Council - Wednesday 24 June 2026, 7:00pm - Folkestone & Hythe webcasting

Council
Wednesday, 24th June 2026 at 7:00pm

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Start of webcast

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Cllr Paul Thomas
Microphone Forty
Cllr Paul Thomas

1 Apologies for Absence

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Dr Susan Priest
Cllr Paul Thomas

2 Declarations of Interest

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Declarations of Interest

Cllr Paul Thomas

3 Minutes

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Minutes , 01/04/2026 Council

4 Chair's Communications

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Cllr Paul Thomas

5 Petitions

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Cllr Paul Thomas

6 Questions from the Public

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Microphone Forty
Cllr Connor McConville
Microphone Forty
Cllr Connor McConville
Cllr Paul Thomas
Cllr Paul Thomas

7 Questions from Councillors

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Cllr Questions

Cllr Belinda Walker
Cllr James Butcher
Cllr Paul Thomas
Cllr James Butcher
Cllr Paul Thomas
Cllr Belinda Walker
Cllr Paul Thomas
Cllr James Butcher
Cllr Paul Thomas
Cllr Jackie Meade
Cllr Jim Martin
Cllr Jackie Meade
Cllr Jim Martin
Cllr Paul Thomas
Cllr Jeremy Speakman
Cllr Jim Martin
Cllr Paul Thomas
Cllr Jeremy Speakman
Cllr Jim Martin
Cllr Paul Thomas
Councillor Tony Hills
Cllr Jim Martin
Cllr Paul Thomas
Councillor Tony Hills
Cllr Jim Martin
Cllr Paul Thomas
Cllr Bridget Chapman
Cllr Jim Martin
Cllr Jim Martin
Cllr Paul Thomas
Cllr Bridget Chapman
Cllr Paul Thomas
Cllr Bridget Chapman
Cllr Paul Thomas
Cllr Bridget Chapman
Cllr Paul Thomas
Cllr Jeremy Speakman
Cllr Paul Thomas
Cllr Bridget Chapman
Cllr Paul Thomas
Cllr Bridget Chapman
Cllr Paul Thomas
Cllr Jim Martin
Cllr Paul Thomas
Cllr Bridget Chapman
Cllr Paul Thomas
Cllr Paul Thomas
Cllr Nicola Keen
Cllr Paul Thomas
Cllr Connor McConville
Cllr Nicola Keen
Cllr Paul Thomas
Cllr Liz McShane
Cllr Paul Thomas
Cllr Connor McConville
Cllr Paul Thomas
Cllr Liz McShane
Cllr Paul Thomas
Cllr Stephen Scoffham
Cllr Jim Martin
Cllr Paul Thomas
Cllr Stephen Scoffham
Cllr Paul Thomas
Cllr Laura Davison
Cllr Laura Davison
Cllr Paul Thomas
Cllr Rebecca Shoob
Cllr Paul Thomas
Cllr Laura Davison
Cllr Laura Davison
Cllr Paul Thomas
Cllr Rebecca Shoob
Cllr Paul Thomas

8 Announcements of the Leader of the Council

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Cllr Jim Martin
Cllr Paul Thomas
Cllr Adrian Lockwood
Cllr Paul Thomas
Cllr Jennifer Hollingsbee
Cllr Jim Martin
Cllr Paul Thomas

9 Portfolio Holder reports to Council

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Portfolio Updates - Council

Cllr Paul Thomas

10 Opposition Business

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11 Motions on Notice

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Motions report v1

Cllr Jennifer Hollingsbee
Cllr Adrian Lockwood
Cllr Paul Thomas
Cllr Bridget Chapman
Cllr Paul Thomas
Cllr Jennifer Hollingsbee
Cllr Paul Thomas
Cllr Adrian Lockwood
Cllr Paul Thomas
Cllr Paul Thomas

11 Motions on Notice

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Motions report v1

Cllr Paul Thomas
Cllr Jennifer Hollingsbee
Cllr Paul Thomas
Cllr Adrian Lockwood
Cllr Paul Thomas
Councillor Tony Hills
Cllr Paul Thomas
Cllr Gary Fuller
Cllr Paul Thomas
Cllr David Wimble
Cllr Paul Thomas
Cllr Jackie Meade
Cllr Paul Thomas
Cllr Rich Holgate
Cllr Paul Thomas
Cllr Jeremy Speakman
Cllr Paul Thomas
Cllr Anita Jones
Cllr Paul Thomas
Cllr Paul Thomas
Cllr James Butcher
Cllr Paul Thomas
Cllr Nicola Keen
Cllr Paul Thomas
Cllr Jennifer Hollingsbee
Cllr Paul Thomas
Cllr Paul Thomas
Cllr Paul Thomas

12 Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP) Solar Schemes on the Romney Marsh

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2026_06_24_Solar_Farms_Petition_Full_Council_Report

Cllr Jim Martin
Cllr Paul Thomas
Cllr Paul Thomas
Councillor Tony Hills
Cllr David Wimble
Cllr Alan Martin
Cllr Laura Davison
Cllr Paul Thomas
Cllr Paul Thomas
Cllr Jim Martin
Cllr Paul Thomas
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.

Cllr Paul Thomas - 0:00:14

So, welcome everybody to our meeting of full council.

For those who would prefer, if you could stand, I'd like to introduce my chaplain, our trendy

from New Romney, Reverend Chris Hodgkin.

So, Chris, over to you, thank you very much.

Microphone Forty - 0:00:32

Thank you.

There can be no doubt that governance has been

on our minds for some time now.

Whether that is on a national level, county level,

or a local level, we would be right to consider

what good governance is.

In recent months, we have seen debates

about unitary authorities, by -elections,

and even the resignation of a prime minister.

All of this reminds us how important leadership is.

The Bible offers some timeless principles

that speak into this moment.

First, it teaches that good governance

begins with justice and impartiality.

Psalm 72 describes leaders who deliver the needy,

the afflicted, and the poor from oppression.

Whilst Proverbs reminds us that a king

builds up a land through justice,

but one who demands bribes tears it down.

For us, this translates into fairness in decision making,

transparency in process, and a commitment to ensuring

that those with the quietest voices are not overlooked.

Scripture also reminds us that authority is a responsibility, not a possession.

Romans describes governing authorities as servants for your good.

Leadership is not about status, it is about service.

It is about stewarding trust, maintaining order and enabling communities to flourish.

So as we meet today making decisions that shape real lives, may we be guided by justice,

humility, collaboration and a commitment to the flourishing of all. May we remember that governance

is not simply the management of structures but the stewardship of hope, trust and community life.

and may our work here contribute in meaningful ways

to the peace and prosperity of the place

we are privileged to serve.

So let's pray.

Almighty God, bless this council gathered here today.

You have placed them in authority to guide,

protect, and serve our communities.

We pray that you grant them wisdom and discernment.

In every debate, vote and policy decision,

help them to look past personal agendas

and focus on the common good.

Give them the foresight to make decisions

that will bring lasting peace and prosperity

to our streets, schools and businesses.

We pray for justice and compassion,

a deep desire to protect the vulnerable,

support the needy, and ensure fairness for every resident,

regardless of their background.

We pray for unity and integrity.

Guard their hearts against division,

pride and dishonest gain.

May their conversations be marked by mutual respect,

active listening, and a shared dedication to public service.

Give them strength and endurance for the heavy

responsibilities they carry, and bless their families

while they serve.

In Jesus' name we pray, amen.

Cllr Paul Thomas - 0:04:16

Good evening and welcome to the meeting of full council.

This meeting will be webcast live to the internet.

For those who do not wish to be recorded or filmed,

you will need to leave the chamber.

For members, officers and others speaking at the meeting,

it's important that the microphones are used

so viewers on the webcast and others in the room may hear you.

Would anyone with a mobile phone please switch it to silent mode,

as they can be distracting.

I would like to remind members that although we all have strong opinions

on matter under consideration,

it is important to treat members, officers and public speakers

with respect. Please feel free to sit or stand when speaking. Thank you.

1 Apologies for Absence

The first item on the agenda is apologies for absence. Thank you.

Dr Susan Priest - 0:05:07

Thank you, Chair and evening, everyone. Evening members, members of the public, colleagues,

and a particularly warm welcome to our work experience colleagues joining us this evening.

Lovely to see you. We have five councillors who have given apologies for absence this

Councillors Acuffa Kelly, Pauline Mike -Blakemore, Councillors Cooper and Goddard.

I would just highlight for members there are some water jugs and cups at the front.

So do please feel free to help yourself to water through the evening. Thank you.

2 Declarations of Interest

Cllr Paul Thomas - 0:05:42

Thank you very much. We were considering following the lead of the World Cup

and having a hydration break at half time, but we decided against that.

We'll leave that to you.

Second item on the agenda is declarations of interest.

Any declarations, please?

Can't see any, thank you very much.

3 Minutes

Cllr Paul Thomas - 0:06:00

Our third item on the agenda is the minutes of the meeting from the 1st of April, 2026.

Is it all in order?

Are we all in agreement?

Agreeing.

Thank you very much.

4 Chair's Communications

Cllr Paul Thomas - 0:06:45

Okay, thank you.

The next item on the agenda is the Chair's communication.

So, my first one, so please be kind to me on this.

So the day after my election as Chair,

I represented the district

at the Cities of Remembrance International Network

in Brussels.

The full day conference addressed a number of topics,

but the one I brought back to the youth forum

is a flagship project using Remembrance

to build a peace -promoting Europe

and strengthen the international legal order by combating extremism,

promoting universal values and supporting European unity.

At the conference, this was presented by young people from Dunkirk,

from Bucha in the Ukraine and from Mariupol in the Ukraine.

It was an excellent piece of work.

The following day, it was back to London,

where Janet and I represented the district

at a garden party at Buckingham Palace.

We did not get to meet any of the royals on duty,

but we did speak to many of the local authority representatives

from across the country, which was great.

On Saturday 16th May, I was invited to speak

at a Surfers Against Sewage meeting at Sunny Sands,

along with the leader, Councillor Jim Martin.

We were joined by many of our fellow councillors from Folkestone,

including our Labour leader, Councillor Adrian Lockwood.

On Monday 18th May, Janet and I attended Mayor Making in Margate,

and on Friday that week, I was invited to meet the Duchess of Kent

at the unveiling of a commemorative plaque recognising 25 years of service

from Credo Care Disability Fostering Placements on Romley Marsh.

So they're an organisation that specialise in fostering children

with disabilities and complex medical needs.

They're an excellent organisation.

The following Saturday, we unveiled a Someone is Always Listening bench

in Kings North Gardens, which is there to raise awareness of mental health

and suicide prevention.

The bench is actually lit up at night

and has details of organisations able to listen

and help in times of need.

These benches have been installed all over Kent

by East Kent Spurs supporters club.

I know if Councillor Goddard was here tonight,

he'd recognise that.

I did meet Mickey Hazard

and I don't know where his autograph is.

On Thursday 28th May,

I was invited by Alderman Terry Preston,

former chair of Sheppray District Council,

to the grand lathe of the Lords, Bailiff and Durotes

of Romley Marsh at New Hall in Dimchurch.

This is the corporation of Romley Marsh,

which is part of the lathe of Shepway.

So if anybody wants to know why we'll call Shepway Council

or why we should have Romley Marsh in our title,

I'll talk to you afterwards.

On Saturday the 30th of May,

we're invited by the Worshipful Mayor of Folkestone,

Councillor Jackie Meade,

to the Plimsoll Service at St. Martin's Church

in Horn Street, where Samuel Plimsoll is buried.

So thank you, Jackie.

On the following Thursday, we were invited to an evening reception

with the Lord Lieutenant of Kent, Lady Colgrain, and we met many

of the new district borough and county council chairs and mayors,

which was a nice evening.

On Saturday, the 20th of June, we were invited to Lid Club Day,

and I was asked to give the response of the guests to the luncheon.

I did mention the ship that Lid never provided in 1588,

only just for historical records.

We were joined at our table by the worshipful Mayor of Lid,

Councillor Bob Jones, the Lord Warden and Admiral of the St Court,

Sir George Zambelas and our local MP Tony Vaughan.

We then spent several hours at the Club Day events

meeting storeholders and local organisations.

On Monday 22nd June, we held the Fochton and Hyde District Council

Armed Forces Day flag -raising service at the Civic Centre,

where my chaplain, Reverend Chris Hodgkins, led the service.

and thank you to those councillors who attended.

