Tim Prater Reporting Back from KCC: December 2025
As a Councillor I try to be properly responsive to communication and WILL reply to casework, questions etc (as long as they are polite!). Although voicemail, Messenger, WhatsApp and the rest I try to keep on top of, the best will be to email to me, preferably to tim@prater.uk from where I can send it to the correct one of my 5 Councillor email accounts for action!
If you haven't had a reply back from me in a couple of WORKING days please come back to me (the person that emailed me New Years Day with a casework peeve some years ago did get a reply that day, but my Christmas holidays have improved since!). Certainly if you've had no reply at all in 4 working days, please do check the address you sent it to and re contact me - that's not the way I roll, so something may have gone awry. Finally, although I answer to Mr Prater, Cllr and a few other names, I'd much prefer Tim!
I am planning to ensure an update from me goes through (almost) all doors in the division 3 times a year, but you can also find more regular updates from me online at http://www.prater.uk/ and https://www.facebook.com/timprater
Finally - sign up on the form at the bottom of https://www.fhld.uk/news/prater to receive monthly Councillor Updates from me and the Lib Dem team in Folkestone & Hythe. It's fast and free! This will sign you up only to local news from the area, NOT campaigns and campaigning events.
December 2025 Action List
On 3rd December there was an extraordinary meeting of the Kent and Medway Fire and Rescue Authority. That followed the departure of the previous Chair and Vice Chair from the Kent Reform Group, which defacto removed them from the Fore Authority. This is not just another example of the chaos of Reform in Kent, but has left the authority with a nasty governance gap, as the Chair is empowered in serious emergencies to authorise expenditure outside a budget. Clearly that's critically important, and needs resolving as soon as possible. As the calling notice from the Chief Executive officer Ann Millington observed:
"due to recent unforeseen developments resulting in the immediate vacancies of both the Chair and Vice-Chair positions, we are faced with an urgent and unavoidable requirement to restore full governance oversight.
“The prompt appointment of leadership is not merely procedural; the temporary absence of confirmed political and governance leadership constitutes a governance gap that must be closed without delay.”
I was to attend to ensure we have in place a Chair and Vice Chair to fill that governance gap, and hope Reform doesn't put residents at risk by further games on political hokey-cokey. Sadly, the Maidstone traffic defeated me. Despite getting to Maidstone East train station and meeting my lift from there at 5pm for the 3 mile drive to Tovil, the gridlocked traffic meant it took us 39 minutes to travel the 3 miles to the KMFRA HQ. As we pulled into the car park, we watched other members leave the meeting: they had already met, elected the new Chair and Vice-Chair and ended the meeting. A 4 hour round trip to fail to attend the meeting was frustrating to say the least, but I've learned some big lessons about driving through Maidstone at rush hour…
The meeting of the Selection and Member Services Committee on 16th December contains agenda items around reducing the number of committees, including merging two scrutiny committees, and four other committees into 2, and greater use of AI in minute taking. I'll be asking questions as to the value of this, the actual saving, the impact on scrutiny, how one long meeting is better than two shorter ones and more. Stay tuned…
…and a Full Kent County Council meeting on 18th December. The proposals for a reduction in Scrutiny Committees were taken by the administration through full council, claiming they will save £75k a year (spoiler: they absolutely won't). No sooner were the hands down on that vote, Refirm then put a proposal for the County Council to employ 2 political assistants, at a gross annual cost of around £150k a year, effective immediately. To claim penury in one item, then blow twice that amount on a lavish Christmas gift to yourself seems a stretch. Deputy Leader Brian is clearly playing Baron Hardup in the long running Reform pantomime, and the less said about the process hey used, the better.
Cutting the numbers of committees offering oversight and scrutiny to the Council and its decisions (and then following that in with a Leaders decision to merge two Cabinet Scrutiny Committees into one) is bad mistake. Given that they have has such a terrible start running the authority, I would have thought we need more scrutiny and consideration of decisions, not less. I spoke about that in answer to a question from Liz McShane at Folkestone and Hythe District Council last week.
Also on 3rd December I was delighted to see published notification on a road safety scheme on Twiss Road in Hythe that Hythe Town Council have been pursuing for some years:
"TWISS ROAD – DYL – (1) On the west side join up the existing double yellow lines from its junction with Twiss Avenue for a distance of 61 metres in a southerly direction. (2) On its east side from a point 9.5 metres south of its junction with the canal tow path extend the existing lines for a distance of 47.5 metres in a southerly direction.
“A full statement of the Council’s reasons for making the proposed Order, a plan indicating the location and the effect and a copy of any other Orders which will be amended by the proposed Order may viewed online from 5 December 2025 at www.kent.gov.uk/highwaysconsultations ”
More sadly, I was pushing with the East Kent Highways team for Active Travel funding for scheme to introduce drop kerbs in Seabrook to improve pedestrian, wheelchair and buggy crossing at the junctions between Spring Lane and:
- Woodlands Drive
- Highridge
- Seadown Close
- Hampton Vale
- Paraker Way
- Eversley Road
- Springfield Way
This is in direct response to a parent who struggles to help his child get around the area in her wheelchair. Sadly, I've been told that the “funding opportunity via Active Travel is not an option for us. Therefore, we are going to create designs within our team here at Highway Improvements and obtain a cost to then ascertain how we can go about funding this scheme and which junctions we can include.” I'll continue to push to make pavements and walking routes through the area accessible to all where possible.
