Otterpool Park Update: new Otterpool company set up

On Monday, The Shepway Vox Team announced who the developers would be to build out phase one of Otterpool Park. 

Today we can announce a new Otterpool Company; was set up on the 23 Aug, 2022; which goes by the name of:

Otterpool Park Education Trust

It’s very name gives away its intention; that being to set up a new chain of academy schools – now known as free schools –  to include primary, secondary, further education and special needs, across the Otterpool Park site.

Let’s not forget Planning Permission has not been granted yet, or has it?

The company was incorporated on the 23 August 2022. The nature of the business is:

• Primary education

• General secondary education

• Educational support services

• Other business support service activities not elsewhere classified

The current directors of the Company are:

• Cllr Jennifer Diane Hollingsbee (Deputy Leader of Folkestone & Hythe District Council)

• Tim Hulme – Executive Director, Resources & Organisational Development at East Sussex College Group

• Wesley Carroll – Director of Music at Dover College and former Principal of Folkestone Academy

• Thomas Cullen – Multi Academy Trust Chief Operating Officer

• Nicola Tracey Hirst

• Tamasin Jarrett – Community & Events Manager Otterpool Park LLP

So far Otterpool Park Education Trust has lodged one document at Companies House; which includes the application to register the company; the proposed officers; the statement of guarantee, the statement of compliance; and its Articles of Association.

Within the Statement of Guarantee which states:

I confirm that if the company is wound up while I am a member, or within one year after I cease to be a member, I will contribute to the assets of the company by such amount as may be required for:

– payments of debts and liabilities of the company contracted before I cease to be a member;
– payments of costs, charges and expenses of winding up, and;
– adjustment of the rights of the contributors among ourselves, not exceeding the specified amount below.

Then it names

Andy Jarrett, Managing Director of Otterpool Park LLP

Luke Quilter – Sleeping Giant Media

Simon Fisher

Sue Soan

Otterpool Park LLP

So given all of this one must not forget that Cllr Jennifer Diane Hollingsbee also sits as a member on Otterpool Park, along with Cllr David Monk, Cllr Susan Carey, Cllr Rebecca Shoob & Luke Quilter – Sleeping Giant Media.

This company could not have been set up without the approval of Folkestone & Hythe District Council who are the sole shareholders in Otterpool Park LLP. However, we can find no minutes, and no discussion about the setting up of this company and why fellow Cllrs were not informed.

We know that at Full Council tonight Cllrs Nicola Keen (Lab) and John Wing (Green) are to ask questions related to Otterpool Park.

We hope one, or both of them, will follow up with their supplementary question, asking for more details about this new Company; which they and the majority of their fellow Cllrs no nothing about.

Is Cllr Hollingsbee now conflicted as she sits on the planning committee, or can we expect the Monitoring Officer – Amandeep Khroud to give her a “dispensation” to vote on Otterpool, when, or if, it comes to the planning committee.

And finally, when will the Council stop keeping the majority of Cllrs in the dark about what they are up to with regards to Otterpool Park?

The Shepway Vox Team

Journalsim for the People NOT the Powerful