Standing up for Folkestone and Grace Hill

I'm delighted that at the Folkestone Town Council Meeting of 22nd January, Folkestone Town Council unanimously resolved to back my motion to seek to buy the freehold of the Grace Hill building from Kent County Council. Lib Dem, Labour, Independent and Conservative Councillors all backed a scheme to allow a community-led scheme to regenerate the building as a community space and library.

I am appalled that on 13th January Kent County Council's key GET Cabinet Committee endorsed a proposed decision to sell the Grace Hill Library building in Folkestone rather than backing a community-led scheme to work to refurbish the building and bring services back there.

I spoke and voted against that decision at that meeting - alongside Labour, Green and Conservative County Councillors, but we lost to the Reform majority. I'm grateful for the support from a huge range of people from across Folkestone in helping me make the case for Grace Hill at the meeting, from residents to our Civic Societies, Councillors and MP. We're all on the same side.

The documents recommending disposal are at https://democracy.kent.gov.uk/mgAi.aspx?ID=69529#mgDocuments

I am continuing in efforts at the County Council to change their mind on this. I believe the way they made their decision was unsafe and ignored many key facts. However, if they won't save Grace Hill, it will fall to others to do so.

It has been suggested to me that Folkestone & Hythe District Council should try to buy the building. However, I don't think they are the right long term owners of Grace Hill.

I think it aligns better with Folkestone Town Council. They remain strongly supportive of the bid submitted by Creative Folkestone working with One Folkestone and other community groups.

The bid proposed a partnership with Kent County Council alongside community partners to would secure funds to regenerate the building, develop its community, creative and educational functions, secure its long-term future and take a long-term lease on the building. That plan can still work even if the building is owned by Folkestone Town Council.

If fact, maybe better. When we get to the grant seeking stage (and there will be a LOT of grant seeking), that’s likely to be heard better for a Town Council owned building supported a major charity and the district council rather than any other way around.

Equally Local Government Reorganisation will see Folkestone and Hythe District Council merged into a Unitary Authority that will take charge from 1st April (really) 2028.

If the district bought the building we would see it revert in ownership on 1 April 2028 to whichever Unitary covering this area is the successor to Kent County Council. This would be a case of not even going from frying pan to fire, but from the fire to frying pan to back to the fire fire!

So I was proud at the Folkestone Town Council Meeting of 22nd January to move the below resolution on Grace Hill. It was seconded by Jackie Meade, and supported by 16 votes to none against.

It resolves that Folkestone Town Council will make an offer to Kent County Council to buy the freehold of the Grace Hill building.

This is NOT risk free, and not guaranteed. It also commits the Clerk and her team to a great deal of work. I honestly regret that (sorry Toni!). However, I see retaining Grace Hill as a huge priority for our town.

If we simply let KCC send it to auction if could be bought by anyone, for any purpose. That will not serve our town well. This route gives Creative Folkestone and others the time and space to seek to make the building a community space we are all proud of again. And long term it means the freehold is held by the Town Council for the residents of the town. That is, frankly, where it belongs.

But we're not going to spend loads on the building. Handing Folkestone money to Kent for it would be nuts. The County Council were open for months to offers for the building: they got none to buy it - not one. Kent say the only reason they want to get rid of it are the ongoing monthly costs of maintaining it. OK. Then we'll take that on. Give us the building for £1, and we'll take that risk from now.

Thank you to all Folkestone Town Councillors that backed the resolution this evening. I was amazed when County Councillors Mary Laws and John Baker refused to stand up against the proposal to sell Grace Hill. I'm delighted they all stepped up instead.

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Grace Hill Library

This Council notes with regret that Kent County Council's GET Cabinet Committee of 13 January endorsed the proposed decision to progress with open market disposal of the Grace Hill building.

This Council considers that the Grace Hill building was a gift to Folkestone, and should be retained as a community building.

This Council remains strongly supportive of the bid submitted by Creative Folkestone working with One Folkestone and other community groups. The bid proposed a partnership with Kent County Council alongside community partners which would secure funds to regenerate the building, develop its community, creative and educational functions, secure its long-term future and take a long-term lease on the building.

This council notes Kent County Council claim they are seeking to auction the building to remove their exposure to ongoing costs of retaining the building.

This Council further notes the considerable risk that if the building goes to auction and is sold to an unknown third party, the ability to bring the building back to community use will be lost.

This Council understands that there are costs and risks associated with maintaining the Grace Hill building and in owning a Grade 2 listed building. We also understand that Grace Hill is a hugely important community asset in Folkestone and believe we should attempt to secure its long-term ownership by and for our community.

This Council resolves that that we will make an offer to Kent County Council to buy the freehold of the building. This offer will be made prior to the building going to auction and will require KCC removing the building from auction. This Council understands it would become responsible for ongoing building costs from the point of purchase.

In view of the known condition of the building, the liability and risk this Council will face, this Council resolves to offer a peppercorn sum for the freehold of the building and site. Council delegates the Town Clerk to proceed, in consultation with the Chairs of F&GP and Community Services committees. Any final agreement will be laid before Full Council before signing.

This Council further resolves that if our purchase is agreed, we will:

• seek to reduce the running costs as much as possible;
• look to some meantime use of areas of the building to mitigate costs;
• work alongside Creative Folkestone and other community partners to deliver its vision for the building, including gaining the grant support required to make it viable;
• seek to get an accessible library back into Grace Hill as soon as possible.