Two councillors have invoked powers under the Local Government Act to demand an extraordinary meeting of their town council.

Liberal Democrats Cllrs Sam Matthews and Darren Briddock, pictured below, trawled through the act after learning that a full meeting of Hythe Town Council was not being called to discuss the controversial development of the Imperial Hotel.

But Mayor of Hythe Cllr Keren Belcourt said she was under the impression she could not call an extraordinary meeting.

Snce she was aware she could, she was happy to do and the meeting has been set for Wednesday, September 9, at 6.45pm in Hythe Town Hall.

“We see this as a victory for democracy,” said Cllr Matthews. “This is an important issue for the town.”

Under schedule 12 of the Local Government Act 1972, two councillors can request an extraordinary meeting.

Members of the town council’s plans and works committee had approved the multi-million pound Imperial development last month.

That recommendation had been due to go to the next full council meeting for discussion on September 24.

The council would then make its recommendation to Shepway council which makes the final decision.

But, Cllr Belcourt explained that the town council had received a request from Shepway for a recommendation before September 22.

“I did not think that under our council standing orders, I could call an extraordinary full council meeting,” she said.

“We have discussed the Imperial plans three times and three times the council has recommended approval which Shepway planning department would have seen.”

Cllr Belcourt said once she received a letter from Cllrs Matthews and Briddock asking for a meeting, she checked the Local Government Act herself and found she could organise one and did so.

“I thought under our standing orders I could not arrange an extraordinary meeting but under the Act I can,” she said. “Once that had been clarified I was happy to do so.”

Had no meeting been arranged, the committee’s approval of the plans would have gone to Shepway as the council’s recommendation.

Cllr Belcourt added: “We will now look at our standing orders.”