The Opposition members of the Audit and Governance Committee on Folkestone and Hythe District Council have today put down a motion to remove the Chair and Vice-Chair of the committee and to hold a meeting to elect their successors.

At the District Council AGM meeting on Wednesday night, the Conservatives used their deal with the Independent and UKIP Councillors to not just take control of the council but secure every single Committee Chair and Vice-Chair by 16 (sometimes 15) votes to 14. The Liberal Democrats, Labour and Green Parties supported a move for all Committee Chairs and Vice-Chairs to be elected by and from the committees themselves, but the proposal was blocked by Officers and the Council Chair.

At the Folkestone and Hythe District Council Annual General Meeting of 22nd May, Lib Dem Group Leader Tim Prater was proposed as Leader of the Council by Connor McConville and Lesley Wybrow, respectively the Leaders of the Labour and Green Parties. He was proposed against David Monk, whose Conservative Group lost majority control of the Council in the local elections on 2nd May.

At the Folkestone and Hythe District Council Annual General Meeting of 22nd May, Lib Dem Group Leader Tim Prater proposed Laura Davison, Labour councillor for Folkestone Central, for Chair of the Council.

Assuming he didn't fluff his speech, this is what he said:

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I'm delighted and honoured that Gary and I received the support of the voters of Sandgate and West Folkestone in such large numbers. We will work hard to repay their trust. I'm sure you are all as pleased to see me back as I am to be here.

Ringgo is the Folkestone and Hythe District Council supplier that provides the website and app that allow local residents to buy visitor permits in CPZ areas (such as Sandgate, amongst others).

Sandgate and West Folkestone Councillor Tim Prater has made repeated representations to Folkestone & Hythe Parking Services that local residents (including him) find the app difficult to use and clunky, and after discussions between Ringgo and the council a number of changes have been agreed. In feedback from the Tranportation Manager, he confirmed yesterday:

Keep Britain Tidy has today revealed the England's best beaches with announcement of Blue Flag and Seaside Awards for 2019 - and Sandgate is on the list for the SEVENTH year running!

This year environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy is presenting 71 international Blue Flags and 137 Seaside Awards (12 more than last year). This includes the award to Sandgate beach, near Folkestone in Kent. Sandgate is the only beach in Folkestone and Hythe to win the Seaside Award, and one of only 11 in Kent. Learn more about Kent's award winning beaches.