
Claim online now – Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme
You can now claim online for a grant for 80% of your furloughed employees' salaries, up to a maximum of £2,500 per employee, per month, through the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme.
Tim has lived and worked in Sandgate (on Sandgate High Street) since 2004.
A trustee of the Sandgate Heritage Trust, Secretary of the Sandgate Members Club, Treasurer and Trustee of the Chichester Memorial Hall, former Trustee of the Gurkha Memorial Fund and former Governor of St Martin's School, and current Sandgate Speedwatch volunteer, Tim knows and works for the area!
Tim is honoured and delighted to have been elected as:
In May 2025 Tim won the Kent County Council seat from the Conservatives. He was the only non-Reform Councillor elected that day anywhere in Folkestone & Hythe, Dover & Deal, Ashford or Thanet.
In May 2023 Tim was re-elected to all the above town and district seats for four more years. At the District Council AGM on 24th May 2023, he became Deputy Council Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance and Governance.
Previously, Tim has served on Folkestone Town Councillor for Cheriton from 2006-2011, and Shepway District Councillor for Cheriton from 2007-2011, Kent County Councillor for Folkestone West from 2009-2013. He has sat on Sandgate Parish Council for Sandgate Village since 2011, was the Vice Chair of Sandgate Parish Council from 2018-2020 and Chair from 2020 to date.
Contact Tim by email to tim@prater.uk, call 07956 276118 or write to 98a Sandgate High Street, Folkestone CT20 3BY. As a District Councillor he runs monthly surgeries at the 1st Sandgate Farmers and Makers Market of every month at the Chichester Hall, 70 Sandgate High Street from 11am-12.30pm (and has each month since election in 2019). No appointment needed: just turn up.
You can now claim online for a grant for 80% of your furloughed employees' salaries, up to a maximum of £2,500 per employee, per month, through the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme.
The Government announced earlier in March that all businesses that received full Small Business Rate Relief would qualify for a £10,000 grant (non-repayable). There is now more news on this scheme, and for Folkestone and Hythe businesses a form to complete to claim the payment.
Folkestone and Hythe District Council are granting free parking permits for registered carers and pharmacists - on top of those already provided for NHS staff and doctors.
Further to the Governments announcements last Friday, we have further updated our www.Folkestone.works website with information and links. The key points are summarised below.
In Folkestone and Hythe District, three Community Support Hubs are being set up for both those that NEED help due to COVID-19 issues over the next few weeks, and those OFFERING it. There have been a HUGE number of people wanting to help, and the Support Hubs (which should offer phone numbers, email and online forms) will be the place to do so.
A number of local businesses have asked me if I know anything more about the Small Business Rate Relief Grants of £10,000 recently announced by the Chancellor.
Tim's Council Record of Service
Council | Seat | Dates | Years |
Kent County Council | Folkestone West | 2009-2013 | 4 |
Kent County Council | Cheriton, Sandgate and Hythe East | 2025- | |
Shepway District Council | Cheriton | 2007-2011 | 4 |
Folkestone and Hythe District Council | Sandgate & West Folkestone | 2019- | 6 |
Sandgate Parish Council | Sandgate Village | 2011- | 14 |
Folkestone Town Council | Cheriton | 2006-2011 | 5 |
Folkestone Town Council | Folkestone Harvey West | 2019- | 6 |
Hythe Town Council | Hythe East | 2019- | 6 |
45 |