A progress chasing meeting in the month following an Executive Committee meeting, mainly for Local Party Officers (Chair, Vice-Chair, Treasurter, Secretary, Membership Development Officer, Data Officer) but any member is welcome to attend if they wish!

Papers for the meeting are available to members on request to mail@shepwaylibdems.org.uk

The Liberal Democrats have accused the Conservatives of failing to protect local small businesses, after figures revealed that 1,355 businesses in the area have closed over the last three years.

It comes as the Liberal Democrats today (Saturday 7 December) unveil a series of measures to reverse this decline and boost local firms, to mark Small Business Saturday.

I 'm delighted to report that the Folkestone Lower Leas Park Beach Chalets Scheme (which was to see 58 huts removed, 16 retained and renovated and 120 wooden huts installed) has been substantially amended more than DOUBLING the number of existing chalets to be retained.

Following interventions and protests on the orginal scheme by local residents, heritage groups and Councillors (including my moving amendments to the scheme at the most recent full Council meeting) Folkestone and Hythe District Council (and the Trustees of the Folkestone Parks and Please Grounds, who are subtly different) have confirmed the scheme has now been amended to retain chalets 1-27 and the 8 tiered chalets. Those 35 huts / chalets are the ones of most historical interest along that stretch, some dating back around 100 years. The chalets / huts that will still be removed are generally a little less old and with less heritage value.

By Hannah Perkin, Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Candidate for Faversham & Mid Kent

Our roads are jammed, our towns are choked with fumes. But hardly anyone takes the bus these days. Why?

In the past few weeks I have visited many areas in the Faversham & Mid Kent constituency. I have usually had to travel by car. It is just impossible to get around by bus or other public transport. Lenham is just 10 miles from my home in Faversham but it can take almost 1 ½ hours to get there by public transport. It takes me over an hour to travel the 20 miles to our county town, Maidstone.

Responding to the report released today by Shelter that 135,000 children in Britain are homeless and living in temporary accommodation, which is the highest number in 12 years, Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Housing, Tim Farron said:

"No child should suffer the trauma of being made homeless, yet a lack of social housing and cuts to benefits are forcing hundreds of families out on the streets every week.

"This is just another shameful example of the Conservative's failure to provide a safety net for those in need, and the fact that some of the wealthiest areas in our country are hosting the highest number of homeless children also demonstrates how inequality has flourished under their leadership.

"The Lib Dems have outlined a plan for a better future, which ensures that everyone has a decent home and includes a commitment to building 100,000 new social homes. The other parties pay lip service to this goal, but only the Liberal Democrats have the clear and credible policies to actually achieve it."

As part of their commitment to listening to and working with local residents, Tim Prater and Gary Fuller, the new Lib Dem District Councillors for Sandgate and West Folkestone, will be holding regular drop-in advice surgeries in the ward each month.

No need for an appointment - just turn up to discuss any issue you would like our help with. The surgeries are in a public place: if you'd prefer to speak to Tim or Gary one-to-one then please contact them directly and we can set up a personal meeting with you.

The Liberal Democrats have today announced plans to fund at least 28 police officers across Folkestone and Hythe constituency as part of an extra £1bn nationwide investment into community policing.

This commitment amounts to 20,000 more police officers across England and Wales, enough for an extra two officers per ward. The Liberal Democrats will also fund an immediate 2 per cent pay-rise for serving police officers.