Great news for the Folkestone & Hythe district! The council’s bold and forward-thinking Corporate Plan 2025-30 – Our world, our district has officially been given the green light. This exciting plan, setting out the vision and direction for the coming years, received the seal of approval at a full council meeting on Wednesday, June 26, 2025.
This final sign-off comes after one of the most extensive public consultations the council has undertaken in recent years. They truly listened to the community, gathering valuable feedback from residents and businesses across the district. This included engaging focus groups, online and paper surveys, a special event with town and parish councils, and even direct interviews with residents in their homes. It’s fantastic to see such a dedicated effort to hear everyone’s voices!
A particularly inspiring outcome of these consultations was the launch of a Youth Forum, formed from a focus group with young people. These bright new members are already doing a brilliant job of ensuring the views of younger generations are represented in key areas of the council’s work.
The plan itself is built around five key themes, all designed to make Folkestone & Hythe an even better place to live, work, and thrive:
- A Well-Run, Listening Council: Working closely with partners to serve the community effectively.
- Boosting Health and Wellbeing: Improving people’s health, happiness, and sense of belonging.
- Homes for All: Building new homes, enhancing existing ones, and tackling homelessness.
- Sustainable Economic Growth: Fostering a thriving economy with opportunities for everyone.
- Protecting Our Environment: Enhancing local nature and championing climate action.
With a clear list of actions for each theme, progress will be regularly tracked through a dedicated action plan. Get ready to see some exciting developments unfold in Folkestone & Hythe!
Council leader, Jim Martin said:
“The consultation undertaken last year was extensive and largely resulted in public support for the themes that we had put forward.
“Amendments were made due to comments received but some of the issues raised were outside of this council’s control.
“An action plan has been put together to deliver the plan’s commitments within the resources it has available. In addition, by identifying the district’s key priorities, the plan means that the council will be best placed to influence the direction of a successor unitary authority, following local government reorganisation.”
The plan’s themes have each been aligned to several of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations. The plan can be viewed by visiting the council website.