllr Paul Thomas - 2:10:02

where we get an idea of timescales and timelines.

And of course, as you rightly say,

when you get Reba Stage 4,

then in terms of cost confidence,

you're that much closer to it

in terms of what you can then present to this council

in terms of decision making.

So that all makes perfect sense.

I've got two questions.

The first is, we haven't had an update

on the progress of Foggsdon Sports Centre,

which is critical to what we then do

in terms of when the high pool is likely to start.

So I think maybe as an aside,

it would be really useful to make sure

that we get the update and we know

that they're on track and they're going to deliver it

and it's going to be ready for people to start swimming

in September.

That's critical irrespective of the decisions we make

about this, isn't it?

Because we don't have adequate swimming pool provision

in Fokeston currently or in the district.

So that's essential.

The second thing I'd like to raise is really if we go back

to the medium -term capital programme for 2025 -26,

I'm just picking up on Councillor Martin's point.

For leisure centre development there, you know,

we had 26 million pounds identified in the budget

to do what we wanted to do with the new leisure centre.

It showed in there a 2 million pound grant

and an 8 million pound capital receipt funding virtually half

of that 26 million pound with the rest made up from borrowing.

So my question would be, are the details that was included

within last year's medium -term capital programme still relevant

for what we do going forward?

Because it looks like we've already got it within our gift

to be able to go and deliver, you know, option four

if we chose to with a little bit of tweaking perhaps.

So that would be my question.

Thank you very much.

So the capital programme has been re -profiled.

Mr Andy Blaszkowicz - 2:11:58

So last year's capital programme has moved on to what it is now.

The 8 million that was showing within there was the potential sale of South Road.

That's what that 8 million came from.

And I'm assuming that the 2 million was from the 106, but

I can't think of anything else there that would have been from the other time.

With regards to folks in sports centre, that is progressing.

The grant agreement is pretty much finalised.

And I think it's just having a final review from legal.

I'll be able to get you an update on the wider project and we can circulate that by email if you like, if that's okay for members.

Cllr Paul Thomas - 2:12:44

Can I just recommend, so the 8 million capital receipt was the sale of South Road, sorry.

Would have been from the potential sale of South Road.

Oh, that's okay.

Laura.

Cllr Laura Davison - 2:13:01

Yeah, thanks. Just thinking about the car park expansion, I assume you'd also be thinking

about other sort of bike parking and other ways, and that, and electric charging points.

I think it makes sense to put two options forward in terms of the additional costs that

there would be. Looking at that, it looks like option three is an obvious one to kind

of develop further.

How long do each of those options take?

Do we have a sense of that?

And I think it would be important at the next stage

to have an understanding, more of an understanding

on the payback periods of time.

And also in terms of where it is,

you talked about the issues there are with the tides

at the moment in terms of the longevity of the site.

that obviously is a factor in terms of an investment now.

So just be useful to have more kind of information

around that when assessing things at the next stage.

Towards early winter, thank you.

Mr Andy Blaszkowicz - 2:14:29

With regards to the pool itself, obviously all the other things you mentioned with the

cycle parking, we're also looking at can we get canopies over the car parking spaces for

solar panels and things like that, but we've just got to be mindful of cost and it not

spiralling out of control.

With regards to the pool and the tides, we have a solution for this.

Currently there is a concrete pool liner and then there's a plastic, for want of a better word, liner inside, which sits inside the concrete.

Now the concrete has a number of issues with it, probably dating back certainly to the earthquake, but there's cracks in it basically which let water in.

There's also some pumps that are fitted, which we tried to replace last time the pool liner

came out, but as soon as you loosen them, the amount of water that came out of the ground

was just ridiculous.

So we're constantly pumping seawater out of it.

But we are dropping in steel pool liners to both pools, or certainly the bigger pool,

and we're currently looking at the learner pool as well.

Again, they're quite expensive, it depends on cost, but that's going to eliminate that

whole problem that we've got and give it a massively longer lifespan. So we're

gonna it's not gonna be quite as deep with liaise with all the clubs and

everything the Aquatics and Synchronised Swimming Club want 2 .5 metres so we can

do 2 .5 metres at the moment is 3 .5 so again that'll be less water in it more

efficient to run we can lessen the depth a little bit but we do have a

solution for that, so.

And in terms of the rough length of time

for each of the different projects,

Cllr Laura Davison - 2:16:09

do we have a sense of that at the moment?

From what I've seen, early days,

Mr Andy Blaszkowicz - 2:16:18

big caveat again, early days, probably 12 to 18 months,

but it depends what option we pursue.

What's it for the actual build project itself?

Yeah, but is it about the same time for each of them,

or is it presumably it's?

We need to work through that,

because I said before, I think option four,

I mean, it will be probably in totality,

but I think option four might enable you

to keep other bits open.

But again, until we've started working through it

a little bit, I'd say we're only at feasibility stage.

So it is, I'm very optimistic and I like to say yes,

but I would just urge caution.

Okay, Bridget.

Councillor Tony Hills - 2:16:50

Yeah, just really quickly,

I think I'm just adding to what other people have said,

Cllr Bridget Chapman - 2:16:55

but my strong feeling is we have to be looking

at getting gas out of that building,

which means that we're looking at options three and four.