Finally, I'd like to recognise the excellent work carried out

by our local volunteers and fundraisers

who make such a difference to people's lives every day.

This month, I'd like to recognise the extraordinary work

by Councillor Glyn Hibbard, former mayor of Hawkins,

who will be inducted into the Wheelpower Stoke Mandeville Hall of Fame

in recognition of his extraordinary dedication

to power -weight lifting, power -lifting, to disabled athletes,

and to wheel power over many decades.

This is a great achievement for Glynn,

and my partner will be wishing all the best for that.

So thank you very much.

5 Petitions

Cllr Paul Thomas - 0:11:21

We have no petitions this evening.

6 Questions from the Public

We have one question from a member of the public.

And so I'd like to invite Ms Stephanie Mortlock

to come to the podium.

And this is to Councillor McConville,

cabinet member for assets and local government reorganisation.

So you will have three minutes from the time you start your question.

Thank you.

Microphone Forty - 0:11:47

Hello.

So, residents have reported that Radnor Parks public toilets

have been repeatedly vandalised over about 15 years,

with drug paraphernalia, damage, and unsafe conditions

left unresolved, while a cleaning team of only four staff

are expected to maintain 30 public toilets across the area.

Given concerns raised by council staff about understaffing,

limited deep cleaning, and a lack of consequences

for antisocial behaviour, what action will the council take both to properly support

these teams and to hold those damaging these family facilities accountable?

Thank you.

Hello.

Hello, Ms Smortlock, and thank you for your question.

Cllr Connor McConville - 0:12:54

I agree that Radnor Park toilets continue to suffer from persistent antisocial behaviour

and Rannapark toilets do experience a very high footfall

and regrettably ongoing issues including vandalism

and drug related activity where needles, damage

or offensive graffiti are found.

Our teams prioritise those to make the area safe

and report incidents to the police and our enforcement team.

We currently operate 30 toilets as you say

across the district with a small team

who work 364 days a year.

They focus their time on the busiest

and most affected locations, which include Radner Park,

and they take great pride in maintaining standards

despite the challenges they face.

I highlighted that in my update in that

before I even saw this question.

We recognise the pressure this places on the service

and we constantly review how we can better support the team,

including options for targeted enforcement

and improvements during the off -season

when deep cleaning can be carried out.

Tackling vandalism and antisocial behaviour remains a shared priority with our enforcement

team and Kent Police.

I would urge any residents that see any vandalism, they can report that on our public toilets

webpage on our Council website.

If there is any drug related activity, not just around Ratner Park toilets but anywhere,

then we have 101 for Kent Police and we also have Crime Stoppers.

Please utilise those.

the more reporting that goes in,

then that makes everything better for everyone.

In the past, this council has offered financial rewards

for, if convictions have been carried out.

There was a serious incident with the toilets

at the Folkestone Bus Station.

So, if that could be something I'd be looking to,

I'd be happy to consider, like if an incident was

very, very severe with rather hard toilets.

So, there's only, as you can appreciate,

there is only so much we can do about,

what we wouldn't want to do is take the position

to perhaps close the toilets where we have done

for short periods of time where there has been

very serious antisocial behaviour

in other parts of the district.

And that, a minority affects the public benefit

for the many, which I really wouldn't want to do.

But the Council is also exploring ways to improve the internal appearance

of some of the more dated toilet facilities like Randa Park,

with the aim of enhancing both the public experience

and the overall perception of these sites.

Okay, thank you, Councillor McConville.

Do you have a relevant supplementary question,

which is not a statement? Okay, thank you.

Microphone Forty - 0:15:42

So, my question would be in relation to the public reporting

I actually tried to report an incident recently,

however, the signage had out of date contact details,

which I brought up to the relevant members of team.

And they said that that was going to be rectified.

However, I would like an assurance that that is going to be done in all 30 toilets to make

sure the public can report incidents.

As you've highlighted, that is key to solving the problem.

However, we do need the right information to be able to do so.

Thank you.

Cllr Connor McConville - 0:16:38

I wasn't aware of that, but I can chase that with the team.

I'm sure we can do something like put a simple QR code that links directly to the public

toilet webpage on our website and something like that to make sure it's very clear for

residents.

So leave that with me.

Thank you for your questions and you can take a seat or you can leave inside to you.

Thank you.

Cllr Paul Thomas - 0:16:57

Cllr Paul Thomas - 0:17:01

Next item on the agenda is questions from Councillors.

7 Questions from Councillors

The first of those is from Councillor Walker to Councillor Butcher,

Cabinet Member for Place, Plan, Heritage, Tourism and District Economy.

Thank you, Chair.

Cllr Belinda Walker - 0:17:19

Following the closure of the bus station, the new stops are now in use.

However, the area is looking untidy as there appear to be no dust spent

and rubbish is being thrown into the flower beds.

Can you reassure residents, town centre visitors and bus users that there will be bins in place

so the flowerbeds do not end up as a dumping ground for waste?

Thank you.

Thanks for your question, Councillor Walker.

Cllr James Butcher - 0:17:46

I must thank you for your persistence in pursuing this.

Sorry, could you use your microphone, please?

I wouldn't be comfortable to put your microphone on.

Oh, I see.

Yes, sorry.

Cllr Paul Thomas - 0:17:53

Cllr James Butcher - 0:17:54

Yes, I can confirm the new bus stops around Middleburg Square will have litter bins installed

as part of the programme.

The purchase and installation of the new bins is underway.

And meanwhile, the area has been included

within the street cleansing schedule.

Can't confirm the timing of the installation.

So there's some work by Jackson's

that has to be done to put the footings in

and that's got to be woven into the overall project plan.

But they will be being installed.

Cllr Paul Thomas - 0:18:22

And do you have a relevant supplementary?

Yes, just regarding the flowerbeds themselves,

Cllr Belinda Walker - 0:18:27

they were looking at a sorry state.

I wonder if considerations be given

towards more seasonal or climate -friendly planting.

Councillor Dutcher.

Cllr Paul Thomas - 0:18:37

Cllr James Butcher - 0:18:39

Yes, they definitely were looking very sorry for themselves.

So officers met with the contractors

who've increased the watering schedule,

quickly given the hot weather we've got now,

but also putting in more soil conditioner into the planters.

In terms of the actual choice of plants,

I can certainly go back and cheque the criteria

that we need to put them to task when they need them.

Okay, thank you very much for that.

Cllr Paul Thomas - 0:19:05

I don't know whose phone that is.

Questions two and three from Councillor Cooper,

he'll be provided with written responses.

That takes us on to question four,

that's from Councillor Meade,

to Councillor Polly Blakemore,

Cllr Jackie Meade - 0:19:19

Cabinet Member for Transport Regulatory Services

and Building Control,

which will be answered by Councillor Jim Martin.

Thank you.

Thank you, Chair.

Over the last couple of weekends,

travelling and parking in Folkestone has been nigh on impossible. This has been caused for

various reasons such as visitors, which we welcome, due to the good weather and roadworks

everywhere. It has become the perfect storm. One way to alleviate these problems would

be to reinstate the Cross Keys Hopper Bus, which was the park and ride, from Cheriton

to the seafront, as used previously, but my understanding is that KCC have refused funding.

Is it at all possible for District Council to fund this service this year?

I believe it was in the median of about £26 ,000 if free to ride,

which would greatly help both residents and visitors alike. Thank you.

Councillor MALONEY.

Thank you very much, Chair.

Cllr Jim Martin - 0:20:18

And thank you for your question, Councillor Meade.

I am aware of the travel and parking difficulties caused by increased visit numbers.

during periods of good weather,

as well as the impact of roadworks,

which can cause traffic to move at a very, very slow pace.

We have been in deep discussions with KCC

regarding the Cross Keys bus service,

which they have funded, KCC have funded,

over the past two summers.

KCC have confirmed that they remain committed

to supporting the same or similar initiative again this summer.

However, the bus network's position has changed in that Stagecoach have extended services

that now operate from Folkestone Central Station to the harbour alongside other parts of their

network.

This effectively provides the same journey opportunities as the Cross Keys Service did.

KCC have advised that there is a requirement for local transport authorities to support

rather than compete with the existing bus network.

There is a concern that by continuing to fund the Cross Keys Service as in previous years

could potentially undermine Stagecoach's willingness

to operate their year -round services.

The Stagecoach services provide ongoing,

consistent benefits to passengers throughout the years,

whereas the Crosskeys service would only operate

during the summer period and only for as long

as the KCC funding is available.

As a result, the proposal this year

is to support the initiative in a different way,

namely through a promotional fairs offer

on the stagecoach service, rather than funding

a dedicated cross -keys shuttle.

Thank you.

Thank you, Councillor Martin.

Councillor Meade, do you have a relevant supplementary?

Yes, please.

Thank you.

Cllr Jackie Meade - 0:22:38

My understanding is that the shuttle was from Cheriton,

not from Central Station.

And the whole point of it was to stop the traffic

coming into the centre.

By relying on the stagecoach service,

you're just picking up people that have come off the train.

They're not the issue.

This is all about the amount of traffic coming in.

Could you please relook at this to see if there is some way

that we can persuade in that case,

stagecoach to run a proper service from Cheriton right the way through so that we can encourage

visitors to use public transport and free up some spaces for our residents.

Thank you.

Councillor Martin.

Thank you very much, Councillor Mead.

You know, I completely agree with everything you say.

Cllr Jim Martin - 0:23:35

the Cross Keys service,

they had identified a gap effectively

and they filled it, filled it very effectively.

Stagecoach have, not surprisingly,

become a little concerned that they suddenly

have got a competing subsidised service to the beach.

So there have been a lot of discussions,

some of which we've been involved in

than some of which we haven't.

And a stagecoach had persuaded KCC to go down this route.

I think that there is a kind of a comms aspect to this

in that if people understand the routes,

but the Cross Keys route was a single route from Sheraton,

what stagecoach are proposing means you would change busses.

So, you know, it's not really a replacement, but that's the situation that we find ourselves

in and that is where the KCC subsidy is going to go.

But I will ask Councillor Blakemore to restate our concerns, all of which that you listed,

and hopefully we can get some kind of arrangement that might work better, specifically for visitors,

because as you say, keeping cars out of the town is a priority for us. Thank you.

Cllr Paul Thomas - 0:25:09

Thank you, Councillor Martin. The next question is from Councillor Speakman to Councillor

Jim Martin, leader of the Council and cabinet member of Otterpool Park in Panea Policy.

Cllr Jeremy Speakman - 0:25:20

Good evening, Leader.

An often quoted key concern resulting from the local government reorganisation process

is the apparent inevitable erosion of local representation arising from the fact that

the number of councils will be reduced.

As local government reorganisation will very soon be upon us, could I ask the Leader what

specific measures the Council is currently considering to address this democratic deficit?

Councillor Artib.

Cllr Jim Martin - 0:25:56

Thank you very much, Councillor Speightman, for your excellent question.

I'm afraid that we've all become very focused on the forthcoming government announcement

on the arrangements for the new unitaries and perhaps we have rather taken our eye off

what happens after we enter our new unitary.

So, your question is well timed.

I think in terms of the specific measures

to address the democratic deficit,

by this I'm sure you mean how will we get the voices

of local people and local communities heard

in the new unitary arrangements?

Then the answer is the Government's proposal, the answer is area or neighbourhood committees.

We have very few details regarding area committees at the moment, but I think that it is important

that we highlight the opportunity to town and parish councils to, in inverted commas,

state their claim at the formation of these committees.

Local representation will be critical for local people's voices to be heard and the

democratic deficit to be closed.

I would ask all members to convey this message to their town and parish councils and be assured

Councillor Speakman, we will keep them up to date as and when the Government reveal

more details.

So essentially, I'm asking everyone in the Chamber to convey to their Town and Parish

Councils the importance of area committees and being part of that process.

Thank you, Councillor Martin.

Cllr Paul Thomas - 0:27:48

Do you have a relevant supplementary?

Cllr Jeremy Speakman - 0:27:50

Yes, I do.

Thank you, Councillor Martin.

I mean that is very reassuring that we are obviously

considering that because I think as we get involved

in the process, as you rightly point out,

we kind of get absorbed in the kind of process detail

and don't actually, kind of forget about who this is really

all about and I totally take a point about us making sure

that town and parish council state their claim.

