This week, the Folkestone and Hythe council held one meeting: the Overview and Scrutiny Committee on Tuesday, 28 May 2024.

Key Discussions and Decisions from the Overview and Scrutiny Committee Meeting

1. Folker Project Update

The primary focus of the meeting was an update on the Folker project, particularly concerning the viability of the Medical Centre in Folker 1 and potential alternatives.

Medical Centre Viability

The council discussed the challenges faced in establishing a Medical Centre in Folker 1. The initial plan was deemed unviable due to reduced floor space requirements, higher construction costs, and economic factors. The council is now considering Folker 2 as an alternative location.

The three-story flats are out of character with the area, and the local sewage and drainage systems are already overburdened. - Councillor Paul Thomas

The council aims to finalize the decision by the end of the calendar year, emphasizing the need to avoid abortive works and ensure financial viability.

Levelling Up Works

The council highlighted the urgency of progressing with the levelling up works, which include repairing the roof and windows of the Folker building. These works are time-sensitive due to funding deadlines, and the council is keen to avoid abortive works by aligning them with the final decision on the Medical Centre.

We need to make a decision reasonably quickly on that. We have had a little bit of success with DLUC in terms of the March 25 deadline, so they've not called it an extension, they've called it a re-baseline of the deadline. - Meeting Transcript

Future Use of Folker 1

With the Medical Centre no longer a viable option for Folker 1, the council is exploring alternative uses for the building. Options include commercial activities, leisure facilities, or boutique hotels. The council is committed to ensuring any future use aligns with financial viability and community benefits.

We need to understand the financial implications of the building. There's talk of potentially boutique hotels and things like that that might be interesting. - Meeting Transcript

2. Procurement Plan

The committee also reviewed the council's procurement plan, focusing on local business participation and social value. The council aims to improve local supplier engagement and simplify tender processes to encourage local businesses to bid for council contracts.

We try to encourage local bidders to bid but cannot exclude others in favour of local suppliers because the regulation doesn't allow us to. - Ade Abola, Procurement Manager

The council is exploring ways to break down contracts into smaller lots, promote local supply chains, and include social value criteria in tenders to benefit the local economy.

Themes and Implications

This week's meeting underscored themes of strategic project management, financial viability, and local economic support. The Folker project discussions highlighted the council's commitment to finding viable solutions for community infrastructure while managing financial constraints and funding deadlines.

The procurement plan review emphasized the council's efforts to support local businesses and integrate social value into procurement processes. This aligns with ongoing themes of community support and proactive financial management, which have been recurring in our discussions.

The decisions made in this meeting have significant implications for local governance, community welfare, and economic development, emphasizing the council's role in balancing growth with community needs and financial integrity.

This week, the Folkestone and Hythe council held three meetings: the Planning and Licensing Committee on Tuesday, 21 May 2024, the Cabinet on Wednesday, 22 May 2024, and the Corporate Plan Working Group on Thursday, 23 May 2024.

Key Discussions and Decisions from the Planning and Licensing Committee Meeting

1. Land West of Ashford Road, New Romney

The most significant topic was the planning application for land west of Ashford Road, New Romney. The application sought to increase the number of homes from 87 to 96, including three-story flats. Local residents and council members raised concerns about overdevelopment, infrastructure strain, and flooding risks. Councillor Paul Thomas emphasized that the three-story flats were out of character with the area and that local sewage and drainage systems were already overburdened.

The three-story flats are out of character with the area, and the local sewage and drainage systems are already overburdened. - Councillor Paul Thomas

Despite officers' advice that the application met technical requirements, the council decided to defer the decision to discuss potential amendments with the developer.

2. Holiday Let at 18 Seawall, Church in Romney Marsh

The council approved a holiday let application with additional conditions for tree protection. Local resident Amanda Robins and Councillor David Wimble expressed concerns about the size of the proposed building and potential flooding.

The new proposal is smaller than a previously approved plan. - Adam Hawker, Applicant

3. Other Applications

• Rear of 120 Sandgate Road, Folkestone: Approved despite concerns about parking and fire safety.
• Port Flour, Coombe Wood Lane, Hawkinge: Approved with conditions to manage construction and protect existing trees.

Key Discussions and Decisions from the Cabinet Meeting

1. District Parish and Town Council Scale of Election Fees

Councillor Fuller introduced changes to align election fees with Kent County Council and DLUC guidelines, resulting in a 7-8% increase. Councillor Prater suggested an amendment to mitigate the cost increase for smaller councils, which was accepted.

