News

The Shepway District Council's Corporate Scrutiny Committee have considered the "call-in" of the Cabinet decision and sent it back to Shepway's Cabinet for a re-think.

The Cabinet had decided on 18 March to cease the operation of the Leas Lift with immediate effect and to terminate the Leas Lift lease.

However after nearly four hours, the Corporate Scrutiny Committee meeting unanimously backed a motion, proposed by Chair Tim Prater, and booted the decision straight back to the Cabinet.

After the meeting, Tim Prater said: "Over the past few days, I've heard from hundreds of residents and businesses across Folkestone who were appalled that the Leas Lift may close. They don't hugely mind who runs it, but do massively care that this fantastic monument keeps running.

"The Corporate Scrutiny Committee do not have the power to overturn decisions of Cabinet, but it can ask them to think again, and ensure the decision is not implemented until it has been reconsidered. That is what the Scrutiny Committee have done tonight."