Could I ask that as a council that we take a more proactive

approach and that when we get the detail,

we actually take the initiative to try to coordinate and facilitate grassroots kind of actions to develop these neighbourhood committees.

Once obviously we know more detail, but we take a more proactive role in coordinating it. Thank you.

Shall I answer that?

Yeah, can you please press the microphone?

Cllr Jim Martin - 0:28:43

I completely agree.

I attend the monthly Town and Parish Council forum and I will be labouring exactly that

point to all of the representatives.

We will make the point to our friends in CALC and generally get the message out that this

is not an opportunity to be missed.

They must accept the government's invitation to involve themselves in area or neighbourhood

committees.

Thank you, Councillor Martin.

Cllr Paul Thomas - 0:29:18

The next question is from Councillor Hills to Councillor Martin, leaders of the Council

and cabinet member for Otterpool Park and Planning Strategy.

Councillor Hills.

Thank you, Chairman.

Councillor Tony Hills - 0:29:28

Could the leader please tell the Council what strategy has been agreed with the Environment

agency regarding improving our bathing water quality for our local beaches of Dimchurch,

St Mary's Bay and Nittlesone.

One month into the current testing programme, results look more challenging than last year.

Thank you very much Councillor Naughton.

Cllr Jim Martin - 0:29:55

Thank you Councillor Hills for your question.

There is a hit hand here, obviously, because Councillor Hill knows as well as I do that

the Environment Agency hasn't agreed a strategy with us, even though we have been encouraging

them to interact more fully with us, which is hugely disappointing.

But I will read the answer so it goes into the record.

There is close attention being given to water quality testing results as they are released

by the Environment Agency.

So we're reading what they're telling us.

You described the results so far as challenging compared to last year and there have been

some good results but also some very worrying results.

Notably, the first test result of the newly designated Sandgate -Granville parade.

However, I think it is too early in the season to draw specific conclusions from the results received so far.

In terms of our strategy to improve bathing water quality,

We work not only with the Environment Agency,

but also with Southern Water and other stakeholders,

such as the England Drain Board.

I had discussed before what this involves,

but I am happy to summarise again

and provide a further update.

In terms of its designated bathing waters,

the Council's overall objective is to protect the ratings

of our good bathing waters and to improve the ratings

of those currently designated as poor or satisfactory.

To do this there are four main actions testing,

that is to encourage both the Environment Agency

and Southern Water to extend their out of season

testing programme to help identify problems

and in advance of the bathing season.

I know this is a point that you specifically hammer

Southern Walter on out of season testing when we see them.

Investigation and remediation to push the EA

to investigate testing spikes,

that for example, which occurred in September last year

and reported concerns relating to the operation of wastewater treatment plants and other facilities.

So just by way of explanation, last year at Dim Church we had pretty good results.

We were really, really hopeful.

And then in August I think it was, we had this huge spike which knocked all of our chances

getting a better rating away and we still don't know what caused that spike and that's

what we will keep pressing until we can get either the EEA or Southern Water to explain

it.

Engagement, this involves at an operational level, Council officers engaging with the

Environment Agency and Southern Water as part of the technical group that meets regularly

throughout the year to monitor test results and ongoing actions.

In terms of public engagement, to arrange regular public meetings with attendance from

Southern Walter and the Environment Agency so that the public can hear and question directly

what is happening locally and I know you're a regular attendee.

The fourth one is investment to lobby on behalf of the district, DEFRA, the government generally

and Southern Water for great investment in our local water infrastructure.

In this regard, we have had some success with the recently announced £42 million investment

plan by Southern Water for improvements within our district.

I know before you tell me, Councillor Hills, I know it's not enough, but it's more than

the £11 million they started with.

Finally, if the opportunity arises through improved test results at either Littlestone

or Dimchurch, we will actively press for a re -assessment of the water quality rating.

As mentioned, it is still too early in the season to speculate on this outcome.

Councillor Hills, do you have a relevant supplementary?

Cllr Paul Thomas - 0:34:47

Sadly, I do.

Thank you.

Councillor Tony Hills - 0:34:50

It's going to take up too much time, but I must thank Councillor Martin,

H. Jim, for that very detailed response, and it's excellent.

And I know you're doing awful lot of work on this, I'm not blaming you.

But I do feel that the first five tests taken for our three beaches on modern marsh

are worse than last year, and by the time we find out it's really bad,

it would be too late to do anything about it, because they'll already decide

what rating we're going to have for next year, and they'll tell us in December,

but they've already decided by October.

So I've got a meeting, as you know,

tomorrow with Sally Harvey EA.

Are you happy for me to put the booty?

So it's fine.

Thank you.

Yeah, Councillor Marci.

Yeah, very pleased to proceed, Councillor Hills.

Cllr Jim Martin - 0:35:35

Just to tell you that you may recall,

I've sometimes talked about the group of Southern counties,

district councils in the south of England,

that initially came together with a view of taking legal action against Southern Water,

but we were put off by Ofwat. We're meeting on, I think it's the 2nd of July. This is

organised by Weldon District Council and Lawrence Godson, the Chief Executive of Southern Water

will be present and I have laid my question already which is an invitation

as you know, I have an open invitation to Lawrence to come and swim off of Dim

Church beach. This is a statement he made when giving evidence in Medway that he

would be happy to swim off of any of the beaches in his area so I've constantly

been inviting him to Dim Church but we'll see if he turns up. Thank you.

OK, thank you.

Cllr Paul Thomas - 0:36:42

The next question is from Councillor Chapman, and in the absence of Councillor Blakemore,

this is Councillor Martin to answer.

So Councillor Chapman.

Thank you, Chair.

Cllr Bridget Chapman - 0:36:53

During the last heatwave in May, we had unsurprisingly very high visitor numbers in Folkestone.

Most people arriving wanted to get to the beach to call off, and yet again, residents

in the harbour area suffered from irresponsible parking and gridlock.

I have been contacted by residents distressed at either not being able to leave their homes

or missing important appointments.

There is an additional and constant worry that emergency vehicles will struggle to attend

if needed.

I know this gets looked at every year but visitors numbers aren't going to go down.

We are approaching school holidays and temperatures are rising again.

What reassurance can you give residents that renewed vigour is being applied to alleviating

this problem for them?

Thank you Councillor Jackman.

Councillor Martin.

Thank you very much.

Cllr Jim Martin - 0:37:42

Councillor Chapman, not only renewed vigour but some more money, you'll be delighted to

know. So we have managed to fund some great reinforcement. So great reinforcement in terms

of parking and great reinforcement in terms of beach management. So that's dog fouling,

littering and all of the other things that affect our beaches. Also the beach cleaner

is back. So we're very pleased with that. I'll read you the proper answer now.

Thank you for your question, Councillor Chapman. As with many council towns, parking and traffic

pressures become particularly acute during periods of warm weather when visitor numbers

increase significantly. This often leads to congestion, reduced access and

challenges for both residents and local businesses. To help address these issues

we have already recruited additional enforcement officers and they are in

the process of recruiting a further two officers to strengthen our response.

This increased resource will support more consistent monitoring and help

alleviate some of the pressure on the most affected areas.

However, as you will appreciate,

Enforcement Officers cannot be present everywhere

at all times and it is therefore inevitable

that some contraventions may not be immediately addressed.

To manage this as effectively as possible,

we are prioritising patrols in areas experiencing

the highest level of traffic and congestion,

ensuring our resources are targeted

where they are most needed.

In addition, we are in discussion with the police

who hold powers to deal with obstructive

and dangerous parking.

Their support is particularly important

in situations where poor parking

leads to significant destruction or potential gridlock,

helping to maintain traffic flow and ensure public safety.

So for example, we're buying some bikes.

Some bikes.

Is of no point, there's no point to it.

Cllr Jim Martin - 0:40:13

So we've invested in some bicycles to do it.

Also, we're getting Tony Vaughn's help

to perhaps ask a question about the level of fines

we can levy because they're too low.

If you immediately pay a fine,

I think I may be wrong on this, it's 25 quid.

Well, if you park in the coastal park all day,

it will cost you 20 quid.

So people are making that value judgement.

So we are aware we're addressing all of these issues.

The key is we've got more officers on the street.

Thank you, Councillor Martin.

Cllr Paul Thomas - 0:40:57

Councillor Chapman, do you have a relevant supplementary?

Cllr Bridget Chapman - 0:41:01

In the interest of brevity on this very sultry evening, no.

Okay, so the next question is from Councillor Chapman

Cllr Paul Thomas - 0:41:08

Cllr Bridget Chapman - 0:41:10

to Councillor Speakman, cabinet member for waste and street cleansing

and corporate health and safety.

Cllr Paul Thomas - 0:41:12

Councillor Shelley.

Thank you.

Cllr Bridget Chapman - 0:41:14

I know that we sometimes get complaints

about the refuse service collection from Veolia

in this district, but there is one operative

I feel deserves special recognition.

A gentleman called Andrew cleans the beaches

between Folkestone and Seabrook.

He think he cleans from the Warren right down to,

by the old petrol station in Seabrook.

It's an enormous area.

He works tirelessly to keep the beaches

as clean as possible.

and I know that many of the beach users think that he's a total legend.

Would you join me in thanking him for his service to residents

and recognising he often goes above and beyond?

Mr Speakman.

Cllr Paul Thomas - 0:41:52

Cllr Jeremy Speakman - 0:41:55

Yes, thank you, Councillor Chapman, for your good evening

and thank you for your very kind words.

Yes, I've also heard about the diligence and commitment

of this gentleman in keeping our beaches clean,

and I'm very happy to join with you in thanking him for his service.

I will also speak to the early management to ensure that recognition and appreciation of his work is communicated.

And I will get back to you on that. Thank you very much.

And do you have a relevant supplementary?

Cllr Paul Thomas - 0:42:19

Again, in the interest of brevity, no.

Cllr Bridget Chapman - 0:42:21

Thank you, Councillor Chapman.

Cllr Paul Thomas - 0:42:23

The next question is also from Councillor Chapman, and this is to be answered by Councillor Jim Martin. Thank you.

Last one, I promise.

Cllr Bridget Chapman - 0:42:31

Asylum -seeking children, like all children, deserve to be protected and cared for.

While they are in the care of KCC, some will be housed in this district.

Would you join me in reconfirming this Council's support for any asylum -seeking children being

housed in this area?

Thank you.

Councillor Moulton.

Cllr Paul Thomas - 0:42:51

Cllr Jim Martin - 0:42:56

Thank you very much, Councillor Chapman, for your very relevant question.

I am happy to reaffirm this Council's support for any asylum -seeking children housed in

our area. The Council has a duty to safeguard and protect all children and we will work

with our colleagues at KCC to ensure these children are supported and that their stay

within our district is a positive experience. By way of information, I was invited by KCC

to visit their new facility for unaccompanied asylum seeking children at Peacock House in

Lyd. I was accompanied by our Chief Executive and indeed Councillor Wimble was also in attendance

and we were very impressed, not only by the facility but also by the quality of the staff

and their approach to the problem. There are 14 bedrooms in Peacock House and it is anti -virus

anticipated each child will stay there for approximately five or six days.

I am aware of an assault that took place in Lyd which was linked on social media to Peacock

House, but this was completely and absolutely untrue according to the police.

Peacock House at the moment remains empty until the building receives its offset approval.

So we are fully committed.

Thank you, Councillor Laughton.

Councillor Chapman, do you have a relevant supplementary?

Cllr Paul Thomas - 0:44:33

Cllr Bridget Chapman - 0:44:34

No, but I thank him for that answer.

Cllr Paul Thomas - 0:44:37

Okay, thank you very much for that.

Cllr Paul Thomas - 0:44:41

The next question is from Councillor Keane to Councillor McConville,

Cabinet Member for Assets and Local Government Organisation.

Thanks, Chair.

Cllr Nicola Keen - 0:44:49

The beach huts located below the Lower Lees Coaster Park are looking in knee distance with maintenance.

Beach Huts users inform me that these huts

that they pay a lot of money for are not well maintained.

They are painted on a three year rolling programme.

Can we have an explanation as to why,

when they are susceptible to the elements,

that the maintenance is not a yearly on all huts?

Councillor McAlbournville, thank you.

Thank you for your question, Councillor King.

The Beach Huts have been in place for over five years now,

and I hope you'll agree they're a great asset

to the area.

During this period, a number of repairs have been carried out, such as to the concrete

hard standing around the huts, repairs to the doors and the shutters.