I've had other news from Kent Highways that they will support some “junction protection” at the junction of Battery Point and Sandgate Esplanade where parking up to the junction is causing visibility issues pulling out. They have also agreed to look at a suitable location for a pedestrian refuge / crossing point on Seabrook Road somewhere near the BP station and come back with options.
I reported a pothole in Wellington Place, Sandgate that a resident emailed about. Sadly, the roads is part public, part private, and Kent Highways claim the pothole is in the private section, and therefore the responsibility of residents, not Kent Highways. This may lead to needing to find a map in the New Year…
Had proposals to protect access in Highfield Close in Saltwood sent through which will go out to informal consultation in the New Year.
And, alongside a variety of other casework, work on Town, Parish and District Councils locally, that's 2025 done. Have a very Happy Christmas, and lets look forward to a great 2026 - much to do…
News of Interest:
Operation Brock will be implemented overnight on 15th December - The contraflow system on the M20 will be reinstated from 15th – 22nd December to manage heavy traffic for Christmas Channel crossings. The motorway will be closed between junctions 9 and 8 overnight to install and remove the contraflow.
Further information can be found here: BBC News
Councillors 'pelted with eggs' at refugee debate - Masked individuals disrupted a Swale council meeting which focused on a motion to recognise Swale as a “district of sanctuary”, where “refugees and asylum seekers are welcomed, supported, and valued as members of our community”. The police are now investigating what MPs are calling an “attack on democracy”, as these individuals attacked Councillors and vandalized the building.
Further information can be found here: BBC News
£3bn investment to end postcode lottery for children with SEND - Around 50,000 new specialist places are to be created in mainstream schools nationwide, aiming to end the postcode lottery and make education more inclusive. This expansion will provide tailored learning spaces closer to home, reduce long travel times, and lay the foundation for wider SEND system reforms in the upcoming Schools White Paper.
Further information can be found here: GOV.UK
New mayoral elections to be delayed in four areas of England - The UK government has delayed mayoral elections in four more areas—Greater Essex, Norfolk & Suffolk, Hampshire & the Solent, and Sussex & Brighton—until May 2028, citing the need for local government reorganisation.
For further information: BBC News
The Health Secretary has announced an independent review into rising demand for mental health, ADHD and autism services in England – The review, led by Professor Peter Fonagy, will investigate potential over-diagnosis and gaps in care amid prolonged NHS waiting times and rising welfare costs. The findings from this review are expected in summer 2026.
For further information: BBC News
The Government has launched its Child Poverty Strategy - The strategy aims to lift 550,000 children out of poverty by 2030, the largest reduction in a single parliament. Families struggling with the cost of living could benefit from £150 off energy bills and an increase to the living wage of £900 a year. There will also be more accessible childcare for working parents on Universal Credit and an end to the unlawful placement of families in Bed and Breakfasts beyond the six-week limit. To meet this commitment the Government will be investing £8 million in Emergency Accommodation Reduction Pilots in 20 local authorities that have the highest use of Bed and Breakfasts for homeless families.
For further information: Gov.UK
Lower Thames Crossing gets extra £891m in Budget - The UK government has allocated an extra £891 million for the Lower Thames Crossing, a £9 billion project to build the country’s largest road tunnel linking Essex and Kent. Construction is set to start in 2026 and finish in the early 2030s, aiming to improve connectivity, reduce congestion, and support economic growth, while incorporating low-carbon construction methods.
Further information can be found here: BBC News
Kent’s Council Leaders Issue Devolution Desert Warning - All 14 council leaders in Kent and Medway have jointly urged the UK government to grant devolution powers to the region, warning that without this, Kent risks becoming a “devolution desert.” They argue that devolution would enable a strategic authority to tackle countywide challenges, improve infrastructure, manage borders, and drive economic growth. The letter emphasizes Kent’s readiness, its importance to the national economy, and broad support from key partners.
For further information: Kent Council Leaders
Kent County Council Press Releases in December:
https://news.kent.gov.uk/articles/statement-from-kcc-leader-on-tunbridge-wells-water-supply-outage
https://news.kent.gov.uk/articles/extended-fastrack-timetable-to-boost-dovers-public-transport-links
Folkestone & Hythe District Council Press Releases in December:
https://www.folkestone-hythe.gov.uk/news/article/387/folkestone-a-brighter-future-updates
https://www.folkestone-hythe.gov.uk/news/article/386/backing-volunteers-with-right-support
A monthly bulletin from F&HDC. This month: LGR, Protecting our district’s coastline, Plan for greener district, Affordable homes taking shape, Folca 1 up for sale, Suggestions for council debate & Your District Today.
