The Folkestone & Hythe District and Parish Councils' Joint Committee met on Thursday 11 September 2025, and Councillor Mike Blakemore was elected chair for the meeting. Councillors received updates on the Asset Management Strategy, Local Government Reorganisation, and Folkestone & Hythe District Council's position on solar farms.

Local Government Reorganisation

Members received an update on Local Government Reorganisation (LGR). The Leader of the Council clarified that the role of town and parish councils will not change under LGR, but individual councillors would be co-opted onto the new neighbourhood arrangements.

The Briefing on LGR for Towns and Parishes document included a timeline for LGR:

• Proposals submitted by end of November 2025
• Government-led statutory consultation opens in early Spring 2026
• Consultation closes after May 2026 elections
• Decision announced by Summer recess 2026
• Legislation laid in Parliament in Autumn 2026
• Legislation made late 2026/early 2027
• Structural Change Order (SCO) establishes a Joint Committee for each new Council
• Election to new unitary councils 6 May 2027, with shadow authorities until live in 2028
• New arrangements go live 1 April 2028

The briefing also stated that during September 2025 all councils will undertake an awareness raising campaign about the proposals to change the structure of local government. Folkestone & Hythe District Council (FHDC) will be holding a public meeting early Autumn (date to be advised) to continue to raise awareness and detail the next steps/timeline.

Asset Management Strategy

The committee received an update on the council's Asset Management Strategy (AMS). The AMS guides corporate decision-making on the council's corporate assets and has been revised for 2025-2030. It was taken to Overview and Scrutiny Committee in July 2025 and will go to Cabinet 17 September 2025. A new Asset Management Plan will be created to support delivery of the 2025-2030 AMS.

The vision of the AMS is:

Efficient management of the council's corporate estate, ensuring our assets are well-managed, fit for purpose, compliant, sustainable and support the council's corporate ambitions in particular Growing the Economy in a sustainable way and creating opportunities for all."

The council's corporate asset overview includes:

• Operational buildings, such as the civic centre, depots, public toilets and car parks
• Leisure facilities, such as Hythe swimming pool, beach huts, and sports grounds
• Parks, gardens and open spaces
• Cemeteries and crematorium
• Historical and heritage assets, such as Martello tower and Royal Military Canal
• Otterpool Park land, Westenhanger Castle, commercial and residential stock
• Agricultural land
• Investment assets including Connect 38 office and Mountfield Road industrial units
• Non-operational land that may be suitable for development
• Coastal protection structures and surplus assets

The objectives of the AMS are to:

• Embed a culture that recognises that property assets are a key corporate resource
• Manage the portfolio to optimise returns and minimise operating costs, which may include disposals and acquisitions
• Improve the energy efficiency of the corporate estate where feasible, including reducing carbon emissions in line with government regulations
• Innovatively use property assets, in partnership with others, to improve the District of Folkestone & Hythe and the lives of the people that live, work, play and visit
• Support economic growth and regeneration in the district
• Support the District in meeting its housing need
• Ensure FHDC assets and the asset management approach is fully compliant with all current health and safety requirements
• Ensure FHDC is fully compliant in terms of its statutory obligation to meet the requirements of Section 123 of the Local Government Act in respect of all transactions¹

Solar Farms

The committee received an update on Folkestone & Hythe District Council's position on solar farms within the District. Background information can be found on the Romney Marsh Solar Farm planning applications page of the council website.