The maintenance team have been carrying out cyclical redecoration of the beach huts.

However, with the demands on the services, it has been difficult to complete the programme.

However, I'm pleased to advise that the Councillors increase the annual maintenance budget for

the Folkestone beach huts.

The increase will enable the Council to contract out the painting of the timber huts and the

to achieve a full three -year rolling programme

of redecoration, which has not been achieved before.

This programme should be sufficient

to keep the huts in good order.

The dual colour of the triangles adds to the difficulty

and cost of the redecoration.

A yearly programme of repainting would not,

therefore, be necessary

and would be economically unsustainable.

Thank you, Councillor McConville.

Councillor Keene, do you have a relevant supplementary?

Yes, I do.

So are you saying that the people who use them aren't seeing that the maintenance on them isn't done well enough to keep them in good shape?

And also are they really valued for money?

If we're not going to maintain them to a decent standard, they look shabby and sad.

And a three year rolling programme is outrageous for what they have to pay for them.

Councillor McConville.

Cllr Paul Thomas - 0:46:44

Cllr Connor McConville - 0:46:48

Thank you. Obviously, the beach huts need to be fully cost recoverable.

So any additional expenditure for the maintaining would need to directly affect the rents.

However, if there are any beach hut tenants who aren't happy with or have specific issues,

then please ask them to get in touch with me.

I will.

Cllr Nicola Keen - 0:47:12

Thank you very much, Councillor McConville.

Cllr Paul Thomas - 0:47:16

The next question is from Councillor McShane to Councillor McConville, Cabinet Member for

Assets and Local Government Realisation.

Thank you.

Cllr Liz McShane - 0:47:25

Residents have raised concerns about the recent felling of street trees in Folkestone, particularly

in the town centre, without replacement planting.

Urban trees are vital for climate resilience, air quality, biodiversity, shade and wellbeing,

and the necessary felling should be minimised.

Given that many street trees are the responsibility of the Kent County Council, will the Council

press KCC to ensure that every street tree removed is replaced on a like -for -like or

net gain basis and that annual figures for trees failed and replanted are made publicly

available?

Thank you.

Councillor McConville.

Cllr Paul Thomas - 0:47:57

Thank you for your question, Councillor McShane.

Cllr Connor McConville - 0:48:02

I completely agree with you regarding the importance of trees in our urban environments.

more than 70 trees will be planted as part of Folks in a Brighter Future project,

with the aim of creating a greener, more welcoming environment in Folks in Town Centre.

The loss of six trees, four in Sandgate Road, one in Guildhall Street and one in Foresters Way,

in the delivery of the scheme was unfortunate, but was judged at the time necessary

when balancing the regeneration of the area and the economic uplift expected from the new scheme.

You are correct in your assertion that the majority of street trees belong to KCC,

and I'm very happy to press KCC to ensure that every street tree removed is replaced on a like -for -like or net gain basis

and that annual figures for trees failed and replanted are made publicly available.

Cllr Paul Thomas - 0:48:49

Thank you, Councillor McConville. Do you have a rather supplementary?

Cllr Liz McShane - 0:48:51

No, I'll follow Councillor Chapman's lead on this.

Cllr Paul Thomas - 0:48:57

Thank you very much. The next question is from Councillor Scotham to Councillor Jim Martin,

Cllr Stephen Scoffham - 0:49:00

leader of the Council and cabinet member for Otterfield Park and Planning Policy.

The film called the People's Emergency Briefing was shown at the silver screen in Folkestone

last month.

The film is based on a presentation made to MPs last autumn.

It presents the facts about climate change and asks viewers to consider what they think

a proportionate response to the dangers that lie ahead might be.

Can you tell us what the council is doing to make a proportionate response to the issues

that are highlighted in the emergency briefing.

Councillor Martin.

Thank you very much, Councillor Scoffin,

for your question.

Cllr Jim Martin - 0:49:40

The first thing to tell you is that the film you refer to,

people's emergency briefing, which as you say,

was shown in the silver screen,

will be shown in this chamber for staff and any members

who were, I can't give you a date yet,

but once we get the arrangements made, we will be showing the film.

It's also showing in the Tin Tavernacle, if you want to go and see it in Hyde.

So the Council recognises the seriousness of the issues highlighted in the People's Emergency

Briefing. A proportionate response means doing our fair share in reducing emissions,

but it also means preparing the districts

for the impacts that are already being felt

and are likely to increase,

including more extreme heat, like today,

and flooding, risks to health, pressure on food security,

impacts on infrastructure, and wider economic consequence.

On more extreme heat and flooding,

Planning policy is helping to encourage climate resilient design, protect green infrastructure,

support biodiversity net gain and reduce surface water flood risk.

These measures are important because well -designed places, green spaces and natural drainage

can help communities cope better with the heavier rainfall and hotter weather.

Our parks team are also supporting tree planting, as Councillor McConville has outlined for

Post and Town Centre, pollinator -free planting and reduced grass cutting.

These actions help cool places, hold water and support wildlife, while strengthening

the natural resilience of the district.

and I know that you've been very involved in the establishment of what we're calling

the Shetway Forest Tree Planting Initiative.

On the risk to health, across the Council's housing, we are improving energy efficiency

to help reduce fuel poverty and support healthier homes.

Retrofit work, including installation of solar PV, can reduce bills and make homes more comfortable

in both winter and summer.

Where we can, we will work with health partners to protect vulnerable residents from heat

flooding and other extreme weather impacts.

Community climate action, including projects supported through the Green Grants Programme,

can also support local growing, community food projects, local supply chains and the

reduction of food waste.

On infrastructure, the Council is reducing emissions from its own buildings, vehicles,

street lighting, water use, business travel and procurement.

We have reduced our operational footprint by around 20 % compared with the 2018 -19 benchmark

on comparable data.

Officers are continuing to review buildings, fleet, staff travel, contracts and procurement,

while recognising that some decisions, such as the future of Council buildings,

will be affected by local government reorganisation.

The Green Grants Programme and Sustainable Futures Forum support local businesses,

community groups and residents to take practical climate action.

To summarise, the Council's proportionate response, we are reducing emissions we can control,

supporting district -wide action, improving resilience of places and communities,

protecting natural systems and working with partners where the scale and the challenge goes beyond the Council's direct control.

Thank you.

Cllr Paul Thomas - 0:54:06

Thank you, Councillor Maughan. Do you have a relevant supplementary?

Cllr Stephen Scoffham - 0:54:08

Thank you very much. I welcome that very full and impressive answer.

Thank you very much.

Cllr Paul Thomas - 0:54:17

Our final question this evening is from Councillor Davidson to Councillor Hsu,

Cabinet Member for Housing and Homelessness. Thank you.

Cllr Laura Davison - 0:54:25

How about now? Yes.

Cllr Laura Davison - 0:54:27

I wasn't sure I was going to squeak this one in.

I think maybe some of the answer we have had.

How are we working together with other partners to protect our residents

from extreme heat episodes in our district.

For example, mapping and providing cool spaces,

greening or shading our streets,

adapting buildings and operating the sweat.

Thank you.

Cllr Paul Thomas - 0:54:52

Council Hsu.

Cllr Rebecca Shoob - 0:54:55

Thank you and thank you for your question,

Councillor Davidson and yes, very much follows on

and I echo and endorse what Councillor Martin has already said,

particularly about green infrastructure

and the built environment going forward

as part of our local plan, et cetera.

As part of our severe weather protocol

and rough sleeping programme arrangements,

our teams will signpost vulnerable clients

to the Rainbow Centre and work with them

to ensure that there's water, sun cream,

and hats available.

We conduct increased outreaches and welfare cheques,

handing out essentials where necessary.

We give advice around staying as well as possible

in the warm weather, including remaining in the shade,

staying hydrated, and not sitting in the sun

for long periods of time.

If we do have real concerns regarding the welfare

of a client, in cases, for example,

when they're refusing water or wearing multiple layers

of clothing, we will complete safeguarding referrals

and link into other agencies such as the CSU social care

and the police.

SWEP includes a range of measures to support

vulnerable people affected by rough sleeping.

At the current time, whilst we are increasing the support

for this vulnerable group in response to the severe weather

that we're experiencing, we won't be providing

emergency accommodation over the nighttime period

as we do when a sweat is implemented over the winter period

when temperatures fall below zero degrees.

Further to this, the communities team is currently exploring

with the community hubs the need to put in place

cool spaces in the first instance to see how well equipped

they are already for the provision of cool, shady areas

and then what cost implications there might be

for installation of some form of air cooling units.

The team's also checking to see what kind of support

the hubs are currently providing vulnerable people

in hot weather conditions.

This will now be an ongoing area of work to pursue,

given the changes in climates that we are now experiencing.

Thank you, Councillor Shoup.

Cllr Paul Thomas - 0:57:22

Councillor Daniels, do you have a relevant supplementary?

Cllr Laura Davison - 0:57:26

Cllr Laura Davison - 0:57:27

I think I would just ask on the point about SWEP, whether that could be looked at again

and kept under review because of the fact we are going to see these severe periods of

heat and our website does refer to heat as well as cold in terms of the operation of

SWEP but I was pleased to hear the other answers and maybe I just draw your attention to the

fact in London they have an app where you can see the mapping of cool existing community

spaces and whether they have water or air conditioning, that seems like a useful tool.

Thank you.

Cllr Paul Thomas - 0:57:58

Councillor Shimp.

Cllr Rebecca Shoob - 0:58:00

Yes, that's something I certainly speak to the team about going forward.

Thank you.

Cllr Paul Thomas - 0:58:06

Okay, thank you for that, Councillors.

Item 8 on the agenda.

8 Announcements of the Leader of the Council

Back to Councillor Jim Martin again for the announcement of the leader of the Council.

I hope to you, Councillor Martin.

Thank you very much.

Sorry about this, everyone.

Cllr Jim Martin - 0:58:21

So, local government reorganisation, I would have to start there.

We had an excellent meeting of the local government reorganisation working group this morning

and I am grateful to the members who participated so fully and expressed their views.

I will not bore members with an update on the progress of LGR within our neighbouring

authorities.

We can all read about the turmoil and legal challenges.

As far as we know, the Government will let us know how we are going to govern ourselves

in mid -July.

I would like to speak a little further on the question raised by Councillor Speakman

earlier.

I think the establishment of the area or neighbourhood committees is an opportunity to maintain a

local voice for our individual communities and I am willing to work with our district,

county, town and parish councillors to put them in the best position to represent the

local communities.

As members know, our expression of interest in competing for the title of Town of Culture

was submitted, but the government have had to delay announcing the shortlist because

they underestimated the number of submissions.

We await the outcome.

At Aftabool Park, there has been significant progress.

Our planning collaboration partners, Homes England, have purchased the Hillhurst farmland

and this will now become known as the early homes delivery site.

I am first and foremost grateful to the Overview and Scrutiny Task and Finish Group for working

with me on every step of this journey.

I was pleased to host a briefing for all members last week and I am grateful to all members

for their patience.

Today we held a public engagement event to bring local parishes up to date.

Otterfield Park LLP continue to play a major role and I am grateful to Councillors Shroob

and McConville for their dedication in getting us this far.

The work on Otipol will now ramp up.

We have received outline planning permission for the wastewater treatment plant.

We have almost completed the section 106 agreement with KCC and we are targeting December to

bring the scheme back to our planning committee for outline consent.

Meanwhile Homes England will be bidding to Treasury for funding to support the whole

development.

I will finish off again or yet again by thanking our officers for their enormous amount of

hard work in delivering Otterfall thus far.

I was delighted to join our Chair, Councillor Thomas, in raising the union flag to mark

the commencement of Armed Forces Week.

I was also very pleased to join the Mayor of Hyde during Hyde's Armed Forces celebrations.

At this time of so much uncertainty in the world, highlighting and promoting the role of the Armed Forces and the people who protect us is very important.

I also attended the D -Day commemorations in Fosden.

I am pleased to chair, sorry, I was pleased to chair the Southern Water Stakeholders'

Group at the VARN Boat Club, a lively and well -informed discussion where Southern Water

answered our questions but also gave us details of their increased investment plan for the

and High District Council area.

The increase investment from 11 million to 42 million

is very welcome, but personally I do not feel

that it will address the 40 years of underinvestment

in sewage infrastructure.

