For all of us who have tried repeatedly to contact Shepway Council Leader, David Monk and failed to get a reply, this is a chance to see what Mr. Monk is made of when questioned by four Shepway residents at a full Council meeting.
We know that Councillor Monk is the master of the great untruth as we have evidence to justify that claim. We will be taking steps to counter inaccurate statements made by Councillor Monk on BBC radio in the very near future pertaining to the proposed 12,000 housing estate development that Councillor Monk is calling Otterpool Town.
In the meantime, we would urge you all to attend the full council meeting at the Civic Centre, Folkestone on Wednesday, 26th October, 2016 to fill the public gallery thereby supporting Sue Hannah, Nick Southgate, David Plumstead and Matthew Norwell. Please be there by 6.45pm for a 7pm start. Local Press will be in attendance.
If you need more details, please email us at sellindgeresidents@gmail.com
There are 4 questions from the public:
QUESTION 1 From Sue Hannah to Councillor David Monk, Leader of the Council Would the Council agree that six weeks is an insufficient period of time on which to consult on detailed plans for the proposed lorry park at Stanford? The plans include a 269 environmental assessment and have been released during the summer holidays. Does Council agree that this goes against the spirit and against the letter of the Government's consultation principles? Will the Council be taking this up with the Department for Transport and the Cabinet Office?
QUESTION 2 From Nick Southgate to Councillor David Monk, Leader of the Council Given the change in national Tory policy away from an austerity agenda can you highlight who has been hardest hit by this policy of austerity and what moves you will be making to ameliorate its consequences?
QUESTION 3 From David Plumstead to Councillor David Monk, Leader of the Council On 13th January 2016 report A/15/20 was presented to Council in which the Councillors were advised of the Chief Executive's use of urgent powers to purchase farmland for the sum of approximately £5 million within the area now referred to as Otterpool Park. In exercising his urgent powers to make a bid to purchase the land, the Chief Executive consulted with the Leader and Chairman of the Council, and also noted that the Monitoring Officer had consulted with the Chairman of the Scrutiny Committee. Can the Leader please advise this meeting of the exact dates when the following sequence of actions took place and whether the Chairman of the Scrutiny Committee gave his consent as required by the Constitution: 1. Date of consultation with the Leader 2. Date of consultation with the Chairman of Council 3. Date of consultation with the Chairman of the Scrutiny Committee 4. Date consent given by Chairman of the Scrutiny Committee for the decision to be taken as a matter of urgency Page 2 Council - 26 October 2016 3 5. Date of submission of the bid to purchase the land.
QUESTION 4 From Matthew Norwell to Councillor David Monk, Leader of the Council Why is the Council – after repeated requests – refusing to make public the legal advice which confirmed to them that the Highways Act 1980 provides sufficient grounds to permit the construction of the proposed lorry park at Stanford? There is a clear public interest in explicitly demonstrating to local residents – and Council Tax payers – that the Council has rigorously challenged Highways England's approach to such a significant construction project. The Council has concluded the legal permission required by Highways England to build a 250 acre lorry park at a cost of £250m is less onerous than the permission needed to build a conservatory or put up a satellite dish. Shepway District Council needs to publicly explain how they have come to that conclusion.
