Public speaking at Council meetings

Questions from Members

Question from Cllr Munns to Cllr Bright

Earlier this years notices were tied to lamposts in Botany road for a proposal of seasonal single yellow lines. Comments were invited. Most residents were supportive, however 12 objected which is 5% of the road, but crucially no one wrote in favour. As a result the proposal has been withdrawn. It wasn’t made clear on the notices what the criteria was for accepting the proposal? A previous consultation was undertaken in the botany bay area in 2021. 85% of residents were in favour of a controlled parking scheme, yet this was rejected by Thanet Council, with little explanation! A third consultation will take place but not in time for this summer! With no clear acceptance criteria and robust resident engagement process this will surely fail again! In the meantime what provisions will be in place to manage the large number of visitors to Botany Bay this summer!

Response

To follow

Question from Cllr J Bright to Cllr Keen

In February 2025, I brought a motion to address violence against women and girls in Thanet. Specifically, I proposed that TDC:

1. Work towards a comprehensive strategy to tackle violence against women and girls

2. Promote a women’s safety charter to improve safety in public spaces

3. Leverage licensing tools

4. Make women’s safety central to planning and development

5. Improve education and raise public awareness of VAWG and healthy relationships

6. Tackle reporting and enforcement issues

7. Report to council within 12 months on any actions taken.

I was incredibly proud that this motion received overwhelming support within this council and Cabinet agreed to direct officers to explore how the council can implement these proposals to make Thanet a safer place for women and girls.

Please can Councillor Keen provide an update on the progress the council has made, or is planning to make, in response to this motion.

Response

To follow

Question from Cllr Yates to Cllr Duckworth

Margate residents are asking me what is happening to the Sturgeon/Dolphin lamps along Margate seafront. After speaking to officers it appears a decision was made a long time ago to stop painting the lamps and they are rapidly deteriorating and being put out of action, making the Town look unseemly. What is the long term plan with these lamps? If Thanet Council plan to hand them over to Margate Town Council, will they invest in their repair of these treasured cultural beacons before handing them over to a future Town Council? And if TDC does not plan on repairing them, will they reconsider this?

Response

To follow

Question from Cllr Fellows to Cllr Keen

In recent weeks there have been some significant flytipping at the recycling facility in Albion Road car park in Birchington.

It’s clear that some of the rubbish deposited has come from local businesses. It hasalso been reported that some small business are depositing their waste in street bins at the end of a days trading.

Question….

Could the Cabinet portfolio holder for waste please let me know when Thanet business were last checked for waste removal contracts and when the next district wide check will be.? If there isn’t a district wide check scheduled then could we please at least have a check on businesses in my ward and could you let me know the outcome of that check?

Response

To follow

Question from Cllr Bayford to Cllr Everitt

The Housing Secretary has announced that new homes will not be built if the infrastructure to provide them with water is not in place. In view of the pressures on Southern Water’s resources experienced during the hot weather in May and June, along with power interruptions at key supply works, what actions are being undertaken to ensure that the expansion of our social housing, mainly through developers, will not be negatively impacted by an inability to provide adequate water supplies for our tenants?

Response

To follow

Question from Cllr Wright to Cllr Everitt

Back in December last year the deputy leader assured full council that the implementation of the Birchington conservation area appraisal and management plan would begin in the new year.We are now seven months into that year with no apparent progress. can the leader now guarantee that this work will be completed and the plan implemented before the end of this year?

Response

To follow

Question from Cllr Pugh to Cllr Scobie

Given the continuing pressures on the Council’s finances, and recognising that reserves are a finite resource rather than a sustainable means of balancing the budget, can the Cabinet Member for Corporate Services provide an update on the Council’s current financial position? Specifically, what is the latest forecast for the General Fund balance and earmarked reserves at year-end, and what assessment has been made of the risks associated with any continued reduction in reserves?

Response

To follow

Question from Cllr Rogers to Cllr Albon

I am extremely pleased that finally notices were placed on campervans and caravans to remove their permanent parking at the undercliff in Ramsgate. Whilst it has made a huge difference, there are still some flaunting the restrictions, parked with piles of rubbish underneath them and one with a generator running on the pavement, I counted five last night. Whilst it was good to see that there were no cars on the turning circle by Wetherspoons and emergency vehicles would now be able to access the main beach, I also counted seven cars parked on the yellow lines at the turning circle by Wetherspoons. Some of these vehicles are now being displaced on the east cliff. What are we doing to further enforce these actions?

Response

To follow

Question from Cllr Kup to Cllr Albon

Could Cllr Albon please provide an update on the council’s agreed Public Toilets Refurbishment and Renewal Programme?

Response

To follow

Questions from Press and public

Jacqui Brown to Cllr Everitt

Residents in Thanet have been experiencing water shortages and issues with water pressure in recent years. This occurred again during the Spring May bank holiday with water pressure issues and Southern Water taking the precaution of delivering bottled water to vulnerable residents.
Southern Water recently issued a warning to customers in our district that the South East is an extremely water stressed area with lower than average rainfall.

Given the issues our area faces with water security, what measures is Thanet District Council taking to the Government over the unachievable housing targets, and the strain these builds are putting on the already buckling water infrastructure in Thanet and across Kent?

Response

To follow

• You must give your name and address. Your address will only be used to identify that you are a Thanet resident entitled to ask a question at a council meeting.
• Your question must not be more than one hundred and fifty words.
• You must give the name of the Cabinet Member your question is for. To find out which Cabinet Member you should ask, please click on cabinet posts.
• Please check the summary of questions asked at past meetings via the link below to make sure your question or a similar question has not been asked within the last 6 months.
• Please view  Speaking at Council meetings – Frequently Asked Questions for more information.