I did have a brief conversation with Lawrence Goodston,

the Chief Executive of Southern Water

at a Southern Water event, but as yet,

He has not accepted my invitation to swim with me off of Dim Church Beach.

I was also pleased to speak at the Surfers Against Sewage Paddle Out event in Folkestone.

With regard to housing, I've been absolutely delighted to attend a number of handovers

in different developments, both in the HRA and in our temporary housing stock.

We are delivering far more Council homes than we originally envisaged.

I was pleased to welcome an inspection by the housing regulator where we were inspected

but I was also interviewed and we await the result.

I have attended the Kent leadership meetings including the Kent Summit at the House of

Commons, the East Kent leadership meetings.

I have attended meetings with developers and businesses across the district.

This council is a friend of good business.

I met with both of our MPs.

I have met with government agencies.

I've met with environmental campaigners, heritage groups,

and local hospitality operators,

hoteliers, sports and leisure operators.

I also attended an excellent meeting

on how to increase the tree canopy in Kent,

including introducing disease resistant elms

along the Royal Military Canal.

As a council, we will be supporting a variety

of initiatives to increase our tree canopy.

I attended a very helpful meeting at Station A in Dungeness

with a focus on the next 10 years of decommissioning.

I also spoke at a new nuclear future discussion

in New Romney.

Finally, just to add a note about the immediate future,

a local government reorganisation will place

significant pressure on this council.

Otterpool, finally moving forward,

will also have a significant impact on us.

The hot weather, love it or hate it,

will bring an increased number of visitors to our coast.

This will help our tourism and hospitality businesses,

but it will also put our parking and waste collection services under increased pressure.

I am confident, however, that we as members will do all we can to ensure that we support

staff in maintaining the services to our residents.

Thank you, Chair.

Thank you, Councillor Martin.

Cllr Paul Thomas - 1:05:39

I'd like to invite a response from Councillor Adrian Rockwood.

Thank you.

Thank you, Chair.

Cllr Adrian Lockwood - 1:05:47

Can I start by thanking Jim for all the work he does for us on behalf of us and all our

residents and the small army of officers that work in the background to make all this stuff

happen.

And can I also echo your words about our armed forces?

They are valuable.

I'm going to keep this brief for comfort reasons.

So housing in Otterpool, thanks for the update on those.

I'll put those together and just my fellow councillors on planning will know that I always

say we need more housing.

So I welcome this news and I would urge the council to put any available funds we have

into more housing if that is possible.

Town of Culture, yes, I think we have a strong bid

and that being delayed could help us

given how busy we are at the moment.

On local government reorganisation,

obviously this council voted for Model 3.

One of us in this room voted for 4D,

other models are available.

And we've spoken on a couple of occasions this evening on the loss of local councillors moving somewhere up the road.

We don't know where.

But please remember, there is a much, much larger group of councillors who are geographically many, many more miles away.

And some of us might argue ideologically miles away as well from here.

but those Councillors will be coming closer to home.

So there are positives to this process

and we should think about those as well as

the ones we've discussed.

And I will finish to keep this brief on water.

Thank you for all the work you do.

Thank you, Councillor Hills for your contributions.

Please go and do your best for us there.

Good to hear there's Southern coastal networks

and district councils all working together.

That's the only way we can make any progress with this.

Our group had a discussion on Monday evening where we got an update from our MP who's also working on this.

Nothing we can share at this point but I can assure you stuff is going on in the background

and as soon as we can announce that we will.

But the only way we're going to fix this is when our government brings the water industry back into public ownership.

Thank you.

Cllr Paul Thomas - 1:08:28

Thank you Councillor Ockwood. I invite Councillor Mrs Jenny Holland to be for response.

Cllr Jennifer Hollingsbee - 1:08:36

Thank you. Thank you chair and welcome to your first meeting. Thank you Councillor Martin for your report and for all the answers to the questions you have been involved in today.

Local government reorganisation, it will be great when we actually know who we're partnering with.

It will make such a lot of difference and sort of help officers and all of us to actually understand what's required and where we're going to the future.

Town and culture, yes I've been talking with Councillor Lockwood.

Otterpool Park, well here we go. I didn't attend the local government working group this morning because I went to the Otterpool exhibition and maybe I didn't really, I thought they were doing a presentation and I thought that was the time to go and I think really I could have gone later and come to the local government reorganisation group but I didn't so I'm sure I've

kept up to date with what's going on. Yes, I'm really delighted that the hospital seems to be moving forward.

I have to say, and it's great that we now know, or the public now know, that it was Hill House Farm that Homes England purchased

because that's been a difficulty with local parish councils. They've been very concerned, as Councillor Elaine Martin will say,

very concerned about not knowing where that site was really.

I did manage to get hold of the Holmes England chap today

and he probably doesn't want to see me again, but I asked a lot of questions

He was David Vance and actually he confirmed to a certain degree what we've been told and what we know.

I think the Times, asking about Times -Dale of course as I would, and he said that obviously, I mean I don't expect him to be able to tell us,

but it certainly is still going to be quite a long process

to go through Treasury.

And that's gonna be,

but I understand if the business plan is perfect,

or as perfect as it can be,

and Homes England are happy with that when that goes,

then we might move it quicker.

But I, yes, it was a very useful time for me

to be able to get. And of course I would also say on officers, it's been a huge amount of work and I am really grateful, I think we're all very grateful for how you pursued this.

As you probably know, as you probably guessed at every meeting, it's something that I'm very keen on.

I'm sorry I wasn't able to get here but absolutely our armed forces are really necessary and we should be grateful for them.

I don't think I need to say much more about Southern Water and Water.

It's been said, Tony said it, Councillor Martin and yes we are grateful for what's going on for your support and your work.

both Toby. Housing of course can only be a great thing really. We need houses as

Councillor Loughlin said, I'm pleased to hear him keep saying this, we need houses. One of the things I found

visiting a summit in Limmon yesterday or an exhibition for a site in Limmon yesterday

But people saying, why haven't we got Otterfield?

Otterfield will stop some of this development.

And although it probably wouldn't stop it,

it would actually help.

And there's no doubt about that

because with all the vessels in the world,

you haven't got a five year housing supply.

And we need that, or we're going to be having

development anywhere and everywhere.

I notice all your attendance is so well done.

I think I've said about the amount of work that officers are going to have,

not just for Otterpool but obviously for local government reorganisation.

As soon as you say that, as I started with, the better it will be.

So thank you very much indeed.

Thank you, Councillor Halling.

Councillor Martin.

Cllr Jim Martin - 1:13:29

Just really to thank all of the members in terms of I know I talk you all to death but I only pursue what I get told.

So you know I know that we stand together with regard to Southern Walter, there is a consensus with regard to delivering Otipol.

So all of the big questions, I am confident when I go in and make a load of noise that

this chamber is behind me and that's very, very important to me.

Thank you, Councillor Martin.

Cllr Paul Thomas - 1:14:04

Could I have a proposer for the leaders' announcements, as Councillor Craitor and the

seconder please, Councillor Martin.

Are we all agreed?

Thank you, members.

That's great.

9 Portfolio Holder reports to Council

Cllr Paul Thomas - 1:14:18

Item 9 is Portfolio Holder Reports, and they're included in the pack for receiving and noting.

We have no opposition business.

10 Opposition Business

11 Motions on Notice

We do have one motion on notice, and that is in the pack in Report No. A26, complete

And I'd like to invite Councillor Mrs Hollingsby to introduce this item.

Thank you.

Cllr Jennifer Hollingsbee - 1:14:49

Thank you chair. Well I'm very pleased to bring this motion forward and I very much hope that everybody in this chamber will be able to support it.

It's ten years since Jo Cox was killed and she was killed in a dreadful way.

I think she was stabbed numerous times.

And it's something that we were absolutely destroyed by really.

That something like that could happen to an MP or in fact anybody.

And then of course that was followed by Sir David Amos in 2021.

So it's across the political spectrum.

and I think what this motion does, it asks three things really.

It says, to mark, this council resolves, to mark the 10th anniversary of Jo Cox's murder

by coming together across political differences, to mark the occasion with a video to be distributed publicly.

I think we've done that actually, but I think it's being edited.

To continue to support efforts to increase civility and reduce abuse in politics, including by supporting the LGAs debate, not hate campaign.

And to continue to work with our community team and officers from Operation Forward to keep our councillors and council staff safe.

Just let me go back to my notes, please.

Jo Pox was actually 41 when she was killed, very young.

And the chap who was accused of her murder and sentenced to life imprisonment

was a far right, was motivated by far right ideology,

including white supremacy and extreme nationalism.

Terrible really, terrible when you think about that.

And I suppose what we, the whole idea of this notion is just to make people aware

and to be awake, understand what can happen.

Having said that, I have to say, I think I've said this before,

In my 32 years I think it is now as a district council, the only time that I've really been concerned was that march in Hive when my head, that of Councillor Kerry at the time, were on banners going down Hive High Street.

Now, and my grandchildren were at school, it was horrendous.

And that's something that sticks in my mind all the time.

That sticks with me.

And I would say, you know, when we do things like that, when people want to protest and that,

they need to consider the feelings of people and have respect.

And I think this is what this is trying to say.

to have respect for one another.

We disagree terribly, often strongly on different things.

But at least when we walk out of this chamber,

we are respectful to each other, I hope,

and we will continue to be.

And I just want to say one other thing.

We were asked if we wanted our home addresses redacted.

I've been doing, as I say, for over 30 years now.

I've never had my address redacted,

and I don't intend to have my address redacted now.

The reason being, I'm on planning,

a number of people very often turn up at my house,

not to disturb me or anything, but just to put something through the door for me to look at.

And I don't want to stop that.

I've never, you know, I can't say that I've had an issue where I need to stop that.

And I think, in a way, this is what this is saying.

You know, we need to be sensible.

We need to understand that there are,

there can and there are dangers,

but let's not let those people take over us.

Okay, I think I might have a seconder here.

I propose that motion.

Councillor Lockwood.

Yeah, happy to second that.

Cllr Adrian Lockwood - 1:19:23

and if I may just say a few words about Sir David Anthony Andrew Amis,

who was a member of parliament for 38 years.

He served for the second part of that from 1997 for South End West

and was murdered in 2021, leaving Julia Arnold, his wife and five children.

He was killed on the 15th of October 2021, fatally stabbed, and this was at his constituency

surgery, which was at a Methodist Church hall in Leon C. So just think about those facts

in their order.

Leon C, that hotbed of crime and,

but so, and thank you for your words about Joe Cox,

and I think this is how politicians from opposing parties

can come together when we need to to make these points.

I'm gonna stand up for the next bit,

because I need to wave my arms around a bit,

and I don't wanna hit anyone.

So I wanna just picture something.

I wanna talk about things that I posted online,

but I wanted you to create a picture in your mind

of a graph, but not any graph.

One of those bell curves.

I think they're called a normal distribution.

Statisticians call them that,

and statisticians put two lines at either end,

and they call the middle bit the 95 % confidence interval.

And if you're a fancy statistician,

you might put the lines further out and call it the 99 .9 %

confidence interval.

Now, you've got that graph in your mind.

That middle bit is the bulk of everyone, everything.

That's where most of the data is sat.

You could call that the mainstream.

So if you put this in terms of what counsellors,

all politicians from locally here,

right up to the self -proclaimed world leader, Donald Trump,

what we put out sits in this kind of mainstream bit,

some of it's on the far left, some of it's on the far right,

but if you're part of a movement or a sustained campaign,

or you put effort into shifting that whole debate

slightly to the right, then there's an unintended

consequence here, and I'll give an example of this.

I mean, for example, take the horrendous scourge

on society, which is violence against women and girls.

If you start posting things out there in public,

making press statements and social media posts

that most of this happens because of immigrants,

then you're gonna shift the whole debate

slightly to the right.

Now it would be wrong of me to stand here and say,

you put this stuff out, you're responsible for the death

of David Amos and Joe Cox.

I can't say that because it's not true.

What I can say, I did study quantitative analysis

for business decision at university,

is that when you shift the whole lot slightly over,

in the little corner bit here, you create a space.

So 10 years ago, right over here in the far far right

space of your population graph, we had these killers.

And that was created because there was a space there

for extreme right wing nationalist white supremacy.

If as a group of politicians we are shifting

the whole lot slightly over, the unintended consequence

might be that right down here in the corner,

we are creating a new space for ultra -extreme people.

