Tim's Council Diary: Changes

A little less frenetic this week, but still a number of things worth noting.

First is noting a point from the District Council AGM that many missed. For many years, there has been a reception after the AGM, which has offered food and drink to the Councillors attending, and assorted dinaries and guests. I've long been "buffet on the rates" phobic, and refuse such invitations (on, in thecase of Sandgate's recent AGM, funded it myself). However, now we could do more about it.

In the planning for this years AGM soon after the election, Jim, Connor any I made the point that we would not support Council money being spent on a reception. And so, there was none. Connor made some excellent cake for Councillors and staff arriving early, but there was no "aftershow" party for Councillors funded by Council Tax payers. As it should be, but another indication that change has arrived.

In other news:

It is an important part of Governance that all Councillors, both District and for the Towns and Parishes in our area, have fulfilled their legal requirement to provide a Disclosable Pecuniary Interests (DPI) form as they are legally required to do so within 28 days of their election. A clean and transparent council starts with transparency from Councillors.

I asked the Monitoring officer and Committees team to check, and as of 8^th June was reassured that all 30 District Councillors have returned a form / confirmed no changes to a previous form: many thanks to all. At Town and Parish level there are still some gaps, and in each case there are missing DPIs the Clerk has been emailed with a reminder of the importance of ensuring all Councillors have returned the forms.

All Councillors have been set online homework with a variety of E-training modules. I've now completed (and passed)  Anti-Fraud and Corruption, Whistleblowing & GDPR modules. 6 more to do...

Researched and wrote a motion to Full Council to commence the process of moving F&HDC to a committee system by May 2024. Thank you Rochford for source material! The motion reads:

Motion: Committee Governance for Folkestone & Hythe District Council

Proposed: Tim Prater

Seconded: Connor McConville

This Council resolves:

1. That the Committee System model of governance is adopted by Folkestone & Hythe District Council with effect from the Annual Council meeting in May 2024.

2. That a Constitution Working Group is convened, comprising of the Leader of each constituted Group (or their nominee) plus one Independent. The Working Group is instructed to consider and make recommendations to Full Council on the composition and terms of reference of committees by January 2024.

3. That the Independent Remuneration Panel is instructed to review the Scheme of Members’ Allowances in light of the revised model of governance and make recommendations to Full Council by January 2024.

4. That the Monitoring Officer, in consultation with the Constitution Working Group, redrafts the Council’s constitution to fit a committee system of governance and presents the revised constitution to Full Council for adoption by March 2024.

This Council acknowledges that there will be a cost implication to this proposed change in Governance. It is accepted that a suitable budget is allocated for the project once the costs have been established and agreed with the Leader and Finance portfolio holder.

Finally, off portfolio, but looking good: I got the chance on Wednesday to drop down to the Lower Leas Park and check out the new toilet block (including fully accessible toilet) with kiosk that has been installed there. Opening next Friday, it has a green roof, solar panels (which I argued for and won at cabinet when the orginal plan for this block came without them), energy efficient boiler and construction. The solar panels should, in running, pretty much totally power the toilets themselves and a chunk of the use of the kiosk. Smart new facility, and despite the red doors (to match the Leas Lift) really pretty green...