Ashford Borough Council

Cracking down on Blue Badge parking abuse

27 January 2017 0 Comments

Ashford Borough Council is reminding those who have disabled blue badges to use their permits correctly to avoid facing a hefty fine or having the badge taken away.

Ashford Borough Councils’ Parking Enforcement Officers have been working closely with Kent County Council’s (KCC) Blue Badge Internal Audit and Fraud Team; as a result our Civil Enforcement Officers together with KCC will be cracking down on blue badge parking abuse.

Ashford Borough Councils’ Civil Enforcement Team will be carrying out a two month warning phase to crack down on those who misuse their badge, fraudulently use it, or who park where it would cause an obstruction or danger to other road users.

An education programme will take place between 30th January and 30th March. During this time, any drivers caught parking illegally and not complying with the rules will be issued with a warning notice. This approach will highlight to drivers the consequences of abusing the use of a Blue Badge by parking illegally or dangerously in the borough.

Following the warning phase, the council will begin enforcing where appropriate, and those who receive a Penalty Charge Notice will have their details passed directly onto KCC’s Blue Badge Audit and Fraud Team. (more…)

Ashford Borough Council, Disability, News, Transport

ABC withdraw from merger plans

25 January 2017 0 Comments

Ashford Borough Council (ABC) has announced today (Wednesday 25th January), that it no longer intends to pursue discussions on the proposed creation of a single East Kent district council.

In July last year ABC’s Cabinet approved a Statement of Intent to explore a potential merger of the five East Kent district councils. Those five authorities – Ashford, Canterbury, Dover, Shepway and Thanet – jointly commissioned the independent production of a business case to investigate the advantages, disadvantages and potential mechanisms for a merger.

Following receipt and independent examination of the business case, the authority has decided to not continue talks any further, but to retain flexibility to enable ABC to consider working with the other authorities and partners throughout Kent or those outside the county in the future.

A formal decision will be made in February when members consider a report put to Cabinet and then Full Council. (more…)

Ashford Borough Council, Democracy, News

Council Tax set to rise by £ 5.56 pm

7 January 2017 2 Comments

The publication of the Kent Police and Crime Commissioner’s draft budget completes the picture for Council Tax rises for this year.

Council tax for a Band D property will rise from £ 1,507.70 to £ 1,563.32, a increase of £ 55.62, equivalent to £ 5.56 per month when paid over 10 months. This is subject to ongoing consultations, ratification by the precepting authorities and a decision by Kent County whether they should take up the government’s offer of an increase in the Social Care precept of 3% rather than the 2% allowed in its draft budget. (more…)

Ashford Borough Council, Finance, Kent County Council, News

Consultation on ABC draft warding proposals

6 January 2017 0 Comments

Boundary CommissionThe Local Government Boundary Commission for England (LGBCE) has announced the dates for the public consultation on draft recommendations for warding for Ashford District as 7 February 2017 to 3 April 2017.

This will be the second stage of consultation during the Electoral Review of Ashford. South Ashford Community Forum’s proposal for wards for the unparished area of South Ashford can be viewed here: https://southashford.org.uk/index.php/2016/08/09/sacf-electoral-review-proposal/. Other submissions can be viewed on the LGBCE website www.lgbce.org.uk/current-reviews/south-east/kent/ashford

The aim of the electoral review is to recommend ward boundaries that mean each councillor represents approximately the same number of voters. The Commission also aims to ensure that the pattern of wards reflects the interests and identities of local communities as well as promoting effective local government.

We will post the announcement of the consultation.

Ashford Borough Council, Democracy, News, SACF

ABC Budget Consultation

3 January 2017 0 Comments

Ashford Borough Council Logo2017-18 Budget consultation

Ashford Borough Council

Opens: 23 December 2016
Closes: 8 February 2017

Ashford Borough Council (ABC) have published their 2017-18 Budget consultation summary document and are inviting comments on their draft budget.

ABC has announced the consultation on 12 December 2016, ahead of publication of the summary document on 23 December, by saying that it  is likely to still set the lowest council tax in Kent following the approval of its draft budget for 2017-18 by Cabinet members on 11 December.

Residents, businesses and parishes will now be given the opportunity to comment on the draft budget. It will also be considered in detail by the council’s overview and scrutiny committee’s budget task group, as the report makes its way through the democratic process before being considered again by cabinet and council in February 2017. (more…)

Ashford Borough Council, Consultation, Finance, News

Farrow Court wins design award

16 December 2016 0 Comments

The Farrow Court, the sheltered housing complex recently rebuilt for Ashford Borough Council (ABC), has been named Best Major Residential Project in the Kent Design and Development Awards.

With the emphasis very much on quality of life, the new Farrow Court is built to Lifetime Homes and the council’s space standards and will also feature a new day-care centre, communal facilities, a hairdressers and a restaurant that can be used by all of the local community.

The £15.4m rebuild work will make Farrow Court the flag bearer for the Borough’s future provision for older people. The project is seen as essential by ABC as by 2026 it is anticipated that 40% of Ashford’s population will be aged over 50.

The new accommodation will offer a total of 104 high-quality living spaces; including eight recuperative care units for people released from hospital who need additional respite care before they can return to their homes, and 12 units for people with learning disabilities. (more…)

Ashford Borough Council, Housing, News, Planning and Development

Council Christmas hours

12 December 2016 0 Comments

The following are the arrangements for operation of council services during the Christmas period. We will update this list as we get information.