And let's hope not, because I dread to think

what the consequences of that would be.

So I would just urge all politicians at all levels,

before you press send, just think about the consequences

of what you're saying in public.

So I second this motion, I support everything

that's in there, and I welcome the comments

from my colleague, Councillor Hollingsby. Thank you.

Thank you, Councillor.

Cllr Paul Thomas - 1:23:59

We have a proposal and a seconder, so I open this full debate.

Councillor Chapman.

Thank you, Chair.

Cllr Bridget Chapman - 1:24:19

I will be supporting this motion.

The murders of Joe Cox and David,

Sir David Amis were horrific attacks on democracy itself.

And I welcome the motion's call for greater civility

in public life and its recognition that abuse

and intimidation have no place in politics.

However, I do think there is something important missing

from the motion.

The motion speaks about abuse and intimidation

as though they are unfortunate phenomena

that simply happen to politicians.

but we should also be honest enough to acknowledge that political culture is shaped by politicians

themselves. If we are serious about reducing hatred, intimidation and division, then we

must be willing to examine the role that elected representatives play in creating the climate

in which these things flourish. Too often politicians of different parties have sought

short -term political advantage by portraying groups of people as threats, by encouraging

suspicion of minorities by using inflammatory language,

or by turning complex social problems into culture wars.

Whether it's rhetoric about migrants, refugees,

LGBT people, ethnic minorities, or other groups,

the message is often the same,

that some people are to blame for society's problems

and others should fear them.

When politicians do that, they should not be surprised

when the consequences extend beyond the debating chamber.

Words matter.

They shape how people see their neighbours.

They shape what behaviour becomes acceptable.

They shape whether disagreement remains respectful

or becomes hostility.

And the victims are not only politicians.

When hatred is normalised,

it is ordinary people who suffer too.

People are abused because of the colour of their skin,

because they're asking for directions whilst being brown.

People who are targeted because of their religion,

nationality, sexuality or gender identity,

people who simply find themselves viewed with suspicion

because political leaders have spent years

telling others that they are a problem.

So while I support this motion,

I hope that we can broaden the conversation.

The lesson of Joe Cox's life was not simply

that politicians deserve to be safe,

important though that is,

it was that we have a responsibility to build a politics

that recognises our shared humanity.

As Joe Cox said,

Instead we have more in common than that which divides us.

If we truly believe those words, then we must do more than condemn abuse when it happens.

We must also challenge the rhetoric, the scapegoating, and the deliberate sowing of division that

too often precede it.

We cannot light the blue touch paper and then pretend the explosion has nothing to do with

us.

If this motion is to mean anything, it must be a commitment not only to civility in our

conduct but also responsibility in our language.

So, I support this motion,

but I believe that it is incomplete.

If we're serious about reducing hatred, intimidation,

and public life, we must acknowledge that politicians

have a responsibility, not only to condemn abuse

after it occurs, but also to avoid the kind of rhetoric

that can foster division and hostility in the first place.

I would therefore like to propose the following friendly

amendment simply to make that commitment explicit.

Insert, I've got this in writing,

In the following, insert under this council notes

that public trust in democracy is undermined

when individuals or communities are scapegoated,

stereotyped or portrayed as threats for political advantage.

Insert under this council believes

that elected representatives have a responsibility

to promote informed and respectful debate

and avoid rhetoric that fuels prejudice, hostility

or division against individuals or groups

on the basis of their race, ethnicity, national religion,

disability, sex, sexual orientation, or gender identity.

Insert under this council results to reaffirm

its commitment to the principles of equality, inclusion,

and respectful public discourse,

and to encourage all elected members to challenge rhetoric

that seeks to divide communities

or scapegoat minority groups for political purposes,

and to work across party lines to promote political debate

that addresses issues and policies on their merits

without resorting to prejudice, fear, or hostility

towards any section of the community.

Thank you.

Cllr Paul Thomas - 1:28:41

Okay, thank you.

That was quite a lengthy amendment

to the original motion.

I'd like to ask Councillor Mrs. Jenny Hollingsby

as the proposal whether she prepared

to accept the amendments,

and then Councillor Adrian Lockwood,

whether he's prepared as the seconder to accept that.

Cllr Jennifer Hollingsbee - 1:29:04

I think I'd like to actually have a look at it first because it's quite a long...

Yes, I understand that, but it's not something I can just do in five minutes or a few minutes.

I would suggest that we perhaps...

Adjourn.

Adjourn for a few minutes so that we can actually discuss it.

Would that be all right? Would that be all right with you, Councillor Lockwood?

Councillor Lockwood.

Cllr Paul Thomas - 1:29:32

Yes, I agree with Councillor Jenny Hollingsby.

Cllr Adrian Lockwood - 1:29:35

Cllr Paul Thomas - 1:29:36

Cllr Paul Thomas - 1:29:39

Okay, so what I'd like to do then is to have an adjournment for five minutes so that

Councillor, Mrs Jenny Hollingsby and Councillor Lockwood can have a look at the amendment

as presented by Councillor Chapman.

So we'll adjourn and we'll come back in five minutes.

Okay, thank you very much.

Thank you, members.

11 Motions on Notice

Cllr Paul Thomas - 1:30:03

Everyone has had an opportunity to see the amendments as presented by Councillor Chapman.

So first of all, I would like to ask Councillor Mr Sollings if she is happy to accept the

amendments as presented.

Yes, Chairman.

I am very happy to accept the amendment.

Cllr Jennifer Hollingsbee - 1:30:28

I think what it does, it broadens out some of the things

that we've actually asked for and makes it clearer.

So I'm happy with that amendment.

And as seconder, Councillor Lockwood,

are you happy with the amendment that's presented?

Cllr Paul Thomas - 1:30:40

Yes, thank you, I think Councillor Chapman

makes a good point and it's well captured in this.

Cllr Adrian Lockwood - 1:30:46

Okay, thank you.

Cllr Paul Thomas - 1:30:50

So that now becomes the substantive motion.

and so I'd like to move on to the next member.

So we've got Councillor Hills to speak next please.

Thank you, Chairman.

Yes, it's a sad day for me really.

Councillor Tony Hills - 1:31:05

I've been a Councillor of an on,

depending what the public think of me,

for about 30 years.

So that's quite a long time.

And I hate the idea of my address being redacted.

What do I see on the voting paper or whatever,

address in the district somewhere.

I think that's...

It's ducking the issue.

Having your phone number and your address, and as Jenny quite rightly said,

I've had people stuff letters through my letterbox,

but I don't go around fighting with people.

I don't go on Facebook, you know, saying they're wrong and therefore I'm right,

or getting involved in a lot of the stuff that, you know, Councillor Chapman's talking about.

It's not in my universe. What I'm trying to say is we have to be braver.

We want to encourage more people to stand for their council as councillors.

And we go down the slippery slope of anonymity and we blame hoods in this council chamber in case they can see us.

So I think we've got to be braver. I accept this and it's right that we shouldn't scapegoat anybody.

But it is social media that's doing the damage, not this chamber of people face to face.

Thank you, Councillor Hill.

Councillor Fuller.

Thank you, Chair.

Cllr Paul Thomas - 1:32:23

A few thoughts come to mind.

Cllr Gary Fuller - 1:32:27

I think the motion is excellent, especially as amended.

I might have mentioned a social class under discrimination, but I am reliably informed

that I am not allowed to amend the amendment on pain of death.

So it's been 10 years since Jo Cox's death and it does feel like we really haven't learned

from that experience as a nation. Within five months of her death we had a major

UK newspaper calling public servants enemies of people. We've had former, I

the resistance and all sorts on our streets.

We've had female MPs suffering deep fakes

thanks to social media, things like Grok and things like that

and even today, in Parliament today, during PMQs,

we had phrases like MPs being called traitors and deserters,

the Prime Minister being described as having 400 knives

in his back, a member of the cabinet being described

as a spiteful class warrior, all by the leader

of the opposition, no less.

We all need to learn, and I think

Councillor Hills makes a good point about

the power of social media in this process,

but we've actually seen the power of

certain elements of the media as well.

We've seen the power of certain individuals

that are very rich individuals that maybe

have views that would be

would be unacceptable, should we say,

to most mainstream people.

And we do need to tackle it at all levels.

I think this is a reasonable starting point,

but I think we also, we all need to look to ourselves

as well to make sure that when we are discussing

things with each other, when we are feeling emotional

about the things we're discussing when we're upset by the policies of the people that we

oppose, that we maintain a level of objectivity and respect. And we don't, to quote a hip -hop

artist, we don't hate the player, we hate the game, as it were. Because there are a

lot of things that go on in government and go on in politics that rightly anger people,

of all political persuasions.

And as long as we maintain our anger about the policies

we disagree with and not the people we disagree with,

then we're on the right track.

And I think anything we can do to sort of draw us back

from that cliff edge that we've almost jumped over

in terms of the way we behave on social media,

by we I mean we as a nation, not we in this chamber per se,

and the way we behave towards the people we disagree with is to be welcome. So I will

absolutely support this motion.

Thank you, Councillor Fuller.

Cllr Paul Thomas - 1:35:44

Thank you, Chair. I think we can all agree the reason that we are all here is we are

Cllr David Wimble - 1:35:50

passionate about where we live and we want to make a difference. So I got involved not

as long as it is Jenny or Tony, but 22 years ago,

Willie Richardson, who is a town district

and county councillor, triple hatter,

I was moaning at him one day about why don't you do this?

Why don't you do that?

And he said, why don't you do it?

So that's why I stood.

Over the last 22 years, I've had some really bad

disagreements with people in this chamber,

in this council, current council,

We agree on many things.

We even had our photos taken together because we agreed on something.

I am lucky that I now sit on a cross -party Westminster committee,

which county councils go to.

We go up to Port Cuddish House, or sometimes to Paris,

and we sit with all parties and we all get on really well together.

The only time I have ever seen really bad behaviour is in PNQs.

They're all trying to score points.

It's just not right.

So anything that says that, you know,

we can disagree with each other,

it wouldn't be natural if we all agreed on everything.

But be decent and be honest.

I'm sure many of you have been attacked

by a local website around here.

I know officers certainly have.

I'm not even going to give the person the credit

for the name of the website.

Officers get paid to do their jobs.

We don't get paid anything like one, an officer gets paid.

But the fact that you're in the public eye,

I've been seeing Dr Priest a number of times,

and if it's really on, I was accused of doing something

while I wasn't even in the country at the time.

So it was clearly wrong.

You're putting yourself out there.

You will get attacked.

You'll get attacked on social media,

or anti -social media as I call it now.

Sometimes it's not nice.

It's just good to be seen to be doing the right thing.

If you are going to disagree, at least do it politely.

I talk to just about anybody after any meeting, as we do.

I go for a drink with them, I talk to them in the street.

We are not enemies, we are here to work for the good of the district.

I fully back this motion. Thank you.

Thank you. Councillor Meade.

Thank you very much, Chair.

Cllr Paul Thomas - 1:38:14

Cllr Jackie Meade - 1:38:18

I'm one of the people that has received that abuse that we're all talking about.

At the last Kent County Council election, the amount of abuse that came my way, not

just on Facebook, but also in the street, I was spat on.

And some of them were so serious on the Facebook that they had to be reported to the police.

not just to Facebook but reported to the police.

Serious, serious, number one,

allegations but actually threats. And it got to the point

that I said to my husband, that's it, enough. I'm not standing again

and no, I'm not standing again because my family

don't deserve the amount of abuse

that they can see on social media against me.

I don't go onto social media and go,

oh, you're this, you're that, you're that.

I'll have a debate.

And actually, I think most of you probably find

I'm relatively polite most of the time.

And we do try and find a compromise within things.

So I'd like to remind every single member in here

that if you pass this motion,

I am holding you personally responsible

for calling out any insults and abuse against other members in this meeting

today on Facebook, on Instagram, on TikTok because you can't just go, oh yes yes,

you know, Jo Kopp's so sad she died. No, action. You need to be seen to be calling people out.

There was a little debate or emotion thing that went through about violence against women

and there was the whole thing, you know, guys talk to your mates and call them out if they're being abusive.

I'm not saying anyone in here is being abusive but followers are.

And those people that they're following should call them out publicly and say this is not acceptable.

and I'm sorry, that's all I'm going to say,

and I'm holding you all responsible.

Thank you.

Councillor Haldane.