2. Windpine House Heating and Lighting Upgrade Pilot Project

Councillor Shoop presented a project to upgrade the heating and hot water system at Windpine House in Hythe. The project will replace the existing system with heat interface units (HIUs) and upgrade communal lighting to energy-efficient LEDs. The estimated cost is £1,035,097.

3. Local Authority Housing Fund Phase Three Grant

The council was offered £475,750 to purchase properties for refugees and homeless households. The council needs to provide the remaining 60% of the funds required.

4. Infrastructure Funding Statement

James Hammond presented the infrastructure funding statement, detailing developer contributions and potential projects for Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) funding. Councillor Prater raised concerns about the lack of councillor involvement in the CIL allocation process.

A future report will consider how members could be better engaged and have oversight of the CIL process. - James Hammond

Key Discussions and Decisions from the Corporate Plan Working Group Meeting

Details of this meeting have not been summarized.

Themes and Implications

This week's meetings highlighted themes of balancing development with community concerns, infrastructure strain, and proactive financial management. The deferral of the New Romney development decision underscores the council's commitment to addressing community concerns about overdevelopment and infrastructure capacity, a recurring theme in our discussions.

The approval of the Windpine House project and the acceptance of the local authority housing fund grant reflect ongoing efforts to improve housing and support vulnerable populations. The discussions on election fees and the infrastructure funding statement indicate a focus on financial transparency and effective resource allocation.

These decisions have significant implications for local governance, community welfare, and infrastructure planning, emphasizing the council's role in managing growth while addressing community needs and maintaining financial integrity.

This week, the Folkestone and Hythe council held one significant meeting, the Audit and Governance Committee on Tuesday, 14 May 2024.

Key Discussions and Decisions from the Audit and Governance Committee Meeting

1. 2022-2023 Accounts and Audit Findings

The primary focus of the meeting was the 2022-2023 statement of accounts and audit findings. Ola Ola, Deputy Deputy Secretary of the Sectional OA5 on Officer, presented the report, highlighting that the audit is 99.9% complete. The auditors are expected to issue an unqualified audit opinion, which is positive news for the council. However, some technical issues in the disclosures need to be resolved.

The audit is 99.9% complete. The auditors will issue an unqualified audit opinion, but some technical issues in the disclosures need to be resolved. - Ola Ola

The council's assets, including land valuations, were discussed, noting that annual revaluations can lead to changes in asset values, which must be reflected in the accounts. This is a crucial point as it affects the council's financial statements and overall financial health.

2. Addressing Audit Issues

Councillor Lockwood raised concerns about the delay in signing off the accounts and asked if there were any financial penalties. Ola Ola confirmed there are no penalties and explained that the government has set a deadline of September 2024 for signing off the 2022-2023 accounts, but the council aims to complete this by May 2024.

There are no penalties for the delay. The government has set a deadline of September 2024, but we aim to complete this by May 2024. - Ola Ola

Councillor Butcher inquired about tracking the issues raised by the auditors. Ola Ola suggested creating a tracker to monitor progress and provide updates at future meetings. This proactive approach could help ensure that the council addresses all identified issues efficiently.

3. Financial Management System

The council is planning to implement a new financial management system to address the issues raised by the auditors. This system is expected to improve the accuracy and efficiency of financial reporting, which is essential for maintaining the council's financial integrity.

4. Importance of Accuracy

Councillor Godfrey noted the importance of getting the accounts right, even if it means delays. Ola Ola and Sophia from the audit team assured that the remaining issues are technical and do not impact the core financial statements or the council's bottom line.

The remaining issues are technical and do not impact the core financial statements or the council's bottom line. - Sophia

The committee decided to hold another meeting to approve the final accounts once the remaining issues are resolved, rather than delegating the approval to the Section 151 officer and the committee chair. This decision underscores the council's commitment to thorough and accurate financial reporting.

Themes and Implications

This week's meeting underscored themes of financial accuracy, proactive issue management, and the importance of thorough oversight. These themes align with the council's ongoing efforts to maintain financial integrity and transparency, a recurring focus in our discussions.

The decision to implement a new financial management system and create a tracker for audit issues indicates a strategic approach to improving financial processes. This could lead to more efficient and accurate financial reporting in the future, enhancing the council's overall financial health and accountability.

