In response to a question on Facebook we have pulled off this diagram from the planning application to show where the play area near the leisure centre is supposed to be plan showing play area
Drainage Pond to Take up Much of the Open Space
As this diagram from the recent Herrington’s report shows, the pond that is being proposed as part of the surface water drainage system into the canal would take up a significant part of the open space.
Cabinet Meeting Postponed Again!
The cabinet meeting at which the Princes Parade business case was to be discussed has been postponed.
Here is the email from the council: “As you are aware, the report relating to the business case for Princes Parade was due to be discussed by Overview and Scrutiny on 29 January and Cabinet on 30 January but given the level of interest the item had generated, the Leader of the Council has suggested a separate meeting be held specifically to consider the report.
Therefore, the Business Case for Princes Parade will now be considered at a Special meeting of Folkestone & Hythe District Council’s Cabinet on Wednesday 13 February 2019. The report will also be considered by the Overview and Scrutiny committee on Tuesday 12 February 2019.
The representations you have previously submitted regarding the consideration of the report in private will automatically be added to the agenda for these meetings, for both Committees to consider. Apologies for any inconvenience this may have caused.”
Please put both dates in your diaries. Overview & Scrutiny will be at 7pm and cabinet at 5pm.
We are continuing to argue to the council that we should be allowed to attend the whole meeting and have access to all the agenda papers at least 5 working days ahead of the meeting.
New Environment Agency Letter
The EA’s letter dated 15.1.19 in which they reluctantly accept that the surface water from the proposed development can be drained into the canal has been taken down from the council’s website and replaced by this letter Ea Letter 17.1.19 which more clearly states that they are withdrawing their objection.
Exclusion of the Public from the Cabinet Meeting on 30th January 2019
The council has given notice that it intends to exclude the public (and therefore preventing us from seeing the agenda papers) from at least part the cabinet meeting where the Princes Parade business plan will be discussed.
http://www.folkestone-hythe.gov.uk/moderngov/mgIssueHistoryHome.aspx?IId=16689&PlanId=253
We sent our objections to Dr Priest and here is her response :
“Thank you for your emails dated 18th December and 5th January.
I have now had the opportunity of considering the contents of your emails and I have also discussed this matter with the Monitoring Officer.
The Council does not agree with your interpretation of para 9 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972. The Council is of the opinion that the exemption can still apply. This is because the restriction on exemptions at paragraph 9 of Schedule 12A relates to information concerning the planning process, rather than the Business Case.
As you are aware, the Cabinet meeting on 30 January will be considering the Business Case and will not be considering planning issues. Officers consider the details of the Business Case to be commercially sensitive. It should also be noted that the information being considered during the Cabinet meeting will not be part of the consideration as to whether planning permission should be granted.”
It is, of course, for the members of the Cabinet to decide whether or not to exclude the public from the meeting. Objections to the exclusion will be placed before Councillors so they can take them into account. The public interest will also be considered prior to any decision on whether or not to consider the matter in private.
Environment Agency Reluctantly Supports Plans to discharge Surface Water into the Canal
In a letter dated 15.1 19 the Environment Agency say that they are satisfied that the secondary scheme now presented by the council (ie into the canal) represents a “just about viable” alternative to a direct discharge into the sea.
You can read the letter here EA letter 15.1.19
And details of the secondary scheme here Herringtons Report – Dec 2018
Delayed Freedom of Information Request
On 29 October we put in this FoI request to the council:
“Please provide me with all correspondence since 1 Jan 2018 , including any brief/instructions, to or from Arlingclose Ltd in relation to the Princes Parade project.”
The council deemed it an EIR not an FoI (as they are unfortunately entitled to do) and charged us £12.50 which we paid.
They should have provided the information by 26 November but despite chasing them we have still not received the information.
We have reported them to the ICO.
(Arlingclose are the council’s treasury management consultants)..
Could PP be financially viable without the housing?
Following some posts on social media yesterday claiming that FHDC officers know that the PP project could be viable without the housing we checked with the Dr Priest , Head of Paid Services at FHDC, to see if this was true.
Her reply was: “Many thanks for your email. I don’t recognise the contents of your email at all, and can offer no other explanation than this being unwelcome and unnecessary mischief making, perpetuating completely false information.I have nothing further to add.”
Business Plan Discussion Postponed
Just received this notification from the District Council:
Please note that the Princes Parade item will not be ready for consideration at the December meeting of the Cabinet and has therefore been deferred. We have not yet confirmed a date for the item to be heard, but I will keep you informed.
Challenge to the Exclusion of the Public from Cabinet 10th December
We have sent in our objections (on behalf of all members of SPP) to the cabinet meeting on Dec 12th being held in private. We have based this the fact that the public interest in the information being published outweighs the council’s need to keep the information confidential for commercial reasons. We have also argued that the law does not allow the council to keep information private if it relates to planning permission that they may grant themselves. (Note that although they have approved permission subject to the EA withdrawing their objection they have not formally granted that permission.)
Please keep the date of the meeting in your diary so that if we are allowed in we have a good turnout. 5pm