Tim Prater Reporting Back from KCC: February 2026

28 Feb 2026

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.

February 2026 Action List

A good day's work: helping Folkestone based charity Living Words gain a significant grant towards releasing an app to help maintain meaningful relationships with people living with dementia.

Proposed summer CPZ changes in Radnor Cliff (and one end of Radnor Cliff Crescent) got over 80% support from the households that responded to an informal survey.

An appeal has been made to the Government Planning inspectorate against the refusal by F&HDC of planning permission 25/1410/FH - Demolition of car sales garage and erection of 8 x 2 bed flats, parking and access.

3rd February: a critical incident has been declared at the William Harvey Hospital in Ashford.

[The incident was “stood down” / ended on the afternoon of 6th February, but they say:

Our hospitals and services continue to experience high demand, and our sites are extremely busy, with large numbers of patients requiring urgent and emergency care.

We are asking the public to continue supporting us by using NHS services wisely and choosing alternatives to attending our Emergency Departments when their condition is not life-threatening, such as:

NHS 111 (online or by phone) for advice and direction to the right service
Community pharmacies for minor illnesses
GP practices and urgent treatment centres where appropriate.]

2nd February, and a message from the KCC administration. "I am advising all Members in writing that the Leader has notified me that Mr Matthew Fraser Moat has resigned from the position of Cabinet Member for Local Government Efficiency."

9th February: within an hour of the publication of the County Council decision to send Folkestone's Grace Hill Library building at auction, I lead on submitting the call-in of that decision to KCC Scrutiny Committee. It needs evaluating for validity, but it's in and the decision is on pause until it is ruled invalid or the call-in heard.

My colleague and Kent Lib Dem Finance spokesman Richard Streatfeild warns of the dangers of the Kent County Council 2026-27 budget the day before the full Council meeting to decide it.

"In May, when Reform were elected to the County Council, they made two promises. To cut taxes, and to find savings to improve services.

“Today the Council plans not to cut taxes, but to raise your taxes by 4%. And they haven't found savings either. That's two broken promises in less than a year.”

In response to the proposed budget from Kent County Council's Reform administration, the Kent Lib Dem group submitted a number of amendments that would have seen spending diverted away from political advisers and senior councillors and into educational support for children with special needs, fixing potholes and transport costs for young people in further education.

During the 12th February all-day (9.30am - 6pm) budget meeting the Lib Dem amendments and others from other parties were heard and in every instance voted down by the Reform administration. The Lib Dems voted consistently against the budget but none of the amendments we put forward or supported from others would have increased Council Tax, just diverted it from other spending such as on political advisers and senior councillors. I note at least one Reform Councillor has said the Lib Dems voted to increase Council Tax on 12th February: that is just not true, as the voting record for them eeting will show.

I was pleased to speak in the debate on the dire state of Kent's roads, and in favour of an amendment to divert money away from political advisers and senior councillors and into fixing potholes. I was disappointed that the Reform administration didn't take the opportunity to back it.

Agreed to support the Folkestone Festival summer 2026 bandstand programme (with 30 great events for this summer - all free for all to enjoy) and the Folkestone Armed Forces Day 2026 with a County Council “Combined Members Grant” (a £6,000 ish fund for 25-26 that each Councillor can spend on projects and events in or to the benefit for their area).

Had verbal confirmation that Kent Highways WILL now be doing the works required to make safe and re-open Folkestone's Road of Remembrance this spring / summer. The consistent pressure from local residents, Councils and Community Groups has been heard, and the works are now budgeted in the 2026-27 financial year. Works are now being “mobilised" and its expected they will start in mid to late Spring. Reopening the Road of Remembrance, in the same year as the Leas Lift should reopen following its huge refurbishment, will bring back full connectivity between Folkestone Town Centre and the harbour area for the first time in years.

16th February: Folkestone & Hythe Joint Transportation Board (little of note, except that the work programme continues to include the full resurfacing of Romney Avenue from end to end, commencing 18th March, which is SO overdue!).

17th February: Kent County Council notify me that my call-in request of the decision to send Grace Hill Library building to auction is valid. The call-in will be heard at a Scrutiny Committee meeting within 10 working days.

Not Kent County Council, but great news for Sandgate - the Government announces they have accepted Sandgate Parish Council's bid to make Sandgate Granville Parade a designated bathing beach. It's one of 13 nationally out to Government consultation.