Date ABC KCC
Civic Centre Call Centre Main Call Centre  Ashford
Gateway Plus and
Ashford Library		 Ashford
Household Waste
Recycling Centre
Sat 24 Dec Closed Closed Closed 9.00am – 1.00pm 8.00am – 4.30pm
Sun 25 Dec Closed Closed Closed Closed Closed
Mon 26 Dec Closed Closed Closed Closed Closed
Tue 27 Dec Closed Closed Closed Closed 9.00am – 4.00pm
Wed 28 Dec Closed Closed Closed 9.00am – 6.00pm 8.00am – 4.30pm
Thu 29 Dec 8.30am – 5.00pm 8.30am – 4.00pm 8.00am – 6.00pm 9.00am – 8.00pm 8.00am – 4.30pm
Fri 30 Dec 8.30am – 5.00pm 8.30am – 4.00pm 8.00am – 6.00pm 9.00am – 6.00pm 8.00am – 4.30pm
Sat 31 Dec Closed Closed Closed 9.00am – 4.00pm 8.00am – 4.30pm
Sun 1 Jan Closed Closed Closed Closed Closed
Mon 2 Jan Closed Closed Closed Closed 9.00am – 4.00pm

 

Details of Christmas Recycling & Refuse Collections

Report Abuse

During KCC Call centre hours:

Concerned about an adult? Call 03000 41 61 61
Concerned about a child? Call 03000 41 11 11

At other times call 03000 41 91 91.

If you think someone is in immediate danger, the best thing to do is call 999 for the emergency services

Online services

You can use online services throughout the Christmas and New Year period, but a response might be delayed

Ashford Borough Council, Kent County Council, News

College housing granted permission after 5 years

10 December 2016 0 Comments

Ashford Borough Council (ABC) has granted permission for up to 154 houses on the site of the Ashford College Campus in Jemmett Road, five years after the Planning Committee voted to permit the development.

Plans for the college to vacate the site go back to 2008, when an application made by South Kent College was approved for up to 241 dwellings on the site. This was linked to a proposal for a new campus (The Ashford Learning Campus) at the junction of Beaver Road and Victoria Road. The scheme was not implemented due to funding problems.

The application for renewal of the permission in 2011 resulted in a new scheme being drawn up with a reduced number of dwellings to meet the Council’s residential space standards.

The Planning Committee voted to permit the development, subject to a maximum of 154 dwellings being built on the site, on 21 September 2011. The resolution to permit was dependent on the applicant entering into a Section 106 agreement for contributions toward the provision of infrastructure and services. Again funding problems prevented implementation of the scheme. A Section 106 agreement has now been exchanged between ABC and West Kent & Ashford College, as successors to South Kent College.

The ABC Case reference is 11/00405/AS, we have posted the notification under Local Information / Planning and Development / Planning Notice today

Ashford Borough Council, Education, News, Planning and Development

Christmas Recycling & Refuse Collections

3 December 2016 0 Comments

During the festive period, your recycling and refuse collections may take place on different days. Check the calendar below.

Ashford Borough Council are giving every household in the borough one additional recycling bag this Christmas! You will receive a plastic envelope which has all your 2016/17 Christmas collection dates on it, and inside you will find one clear plastic bag for you to put additional Christmas recycling in. Simply place your clean Christmas recycling in the clear bag and leave it next to your recycling bin on collection day

Week Normal collection day Revised collection day
Recycling Mon 26 Dec Wed 28 Dec
Tues 27 Dec Thurs 29 Dec
Wed 28 Dec Fri 30 Dec
Thurs 29 Dec Sat 31 Dec
 Fri 30 Dec Tues 3 Jan
Refuse  Mon 2 Jan Fri 13 Jan
 Tues 3 Jan Thurs 5 Jan
 Wed 4 Jan Fri 6 Jan
 Thurs 5 Jan Sat 7 Jan
 Fri 6 Jan Mon 9 Jan
Recycling  Mon 9 Jan Tues 10 Jan
 Tues 10 Jan Wed 11 Jan
 Wed 11 Jan Thurs 12 Jan
 Thurs 12 Jan Fri 13 Jan
 Fri 13 Jan Sat 14 Jan

Collections will resume normal service on Monday 16 January 2017.

All refuse and recycling should be out for colleclion by 6am over Chrislmas and New Year. Please note collections may lake place up la one day laler than shown.

There will be no garden or bulk colleclions for two weeks; w/c 26/12/16 and w/c 02/01/17.

The clinical colleclion service will be moved from Mon 26 Dec to Tues 27 Dec. All olher clinical collections will remain lhe same.

www.ashford.gov.uk/christmas-collection-dates

Ashford Borough Council, Environment, News

Planning committee votes to allow Travis Perkins and hotel applications

16 November 2016 0 Comments

travisAshford Borough Council’s planning committee, this evening, voted to permit two applications for construction of a total of 59 flats on two sites in Victoria Crescent/George Street, which had previously been occupied by Travis Perkins.

Councillors also voted to permit construction a 120 bed hotel, forming part of the ‘Victoria Way’ development on the adjacent site. At October’s planning meeting  a brewery, with shop, bar and restaurant, three commercial units and 216 residential units and an Aldi superstore, which form the rest of the development, were permitted.

All three permissions are subject to the developers entering into Section 106 agreements for contributions for local infrastructure and services.

The Travis Perkins site case reference are 16/00981/AS and  16/00986/AS, as notified in our posts of 6 July 2016

The Victoria Way case reference is 16/01164/AS and was posted by us on 10 August 2016

Ashford Borough Council, News, Planning and Development