Council scorecard
Folkestone & Hythe District Council
- Type
- district
- Population
- ~110k
- Council website
- www.folkestone-hythe.gov.uk
Scorecard
Methodology published 2026-05-18. Pending cells reflect data collection in progress, not methodology uncertainty — they will populate as the underlying data is gathered.
Refuse collection
Missed bin reports, recycling rates, complaint resolution time
Partial Metric 1 score reflecting recycling rate (component 2 of 4, 30% weight) only; the three other components (missed-bin reports per 100k, complaint resolution time, service consistency) remain pending data ingest. F&H 2023-24 recycling rate ~46% — above the Kent average (41.7%) and the England average (~44%). Strong on the recycling component.
as of 2024 · source
Complaints handling
Volume, response times, LGSCO upheld findings
Score pending — data collection in progress per the published methodology (2026-05-18)
FOI response
Average response time, refusal/exemption rate, compliance with 20-day statutory deadline
Score pending — data collection in progress per the published methodology (2026-05-18)
Financial health & budget discipline
Revenue budget variance, capital programme delivery, reserves + Section 114 risk, external auditor VfM judgment, council tax positioning + trajectory vs national
Partial Metric 4 score reflecting council tax positioning (component 5 of 6) only; the five other components (revenue budget variance, capital programme delivery, reserves + Section 114 risk, external auditor VfM judgement, multi-year tax trajectory) remain pending data ingest. Folkestone & Hythe has held the highest district Band D council tax precept in Kent for 23 consecutive years (per published comparative analysis). Positioning at the worst end of the district-tier comparator group.
as of 2026-04 · source
Transparency
Open data publication, councillor expenses, contract register, committee paper publication
Score pending — data collection in progress per the published methodology (2026-05-18)
Planning
Application approval ratios, appeal-overturn rate, determination time vs statutory targets
Score pending — data collection in progress per the published methodology (2026-05-18)
Education & children's services
SEND/EHCP statutory processing, SEND tribunal LA-loss rate, children's services Ofsted rating, school transport delivery (county + unitary only)
Education and children's services are not a district/borough function. The county council (or, for Medway, the unitary authority) holds this remit.
Safeguarding & LADO
LADO referral handling, multi-agency safeguarding (MASH) timeliness, Section 47 enquiry compliance, independent safeguarding audit findings (county + unitary only)
Safeguarding is the statutory function of the county council or unitary authority via the LADO (Local Authority Designated Officer) and multi-agency safeguarding hub.
Manifesto delivery (Trust)
KLN tracks what the controlling party promised at the most recent election vs what was actually delivered. KEPT/PARTIAL/BROKEN/PENDING/OUT_OF_SCOPE categorisation.
Trust score: 3 categorised public issues (no scoreable pledges yet).
as of 2026-05-21
Top public issues for Folkestone & Hythe residents
This is editorial assessment, not a metric score. Each issue carries an alignment tag — ALIGNED (council in step with residents), MIXED (some action falls short), COUNTERACTING (council against residents on this), or SILENT (no clear position). KLN-curated. Council positions added verbatim where provided. Right-of-reply opens with initial publication.
- 🟡Mixed
Princes Parade development — cancel vs proceed
The Princes Parade leisure-and-housing scheme has been a contentious resident issue for years. Local opposition is high; previous administration backed delivery.
Council position
Greens/Lib Dems 2023 coalition committed to cancel the unwanted Princes Parade development.
KLN assessment
Commitment to cancel is a statement; cabinet decision + planning unwind status is the action evidence and to be confirmed. Per the "actions, not statements" principle: MIXED until cancellation is operationalised.
- 🟡Mixed
Homelessness + cost of living
F&H has visible street homelessness + winter sleeping pressure. Residents expect year-round response.
Council position
Greens 2023 manifesto committed to year-round homelessness action plan + community-group partnerships.
KLN assessment
Commitment in intent; action plan publication + measurable street-count reductions are the action evidence. Per the "actions, not statements" principle: MIXED.
- 🟡Mixed
Coastal erosion + flooding defence
F&H coastline + low-lying marshes face erosion + flood risk; Environment Agency sea defences are partial.
Council position
F&H DC role is partner + statutory consultee on EA-led schemes; lobbying for funding the gap.
KLN assessment
Mixed: council operates within constrained authority. Lobbying for EA funding is the channel.
How this scorecard works
Each metric is scored 0-100 and banded A through F. We do NOT aggregate to a single overall ranking — combining unrelated performance areas would mislead. See the methodology page for full details, thresholds, and data sources.
Spot an error or have data we should add for Folkestone & Hythe? editor@kentlocalnews.co.uk.