My, it's more expensive, I know,

but my preference would be for option four

because it's better facilities for the residents,

better for well -being of the community,

and ultimately it's looking like

it's more financially sustainable in the long run.

So if we can make it work, that would be my preferred option.

But I think I would say we're looking at taking forward,

I'd like to see us take forward two options,

three and four, to develop further.

And I think that's what I'm hearing from others as well.

Okay, well thanks for that.

Councillor Tony Hills - 2:17:47

It's an interesting situation.

We need more information.

And I think what you said, Annie, and you,

is we can get that on a regular basis, updates,

because then we can consider that in more knowledge.

I tend to agree what Brigitte's saying.

But going forward on the recommendations,

do we receive a note to report as the first bit?

Yes?

Okay.

Do we have a, sorry, Jay.

Someone should propose this, should, oh, yes.

Sorry, who's going to propose that?

Second, and vote.

On the second bit, I'd rather split this into Martello and Hivepaw as two separate items, because they are really.

I'm hoping that certain cabinet members have heard what we said and our views will be passed back.

about our concerns, about containers, I agree with you,

and also about the high pool going forward,

making it more environmentally friendly.

Though no one mentioned about climate change,

of course, rising sea levels, but I will go there.

I'm sorry.

But anyway, I'll be happy and content

to vote on those two points separately or combined.

What do you want?

Sorry?

Okay.

And proposer?

Paul?

Second?

Anita?

Okay.

And a pair of hands?

Thank you.

And I think that's the last agenda item.

Is that right, Jake?

Thank you.

All right.

Thank you.

It's been a useful meeting, and you've been very nice to me, so I appreciate that.

Thank you.

We welcome your comments

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Overview and Scrutiny Committee - Tuesday 26 May 2026, 6:00pm - Folkestone & Hythe webcasting

Overview and Scrutiny CommitteeTuesday, 26th May 2026 at 6:00pm

Agenda

Slides

Transcript

Map

Resources

Twitter

Forums

Speakers

Feedback

Votes

Mr Jake Hamilton - 0:00:04

Cllr Alan Martin - 0:00:52

Mr Jake Hamilton - 0:00:56

Mr Jake Hamilton - 0:01:00

Mr Jake Hamilton - 0:01:14

1 Election of Chair

2 Election of Vice-Chair

Councillor Tony Hills - 0:02:15

Councillor Tony Hills - 0:02:30

Cllr Bridget Chapman - 0:02:33

Councillor Tony Hills - 0:02:34

3 Apologies for Absence

Mr Jake Hamilton - 0:03:33

4 Declarations of Interest

Councillor Tony Hills - 0:03:41

Cllr Anita Jones - 0:03:48

Councillor Tony Hills - 0:03:58

5 Minutes

Councillor Tony Hills - 0:04:05

Councillor Tony Hills - 0:04:21

Mr Jake Hamilton - 0:04:53

Councillor Tony Hills - 0:04:53

Cllr Bridget Chapman - 0:05:11

Councillor Tony Hills - 0:05:11

Councillor Tony Hills - 0:05:37

6 Membership of the Finance & Performance Scrutiny Sub-Committee 2026-27

7 Town Centre Operating Model (TCOM) : Strategic Direction, Funding And Delivery

FHDC Officer - 0:06:17

FHDC Officer - 0:20:23

Councillor Tony Hills - 0:25:27

Cllr Bridget Chapman - 0:25:34

FHDC Officer - 0:29:07

Cllr Bridget Chapman - 0:29:51

Councillor Tony Hills - 0:30:01

Cllr Anita Jones - 0:30:04

FHDC Officer - 0:31:52

Cllr Anita Jones - 0:32:35

Councillor Tony Hills - 0:32:46

Councillor Tony Hills - 0:33:25

Cllr Abena Akuffo-Kelly - 0:33:27

FHDC Officer - 0:35:55

Cllr Abena Akuffo-Kelly - 0:38:17

FHDC Officer - 0:38:53

Councillor Tony Hills - 0:39:20

Cllr Laura Davison - 0:39:26

FHDC Officer - 0:41:18

Cllr Laura Davison - 0:42:13

Councillor Tony Hills - 0:42:45

8 Implications of Introducing 20 Minutes Free Parking in Town Centre Car Parks

Mr Fred Miller - 0:43:40

Cllr Abena Akuffo-Kelly - 0:47:15

Mr Fred Miller - 0:49:17

Councillor Tony Hills - 0:51:09

Cllr Paul Thomas - 0:51:17

Councillor Tony Hills - 0:56:38

Mr Fred Miller - 0:56:57

Cllr Paul Thomas - 0:57:48

Mr Fred Miller - 0:58:53

Councillor Tony Hills - 0:58:53

Cllr Anita Jones - 0:58:56

Councillor Tony Hills - 1:01:25

Cllr Alan Martin - 1:01:43

Councillor Tony Hills - 1:05:55

Mr Fred Miller - 1:05:59

Cllr John Wing - 1:06:38

Councillor Tony Hills - 1:08:22

Cllr Laura Davison - 1:08:27

Councillor Tony Hills - 1:09:55

Overview and Scrutiny Committee
Tuesday, 26th May 2026 at 6:00pm