Cllr Paul Thomas - 1:40:37

Hello, thanks so much, Chair and Councillor Hollingsby,

Cllr Rich Holgate - 1:40:42

Councillor Chapman, Councillor Lockwood

for your contribution on this motion.

I have a slightly different take to Councillor Hills

and Councillor Hollingsby on just the address point.

I think maybe the sweeping generalisation

probably one of the younger counsellors or newer counsellors in the room, I had two young

children, I am honestly relieved that I don't have to put my address on mine anymore. And

I am grateful for that option I had. I totally get why perhaps traditionally you'd have that.

And I support being accessible, being held to the highest scrutiny level and so forth,

but I was ever so grateful that that was now a feature of my own public life as it were.

The social media aspects kind of come through,

like the vitriol has contributed to me

being totally off social media,

and that's actually a wide event,

but it's anyway, you know,

it's contributed to probably my spell as a counsellor

being shorter term than I perhaps anticipated,

because it is a very,

it's a weird world out there at the moment,

and you know, we ultimately live in an attention economy

where rage bait and click bait drives too much of the conversation. It is a world that

is run on shock and awe to generate impressions, engagement and clicks. As a result of that,

any meaningful scrutiny therefore becomes immediately diluted because it's not what

is said, it is how it is said. And it is... I won't go into ideology, I'll pause it there,

I think we all know where we feel that.

So of course I support this motion.

I'd love for it to do more, ever more.

I'd love to have the power to do more,

but perhaps to Councillor Meade's point,

said it more passionately than I was going to.

I definitely agree.

We do have our own obligations to the audiences

that we curate, that we work with on a day -to -day basis.

And through our publications, Councillor Wimble,

There are obligations that we have as councillors that we should take upon as a result of this motion.

And I encourage you all to do it. Thank you.

Thank you. Do we have any other members who wish to speak?

Councillor Spigman, thank you.

Cllr Paul Thomas - 1:42:59

Cllr Jeremy Speakman - 1:43:03

Yes, I mean, I absolutely support this motion. I've been feeling for some time.

I think now we're beginning to push back against this negative rhetoric that we are often exposed to.

I did feel for a while that it was kind of,

it goes with the territory that we kind of suffer

the slings and arrows of outraged social media.

That was par for the course.

Well, actually, no it's not.

I totally agree with Councillor Meade.

I think it's now time to push back.

I think it's now time to say we do not engage.

We promote civilised discourse,

not the kind of negative, persistent.

I don't mean abuse and threatening intimidation,

that's one thing.

What I think is pernicious is this ongoing,

persistent, belligerent tone that you get.

And sometimes I feel we are almost obliged

to engage with it.

Well, not anymore, and I think none of us

should be able to do that.

Enough's enough.

And another point, I suppose, I think,

I want us to try to re -engage with our,

as I think we all do naturally,

but there's an awful lot of anger,

there's an awful lot of negativity about,

but actually what we should be as beacons of

feelings of common humanity around things like compassion.

Start from a compassionate point of view.

Start from understanding.

Somebody once said, you know,

condemn a little more, understand less.

Well I think it's now time that we actually try

to understand a bit more and condemn a little less.

Thank you very much.

Thank you.

Councillor Jones.

Cllr Paul Thomas - 1:44:42

Cllr Anita Jones - 1:44:44

So the world has changed and it did change when Jo Cox was murdered.

It's changed in social media.

People's lives changed during COVID.

People become very much more centred on following things, commenting on things and thinking

that it didn't mean anything.

They say things which they wouldn't say to your face.

And it's scary.

It's a scary world.

and I welcome the addresses being redacted.

Like Councillor Holgate, I have family,

and I'm feeling really confident now that actually,

I think most people in life probably know

where I live anyway, but I think it'd be nice

to actually feel that we're a little bit protected.

And I will say also I'm a small female,

and I'm afraid to say that I would welcome more protection

and more consideration about that.

Some men might not understand that,

but obviously intimidation feels very different

when you're a small female.

It's local printed media as well can be a problem.

And I know Councillor Holgate has already alluded

to one publication and we need to think kindly

about how we talk about people.

Councillor Mrs. Jenny Hollingsby talked about a moment

where her head was on a banner on a parade.

That's horrible, but it's equally horrible

if this is happening in local printed media

as being delivered to people's houses

or being put in public places.

So people need to think very carefully

if they are agreeing to this motion.

I absolutely welcome it and I welcome the amendment.

We need to think about this in public life.

We also need to think how do we therefore

encourage more people to stand for election

if they aren't protected.

So this is a really, really important motion.

We're looking at local government reorganisation.

We keep saying that word,

but we are going to be looking to encourage people to stand for elections, stand up for their people.

We need a wide range of people. You don't just want people who aren't scared.

You know, saying, oh, I shouldn't be worried about having my address.

I would be worried. You shouldn't have to have that publicly available for people to comment on you.

Thankfully, I've not had too much problems since I've been a councillor.

You do get the odd comment on social media, but again, it's things that people wouldn't say to your face.

And I think we need to call people out on that. It's very, very important.

Okay. Thank you, Councillor Jones.

Councillor Perro, sir.

Cllr Paul Thomas - 1:47:12

He's just... Okay.

Cllr Paul Thomas - 1:47:17

Okay. That's all right. Okay.

Councillor Butcher.

Yeah, thanks, Chair. I just wanted to say, yes, support the motion and the amendment.

Cllr James Butcher - 1:47:27

and maybe just to acknowledge how we tend to conduct ourselves in this chamber.

I think I've been struck over the last couple of years,

it's probably different to what a lot of people would expect,

and just to acknowledge the respect and appreciation

across party lines to the work people do,

and of course we disagree about some things,

but I think we conduct ourselves generally really, really well,

and, yeah, respect each other across party lines.

I think that's something to be welcomed.

Thank you.

Councillor King.

Cllr Paul Thomas - 1:47:58

Cllr Nicola Keen - 1:48:02

Can we have an assurance from the council then that if derogatory things are said about

councillors, sitting councillors both in town, district and county, if it comes from a councillor

in this room that it will be dealt with efficiently and not brushed under the carpet, that our

looks at the comment and decides what sanctions

that Councillor needs to have against him.

It's no good doing a motion as good as this

if we're not gonna carry out some kind of punishment,

if you like, for what is being put in print

because it isn't fair.

I've seen it happen on lots of occasions

and I'm gobsmacked at some of the things

that people, not necessarily in this room,

put on social media about their colleagues

in council chambers.

I think we have got to set the example for other councils that we don't tolerate bad

press, bad comments, and especially bad things said about good people.

Thank you, Councillor Keane.

Anybody else like to speak?

Cllr Paul Thomas - 1:49:04

Not seeing nobody.

I'd like to invite Councillor Jenny Hollingsby to sum up.

Thank you.

Thank you very much, Chairman.

I didn't expect all of that actually, I have to say.

Cllr Jennifer Hollingsbee - 1:49:19

But I welcome all the comments.

Thank you very much indeed for the comments.

I think it's really important and I think what this motion does,

and with the amendment, thank you Councillor Chapman,

I think what it does is it makes it broader,

it makes us actually see perhaps what some people could be facing.

And Councillor Mead, I'm really sorry if you've had this abuse

and it certainly shouldn't be.

And I do think we need to call it out,

but if we don't know about it, how can we call it out?

You know, this is the thing, it needs to be reported

to a monitoring officer or somebody.

It's no use saying we need to call things out

if we don't know about it.

I have to say, I don't use Facebook, I don't use Instagram.

Maybe that's why people don't attack me so much.

I mean, they did over -uttable.

I had to be very strong.

But now everybody seems to accept it.

It was worth going through all of that, I have to say.

But yes, we mustn't have people having abuse.

We need to call it out.

And I would just like to say again, thank you to all the people who contributed.

I will perhaps just finish up.

I think Councillor Chapman said it actually.

On Jo Cox really, her death prompted nationwide warning,

tributes in Parliament and the creation of the Jo Cox Foundation,

which promotes community cohesion, respectful politics and a fairer society.

Annual events such as a great get -together celebrate her message that, I think Councillor Chapman said,

we have more in common than that which divides us. Thank you very much indeed.

Thank you Councillor and Mr Pomeroy.

Cllr Paul Thomas - 1:51:23

So this motion has three actions associated with it which are not modified by the amendments.

to mark the 10th anniversary of Joe Cox's murder by coming together across political

differences to mark the occasion with a video to be distributed publicly, which has already

happened, I believe, or is in the process.

To continue to support efforts to increase civility and reduce abuse in politics, including

by supporting the local government authorities' debate, not hate campaign.

And again, I would urge everybody to read that document.

and then finally to continue to work with our community team and officers from Operation

Forward to keep our councillors and council staff safe.

So I think what I've heard here this evening is actually a watershed moment for this council.

I think that's probably the best way of describing it.

So are members agreed to this motion?

Yes.

Cllr Paul Thomas - 1:52:30

So just to come back on that slightly, so under the Council Resolves, just want to reaffirm,

it is to reaffirm its commitment to the principles of equality, inclusion and respectful public

discourse and to encourage all elected members to challenge rhetoric that seeks to divide

communities or scapegoat minority groups for political purposes and to work across party

lines to promote political debate that addresses issues and policies on their merits without

resorting to prejudice, fear or hostility towards any section of the community.

So that's the part of the amendment, the full part of it.

So are we all still happy to agree to that?

We agree.

Thank you very much, members.

So that's carried.

Thank you.

12 Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP) Solar Schemes on the Romney Marsh

Cllr Paul Thomas - 1:53:14

The final item on the agenda tonight, item 12, is nationally significant infrastructure

project, solar schemes on the Romney Marsh.

I'd like to have a proposer for that, please.

Councillor Jim Martin and a seconder, please.

Councillor Tim Prater.

So we've got a proposal and a seconder, so I'd now open the item for debate.

Councillor Jim Martin.

Thank you, Chair.

I would just like to do an introduction.

Cllr Jim Martin - 1:53:47

It's a complex report, a complex question, but it's actually quite an easy answer for

where we are in the process.

At present, there is insufficient information available to reach a definitive conclusion

on any of the proposals.

Officers are of the view, and therefore the officer advice is, that a formal process exists

through which each proposal will be individually considered.

And it is at that stage that the Council

can place its views on record,

based on the detailed merits of each scheme

and assessed across the development plan

and other material considerations.

So we cannot adopt any formal position as yet.

Officers have not reached a view on the solar park proposals due to insufficient detail being available,

key information which is still being requested.

We will follow a proper planning process.

The Council should not prejudge or oppose schemes at this stage.

Instead, each proposal should be assessed on its merits

through the formal planning process.

Any decision taken transparently by the planning committee.

The solar schemes are evolving.

Current proposals at the pre -application stage

are likely to change following consultation.

So early consultations, early conclusions

would be premature.

The Council's policy position is that the Council supports

renewable energy in principle,

but must balance this against the impacts on landscape,

agricultural land, biodiversity, and local character.

And a number of these points are yet to be proved.

The petition asks the Council to oppose solar developments

on prime agricultural land now,

but officers advise against this

because it would predetermine decisions

before the full evidence is available.

The Council will encourage engagement.

Councillors and residents are encouraged

to engage with the developers and consultations now.

Formal opportunities to influence decisions

will come later.

Political flexibility remains.

Individual councillors and parties can still make

representations during the consultation

and later to the Secretary of State.

So in short, the advice is to avoid predetermination,

allow proposals to develop, and take a formal position

only once full details are assessed

through the planning process.

Thank you very much, Chair.

Thank you, Councillor Martin.

Councillor Prater, would you like to speak?

Cllr Paul Thomas - 1:57:23

We have a proposal and a seconder,

and I think Councillor Hill's hand is handed up first,

followed by Councillor Wimble, thank you.

Cllr Paul Thomas - 1:57:29

Thank you, Mr Chairman.

Councillor Tony Hills - 1:57:36

And thank you, Jim, for your technical views,

which are totally accurate, of course,

if you want, the planning committee, you cannot pre -determine.

You've got to play with the straight backs.

Now, the document, I think, is a good piece of work.

I've said this before, it came to over -use scrutiny.

It was well went, we've been through the whole lot.

And I'll be quite honest, my view, my personal view,

I'm against it.

I'm against solar farms on land,

which is going to destroy my communities.

Call me old fashioned, but we have so many problems.

Now, I support the World Governor Council

and I support Jim's position on this.