18th February: to Kent and Medway Fire and Rescue Service (I'm nominated as a member of KMFRA by KCC) to their Fire Authority budget meeting. The key points of discussion were around:

the 2026/27 budget (agreed unanimously, with a 5.2% Council Tax increase, which equates to an increase of £4.95 per annum - just under 10 pence per week - on the Band D Council Tax charge, increasing the charge to £99.81 for 2026/27);
agreeing unanimously to proceed with a "buy and build" approach for a new consolidated Asset Resource Centre ARC (essentially a pretty big workshop, garage & stockroom for servicing, repairing and customising fire engines, ladders and all associated fire kit) which will cost something like £14 million capital cost;
checking the in year financial position (looks OK);
various pay policy, governance and monitoring updates;
a change to standing orders to codify that the Chair and Vice Chair of KMFRA should come from different constituent authorities, to avoid situations where KMFRA couldn't make significant emergency decisions where neither were in place (which has happened twice in the last year). Weirdly, some members opposed that change. However, the majority backed it, and it was agreed;
and a decision on flying of flags (specifically pointed at flying Pride flags, but the policy covered all flag flying) at KMFRA Fire Stations. This was, for some reason, deemed appropriate for members to consider. KMFRA have longstanding, committed and important work on inclusivity, which extends well beyond and would continue with or without the flying of a Pride flag on occasions, but it is a part of their toolbox and approach. I was pleased to back a proposal, and see it passed, that KMFRA Authority Members are the wrong people to decide the contents of that toolbox, but rather the colleagues (that is all firefighters, officers, staff, engineers - everyone) who work for KMFRA. There will therefore be an all-colleague ballot on whether to continue to fly Pride flags on stations in future as a part of their inclusive approach, or not, and it will then be respected.

My official meeting attendance at KCC can be seen alongside all other Councillors at https://www.local-democracy.uk/kent/councillors (to the end of February 2026, showing at 100%).

News of Interest:

Hannah Spencer wins Gorton and Denton by-election - The Green Party won the Gorton and Denton by‑election - their first ever Westminster by‑election victory - overturning a large Labour majority and pushing Labour into third place. Labour’s poor result has intensified pressure on Sir Keir Starmer’s leadership, with critics citing voter disillusionment and internal party tensions.

For more information: BBC News

Exceptional Financial Support for local authorities for 2026-27- The Government has listed the councils that have been offered in‑principle Exceptional Financial Support for 2026–27, along with some revised support amounts for earlier years. Medway are on this list with £10.126m support agreed in-principle for 2026-2027. Updated financial intervention decisions have also been highlighted, including major revisions to Birmingham’s previously agreed support.

For more information: GOV.UK

Specialist SEND support in every school and community – The government has announced a £4 billion reform package to transform SEND support, including new funding for early interventions, specialist staff available on demand, and major investment to make every school more inclusive. These reforms aim to end the current “postcode lottery” by ensuring children with additional needs receive timely, tailored support in their local schools without families having to fight for it.

For more information: GOV.UK

The Government consultation on local government reorganisation in Kent and Medway is now live – This consultation asks about the 5 proposals submitted and is open until the 26^th March.

For more information: LGR Consultation GOV.UK

SEND crisis: Vast majority of councils warn of insolvency and call for reform amid huge deficits – Most councils in England warn they could become insolvent due to rapidly growing SEND deficits, with 95% already holding high‑needs DSG overspends. They are urging the Government to write off these deficits and deliver urgent system reform, as rising demand and costs continue to outstrip funding.

For more information: LGA

Kent County Council Press Releases in February:

https://news.kent.gov.uk/articles/industry-leaders-inspire-young-people-to-take-up-careers-in-science-technology-engineering-and-mathematics

https://news.kent.gov.uk/articles/forever-active-kent-grant-recipients-announced

https://news.kent.gov.uk/articles/kent-county-council-response-to-specialist-teaching-and-learning-service-stls-industrial-action-25-february

https://news.kent.gov.uk/articles/county-effort-to-support-and-celebrate-kent-armed-reservists-and-cadets

https://news.kent.gov.uk/articles/third-pilot-launched-to-tackle-vaping-harms

https://news.kent.gov.uk/articles/kcc-drives-major-investment-in-education-on-the-isle-of-sheppey

https://news.kent.gov.uk/articles/kcc-asks-government-to-continue-with-new-special-schools-to-meet-growing-send-needs

https://news.kent.gov.uk/articles/kent-county-council-welcomes-arrival-of-dovers-first-fully-electric-bus-fleet

https://news.kent.gov.uk/articles/kent-county-council-announces-plans-for-the-former-hextable-school

https://news.kent.gov.uk/articles/kent-county-council-sets-202627-budget-and-council-tax-at-3.99-below-the-national-5-cap