This week, the Folkestone and Hythe council held three meetings, with significant discussions during the Council meeting on Wednesday, 08 May 2024, and the Licensing Sub-Committee meeting on Friday, 10 May 2024. The Corporate Plan Working Group also met on Wednesday, but the details have not yet been summarized.

Key Discussions and Decisions from the Council Meeting

1. Leadership Transition

The council experienced a significant leadership transition with the election of a new Chair and Vice Chair. The outgoing Chair's farewell and the smooth transition highlight a stable governance environment, which is crucial for maintaining continuity in council operations.

The outgoing Chair expressed gratitude and reflections on their tenure. - Meeting Transcript

2. Committee Appointments

The decision to maintain the previous year's chairs for various committees suggests a strategic choice for stability and continuity in leadership. This could influence the effectiveness of the council's operations and its ability to implement long-term projects.

3. Annual Reports and Oversight

The unanimous approval of annual reports from key committees like Audit and Governance, and Overview and Scrutiny, indicates a general consensus on past performance and future directions. This is essential for setting a clear operational roadmap for the council.

4. Procedural Adjustments

Adjustments in meeting schedules and minor procedural changes, although seemingly minor, are vital for ensuring that the council's operations are transparent and accessible to the public.

Key Discussions and Decisions from the Licensing Sub-Committee Meeting

1. Election of the Chair

The swift election of Councillor Shove as Chair of the licensing subcommittee indicates a pre-meeting consensus, which helps streamline the meeting process allowing more focus on substantive issues.

2. Transparency and Privacy

The decision to broadcast the meeting live, coupled with the exclusion of the public for certain sensitive discussions, reflects an ongoing balancing act between transparency and privacy. This is a critical aspect of public trust in council operations.

Themes and Implications

This week's meetings underscored themes of leadership stability, operational continuity, and the balancing of transparency with privacy. These are crucial for effective governance and have been a recurring focus in our discussions.

The leadership changes and unanimous decisions in the council meeting may signal a period of stable governance ahead, potentially leading to more streamlined and effective council operations. Meanwhile, the licensing subcommittee's decisions reflect an ongoing commitment to procedural integrity and public engagement, essential for maintaining trust in local governance.

This week, the Folkestone and Hythe council held one significant meeting, the Overview and Scrutiny Committee on Tuesday, 23 April 2024. Two other scheduled meetings for Wednesday, 24 April 2024, were cancelled.

Key Discussions and Decisions from the Overview and Scrutiny Committee Meeting

1. European Entry Exit System (EES)

The European Entry Exit System (EES) is designed to strengthen the security of the Schengen Area by pre-registering visitors from non-EU countries. The committee discussed the local implications of the EES, particularly concerning potential traffic congestion and its impact on communities in Kent. The decision was made to monitor the EES's implementation closely and revisit the issue before its full rollout in October. The council is taking a proactive stance to manage potential disruptions, emphasizing the need for effective planning and communication.

There was a strong emphasis on the need for effective planning and communication to mitigate these effects. - Meeting Transcript

2. Support for Care Leavers

In response to Kent County Council's (KCC) decision to end accommodation support for care leavers at age 19, the council debated the potential impacts on this vulnerable group. The committee expressed concerns about the premature loss of support for care leavers, emphasizing the financial and social implications for the individuals and the potential increased burden on council resources. The council resolved to continue monitoring the situation and explore ways to support affected individuals.

There was significant concern about the vulnerability of care leavers losing support prematurely. - Meeting Transcript

3. Annual Scrutiny Work Program

The committee adopted the scrutiny work program for the upcoming year, making strategic adjustments to prioritize immediate and significant issues. This includes moving the corporate plan consultation responses into the main agenda and placing the EES as a reserve item. This decision highlights the council's agility in its scrutiny function, ensuring it can respond to emerging issues while planning comprehensive evaluations of ongoing or upcoming policies.

Themes and Implications

The discussions in this week's meeting revolved around proactive community management and the council's commitment to supporting vulnerable groups. These themes align with the council's ongoing efforts to balance social welfare needs with budget constraints, a recurring challenge we've discussed before.

The decisions made in this meeting have significant implications for local governance and community welfare, emphasizing the council's role in mitigating potential disruptions from international policies like the EES and supporting local vulnerable populations amidst broader policy changes.