The South Kent and Brook South Brook scheme combined

is a hundred thousand, so a thousand megawatts

of virtually, virtually side by side.

So from the public's point of view,

it appears one giant scheme and it will surround

Old Romney, it'll be close to the lid

and very close to new Romney.

and it will change our environment down that neck

of the woods completely forever.

So I have my concerns.

But I'm also a member of the Romley Marsh area IDB,

Del Drangeport, and I spoke to them this morning

because there's so much unknown.

This is the whole point.

We just do not know.

Things like water management of controlled runoff.

The runoff has had it stored, how it affects

groundwater levels, how much water needs to be cleaned

I believe the active life of these farms is between 40 and 60 years.

Now, if you see Councillor Swafford's presentation, he might not say we got 40 or 60 years.

So it's an interesting point. It's a bit of a hit and run situation.

But my community is very important to me.

So I think the biggest challenge coming is about 2040, 14 years from now,

It's been water sustainability.

I really want to desalination plant down

Dutch and there's nuclear power of course.

And that way we can actually help

the desalination get more water.

Because we won't have water to drink if we're not careful.

It's a nightmare.

I won't go on about flood risk.

I'm tempted to about the flood problems.

But it's far too hot and I'm taking Jim's advice on this

to hold my fire to get more information

and you have a shot of getting in front of the inspector.

And that's when the real work will happen.

Thanks.

Thank you, Councillor Hills.

Councillor Wimble.

Thank you, Chair.

I'm not on a planning committee,

so I can't pre -determine anything.

What I can say is,

Jim earlier on said about how vital food security is.

55 % of all food that we eat in this country is imported.

Cllr David Wimble - 2:00:34

to see one NSIP solar farm being 30 ,000 acres, another one over 20 ,000, plus the seven other

solar farms that are going in for planning down in Romany Marsh, I think is overkill.

I'm not against solar at all. I think every house, every school, every hospital should

have solar on it. But farm and food security is just as important as energy security. I

I will say that the team behind the South Brook scheme are listening to what people

say and are moving things around a bit so they don't impact so much on the towns and

isn't so visible from the road.

We have a nuclear licence site down there.

I know Jim and Tony are meeting with ministers and we are still pushing for new nuclear at

One of the challenges is that it is a SSSI site.

South Brook solar farm will dig up half that site to get to the switch gear.

I think that nuclear energy is also just as important for an NCEP so that can go ahead

as well.

We will have to wait until everything comes out.

I should have declared that I was one of the fans of Hansa from Mars which has now got

hundreds and hundreds of people.

People at Romney Marsh really don't want these big solar farms.

Small ones maybe, but then it's down to grid connexion.

You can't just tap solar farms onto the grid.

You get grid imbalance and then you get what happened in Spain.

If the grid's got a tolerance of about 1 % either way,

if it falls over, you get what happened in Spain, wall in blackout.

So I really am pushing against these huge solar farms

and I think our farming security is just as important.

Thank you.

Councillor Alan Martin.

Thank you, Chair, and thanks for the update as well, Jim.

Cllr Alan Martin - 2:02:28

I think it helps, and I agree there's a lot we don't know, and we have to take a developing

view over time.

I go back to the wonderful meeting we had in overview and schooling, actually.

It was one of the best meetings I've been in, and of course, all of us in the Chamber

supported hands off our marshal for a forward meeting.

the petition and I do feel like we've all got some skin again to make sure that the

council comes forward with a robust position on this and I do agree with the fact that

it's not right for us to form a position on particular topics too soon when we don't have

all the facts.

But I raised an overview and scrutiny that one of my concerns with the process if we're

planning led is planning processes are very rules -based organised process and I fear this

could go against us when we're trying to support our residents and you have to have a very

methodical way of looking at stuff and it really concerns me if we're going to look

at these as individual developments which to a certain extent you have to but if you

listen to what the people of Hands Off Our Marsh are saying they don't like any of the

and I tend to agree with them,

but what really scares the hell out of people

who live on the marsh is the cumulative impact of all three.

And I don't like the thought of us

looking at them individually,

taking too much of a sort of dogmatic,

rules -based approach to it.

And I'd like to see us being more proactive

on things like cumulative impact,

on things like flood risk.

And I have said this before,

but I would like us to be more proactive

in getting our homework together

and us forming a view on things like cumulative impact.

What can our region tolerate?

What can't it tolerate?

What are the risks from a flooding point of view?

Because I'm very concerned that if we follow

what will be someone else's planning process

and contribute to it,

without having done that work

and having sort of clear positions on these topics

ourselves I feel we won't actually be doing justice to what we promise the

residents which is the fact there's a there's a fair discussion around these

and that we push back in all the areas that that we locally believe that we

should push back so yes we can't make any hard fast decisions now but I

really would like to see this as a regular item on overview and scrutiny

at the very least, and I'd like to see what our plans are.

I'd like to challenge whether we're being

sufficiently proactive in planning

for some of these discussions and forming our own views

as to what we can tolerate locally,

and maybe for discussion in an overview

and scrutiny meeting.

I wonder whether this is sufficiently important

that we have some kind of task and finish group.

I do appreciate that when the rubber hits the road,

the officers don't want to be held up

by having to come to full council and so on,

but I do think this is a topic that I personally feel

we've made some promises to some residents,

and we need to hold officers to account

to make sure that we're being sufficiently robust

as we go through that process.

Okay, thank you.

Council Davison.

Yeah, thank you.

I was also in the overview and scrutiny meetings.

I wanted to contribute on this.

I think the report that's in front of us

Cllr Laura Davison - 2:06:04

is a very good summary of the discussion that we had,

but I think Councillor Martin is right to highlight

one element of our discussion,

which maybe hasn't come through quite so much in the report,

or at least how we're going to deal with that aspect of it,

which maybe sits more in the kind of political

than in the planning sphere.

So in the notes of the meeting,

it does capture that members raised concerns

and suggested that we develop clear criteria

to address the cumulative impact,

for example, agricultural loss, flood risk

and landscape harm.

Officers advised that while planning submissions

must remain evidence -based,

members may adopt broader political positions

through full council.

I think Councillor Martin's suggestion

of using overview and scrutiny for some of this work

is a sensible one.

And we did agree and that's reflected in this report

that this topic would come back to overview and scrutiny

for a fuller information session when there is more

information available and to give a further opportunity

for scrutiny.

So could we perhaps suggest that as part of preparing

for that meeting, some of this work at looking at developing

criteria and how we would assess for ourselves

these projects could be done as part of that work

in the run up to the meeting.

And perhaps colleagues who are on overview and scrutiny

could be invited to contribute to that.

Thanks.

Would anybody else like to speak on this item?

Cllr Paul Thomas - 2:07:30

Councillor Martin, would you like to sum up?

Cllr Paul Thomas - 2:07:37

Thanks very much everyone for your excellent contributions.

Cllr Jim Martin - 2:07:43

Just so we're clear, these are under a development control order, which means they don't come

to our planning committee per se for consent.

However, we will be using that process to determine

whether we object or whether we don't object.

Now what the petition was asking for us to do

is to make it very, very clear now that we object

before we go through that process.

That's why we can't accept the petition.

The petition, if you like, is too early in the process

because it would frustrate us in terms of determining

the information that we get.

I don't disagree with anything.

I think the use of overview and scrutiny

is gonna be, I think, very, very important.

There is a tonne of information that is going to emerge from this, not wholly in terms of

the proposals themselves, but there are going to be a range of mitigations which will be

offered, which will have to be looked at.

So it's only going to get more complicated as we go forward.

And maybe we can ask our chief executive

to give some thought to the best way that we deal with that.

Because while I think our planning team

can certainly get us through the legislation

and what we've got to do and what we haven't got to do,

et cetera, et cetera, I think that we as members

would be sidestepping our responsibilities

if we just left it to the planners.

So this paper essentially sets out

that we can't accept the petition and object now,

and the reasons why we can't object now.

But other than that, it's an open door.

And I do fully understand that certain members

will have made their minds up already,

and there is, as I think the paper says,

there is absolutely no problem with members

expressing their own individual concerns,

or own individual views, but we, as a council,

are not yet in a position to say

whether we're going to oppose it,

or whether we're going not to oppose it.

So I think that we've had a very balanced discussion.

We will be relying on our officers to give us some advice with regard to the best way to do it.

But very clearly, we have heard the thoughts of the chamber this evening.

I will leave it at that.

Thank you for that, Councillor Martin.

Cllr Paul Thomas - 2:10:51

There are five recommendations in the report and I would like to take them all together.

I think first of all, just reinforcing what Councillor Martin said,

in section 2 .4 of the report, we already have, through the referral petition to Ovi and Scrutiny,

as the case may be, for their observations before deciding whether to examine the issues raised by the petition,

I think we already have the ability to bring that back to OSC within our normal arrangements

to look at any aspect of this that we choose.

So that is within the gift of OSC.

So I think on that basis,

we do have five recommendations here.

So what I'd like to do is to ask for members

to vote on this, if that's okay.

And again, so I'd like to ask for all those

who are in favour of this paper as presented.

Thank you very much.

We welcome your comments

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Council - Wednesday 24 June 2026, 7:00pm - Folkestone & Hythe webcasting

CouncilWednesday, 24th June 2026 at 7:00pm

Agenda

Slides

Transcript

Map

Resources

Twitter

Forums

Speakers

Feedback

Votes

Cllr Paul Thomas - 0:00:14

Microphone Forty - 0:00:32

Cllr Paul Thomas - 0:04:16

1 Apologies for Absence

Dr Susan Priest - 0:05:07

2 Declarations of Interest

Cllr Paul Thomas - 0:05:42

3 Minutes

Cllr Paul Thomas - 0:06:00

4 Chair's Communications

Cllr Paul Thomas - 0:06:45

5 Petitions

Cllr Paul Thomas - 0:11:21

6 Questions from the Public

Microphone Forty - 0:11:47

Cllr Connor McConville - 0:12:54

Microphone Forty - 0:15:42

Cllr Connor McConville - 0:16:38

Cllr Paul Thomas - 0:16:57

Cllr Paul Thomas - 0:17:01

7 Questions from Councillors

Cllr Belinda Walker - 0:17:19

Cllr James Butcher - 0:17:46

Cllr Paul Thomas - 0:17:53

Cllr James Butcher - 0:17:54

Cllr Paul Thomas - 0:18:22

Cllr Belinda Walker - 0:18:27

Cllr Paul Thomas - 0:18:37

Cllr James Butcher - 0:18:39

Cllr Paul Thomas - 0:19:05

Cllr Jackie Meade - 0:19:19

Cllr Jim Martin - 0:20:18

Cllr Jackie Meade - 0:22:38

Cllr Jim Martin - 0:23:35

Cllr Paul Thomas - 0:25:09

Cllr Jeremy Speakman - 0:25:20

Cllr Jim Martin - 0:25:56

Cllr Paul Thomas - 0:27:48

Cllr Jeremy Speakman - 0:27:50

Cllr Jim Martin - 0:28:43

Cllr Paul Thomas - 0:29:18

Councillor Tony Hills - 0:29:28

Cllr Jim Martin - 0:29:55

Cllr Paul Thomas - 0:34:47

Councillor Tony Hills - 0:34:50

Cllr Jim Martin - 0:35:35

Cllr Paul Thomas - 0:36:42

Cllr Bridget Chapman - 0:36:53

Cllr Jim Martin - 0:37:42

Cllr Jim Martin - 0:40:13

Cllr Paul Thomas - 0:40:57

Cllr Bridget Chapman - 0:41:01

Cllr Paul Thomas - 0:41:08

Cllr Bridget Chapman - 0:41:10

Cllr Paul Thomas - 0:41:12

Cllr Bridget Chapman - 0:41:14

Cllr Paul Thomas - 0:41:52

Cllr Jeremy Speakman - 0:41:55

Cllr Paul Thomas - 0:42:19

Cllr Bridget Chapman - 0:42:21

Cllr Paul Thomas - 0:42:23

Cllr Bridget Chapman - 0:42:31

Cllr Paul Thomas - 0:42:51

Cllr Jim Martin - 0:42:56

Cllr Paul Thomas - 0:44:33

Cllr Bridget Chapman - 0:44:34

Cllr Paul Thomas - 0:44:37

Cllr Paul Thomas - 0:44:41

Council
Wednesday, 24th June 2026 at 7:00pm