Tim Prater Reporting Back from KCC: June 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!
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.
June 2026 Action List
I was delighted to see Folkestone Town Council complete the purchase of 2 Grace Hill (the former Grace Hill Library) from Kent County Council on 1 June. When Kent County Council said they were sending the building to auction back in January, I convinced the Town Council we should attempt to buy the building from KCC prior to auction, in order to protect its ownership for the town.
I have then been involved in the negotiations throughout, learning not to blink through offer and counter offer, and then getting Folkestone Town Council to agree to buy the building on the terms offered on 21 April. On 1st June the sale completed, and the freehold of 2 Grace Hill was secured for £1. There is now a mountain more work to do to get the funding to renovate and bring the building back into use with partners, but we are now in the best place: an iconic Folkestone building owned by Folkestone.
I'll be attending KCC Scrutiny Committee on 11th June to look at the published decision to raise the cost of the Kent Travel Saver bus pass for students by £35 per year, regardless of ability to pay.
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 April 2026, showing at 100%).
News of Interest:
Kent Police - Summer crackdown on antisocial behaviour: Increased high-visibility patrols and targeted operations will be used this summer to address the seasonal rise in incidents across beaches, parks and town centres. The approach includes using powers such as dispersal orders and focusing on issues like nuisance gatherings and vehicles, with recent deployments already leading to arrests and positive feedback, as officers aim to deter disruption and keep communities safe during the busy summer months.
For further information: Kent Police
Counties warn Starmer of ‘significant’ LGR risks: County councils have warned that the government’s local government reorganisation plans risk undermining service delivery by creating smaller, fragmented authorities that could increase costs and strain essential services. They also raised concerns about the speed and lack of transparency in decision-making, though the government insists the reforms will save money and improve public services.
For further information: LGC
NHS rolls out life-extending drug for hundreds of women with ovarian cancer: The NHS has introduced a new targeted drug, mirvetuximab soravtansine, for women with ovarian cancer that no longer responds to standard chemotherapy—the first new treatment for this group in over 20 years—offering a more precise approach that can extend survival (around 16.5 vs 12.8 months), potentially reduce side effects, and benefit up to 400 patients in England each year.
For further information: NHS England / BBC News / The Guardian
One in four births in England is now emergency caesarean, BBC analysis shows: BBC analysis finds that one in four births in England are now emergency caesareans, rising sharply over the past five years alongside an increase in planned C-sections and a drop in births without medical instruments. Experts say there’s no single clear cause, but point to factors such as fear following maternity scandals, pressure on NHS services, and legal concerns—raising questions about safety, costs, and whether the increase is improving outcomes.
For further information: BBC News
'World-first' vaccine designed by artificial intelligence: Scientists have used artificial intelligence to design a new type of vaccine that could protect against entire families of viruses, including future pandemic threats. Early human trials show it is safe and promising, raising hopes for faster, broader protection against diseases like Covid, flu, and Ebola.
For further information: BBC News / Sky News
Kent County Council Press Releases in June:
https://news.kent.gov.uk/articles/new-rural-course
https://news.kent.gov.uk/articles/building-carer-friendly-communities-the-carers-week
https://news.kent.gov.uk/articles/community-day-celebrates-temple-hill-library-and-family-hub
Folkestone & Hythe District Council Press Releases in June:
A monthly bulletin from F&HDC. https://www.fhld.uk/news/article/folkestone-hythe-district-council-monthly-update-june-2026
https://www.folkestone-hythe.gov.uk/news/article/431/council-supports-illegal-sales-day-of-action
https://www.folkestone-hythe.gov.uk/news/article/430/a-saving-on-your-local-car-park-stays