The Folkestone and Hythe District Council Cabinet met on 18 September 2025, approving the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) Discretionary Disposal Policy, the Corporate Asset Management Strategy 2025 – 2030, and recommending the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 (RIPA) policy to the Full Council. The Cabinet also received updates on welfare, fraud investigations, and complaints, demonstrating the council's commitment to supporting residents and improving services.

• Welfare Report and Overview 2024/25 The Cabinet noted the overview of the work done by the Folkestone & Hythe District Council's Welfare and Compliance & Development Teams in 2024/25. This included additional support offered to residents, such as the Household Support Fund[^2], Discretionary Housing Payments[^3], and Financial Support Payments. [^2]: The Household Support Fund is a grant given to local authorities by central government to support vulnerable households with essentials. [^3]: Discretionary Housing Payments are payments made by local authorities to people who need extra help to pay their rent or housing costs.

• Investigations and Fraud Overview 2024/25 The Cabinet received and noted the report on the work of the Folkestone & Hythe District Council's Investigations unit for 2024/25, covering Housing Benefit, Council Tax, Non-Domestic Rates, and Housing.

• 2024-25 Annual Complaints and Service Improvement Report The Cabinet considered the annual report on complaints and service improvements, as well as the self-assessments against the complaint codes of the Housing Ombudsman and the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman (LGSCO). The Governing Body Response to the report was also noted. The Cabinet agreed to note the Housing Ombudsman's submission deadline of 30 September 2025, for the documentation.

• Housing Revenue Account (HRA) Discretionary Disposal Policy The Cabinet approved the draft HRA Disposal Policy and noted the HRA Discretionary Disposal procedure. The policy sets out a formal approach to HRA asset disposals, as part of the council's overall approach to asset management, and in line with the Housing Asset Management Strategy (2022-2027). The HRA Disposals policy will assist the council in making the best use of its resources, by rationalising and disposing of surplus, under-performing Housing assets, or assets that have no beneficial strategic or social use. The Cabinet agreed that the Director of Housing and Operations has the responsibility to agree on individual disposal proposals covered by this policy under council delegated authority, and approved the disposal limits as set out in paragraph 5.7.1 of the Policy:

  • Up to £50,000: Chief Officer Housing with Director approval.
  • £50,000.01 £499,999.99: Director Housing & Operations with Corporate Leadership (CLT) approval and reported to Portfolio Holder for Housing & Homelessness.
  • Over £500,000.00: Cabinet in line with the Council Constitution (Key Decision).

• Corporate Asset Management Strategy The Cabinet approved the Asset Management Strategy 2025 – 2030 and noted the Disposals Procedure for operational use. The strategy supports how the assets comprising the council's corporate property portfolio will be managed during the period 2025 – 2030 to fulfil the council's long-term strategic goals in line with its wider Corporate Plan. The Cabinet also provided delegated authority to the Director of Housing & Operations, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Assets & Local Government Reorganisation, to make minor amendments to the final version of the AMS before completion and from time to time if required. A Cabinet Member highlighted that Sandgate Town Council had been omitted from the referenced town and parish council's set out within the Strategy and requested that this drafting error be corrected.

• Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 (RIPA) policy The Cabinet received and noted the report setting out the council's policy on the use of directed surveillance[^4] and covert human intelligence sources[^5] under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000. [^4]: Directed surveillance is covert surveillance carried out for a specific investigation or operation that is likely to result in obtaining private information about a person. [^5]: A covert human intelligence source (CHIS) is a person who establishes or maintains a personal or other relationship with a person for the covert purpose of obtaining or disclosing information. The Cabinet noted that these powers have not been used since the last report to Full Council in October 2024, and agreed to recommend to Full Council that the RIPA policy and procedure be approved. Councillor Gary Fuller, Cabinet Member for Resident Engagement and Accountability seconded the proposal.