Kent County Council

Your Council Tax bill

10 March 2019 2 Comments

We will all be getting the bill for Council Tax within the next day or two.

We tell you how much more you will be paying this year and where your money goes.

The table below shows the increase in the precept charged by each authority and the the total for a Band D property.

Increase by precepting authority for Band D.

As in previous years Kent County Council has been allowed to add an additional sum off 2% of their precept for Adult Social Care.

The next table shows how this affects the annual and monthly payments for all properties.

Change in Council Tax for all property bands in unparished area.

Note: Ashford Borough Council normally debits one payment of an odd amount then nine rounded payments. The table shows the average.

We exclusively show how much you pay for the services of all of the precepting authorities.

Approximate amount paid for services from Band D Property Council Tax.

References:
Kent County Council
www.kent.gov.uk/about-the-council/strategies-and-policies/corporate-policies/budget-book
Ashford Borough Council
www.ashford.gov.uk/benefits-and-council-tax/council-tax/council-tax-information/
Kent and Medway Fire and Rescue Authority
www.kent.fire-uk.org/about-us/financial-information/council-tax/council-tax-2019-20/
Kent Police and Crime Commissioner
www.kent-pcc.gov.uk/what-we-do/setting-the-kent-police-budget/

Ashford Borough Council, Finance, Kent County Council, News

Road Closures – Arlington

2 January 2019 0 Comments

Kent County Council gives notice that Arlington, Ashford will be dosed to through traffic, on or after Wednesday 2 January 2019 for up to 3 days.

Arlington will be closed in various phases along its length. Access to the remainder of Arlington continues from either direction up to where the road is closed at any time. Access to the various side-roads will be maintained from one or other direction as signposted on site.

It is planned that the road will be dosed between 07:30 hours and
16:30 hours each day.

The closures are to enable Kent County Council to carry out urgent
essential carriageway repairs.

This Notice applies when the relevant signs and barriers are on site
and is valid for a period of no more than 5 days.

Kent County Council, News, Transport

Council services over Christmas

23 December 2018 0 Comments

Information regarding council services during the Christmas period can be found on the following pages:

Find Who does What on our list of Council Government and Council Services

Ashford Borough Council, Kent County Council, News, Uncategorized

Market path bridge lighting

19 December 2018 2 Comments

Kent County Council

We have sent an email to Cllr. Dara Farrell, 
KCC Ashford South Division, ABC Victoria Ward

We have been complaining for over a year regarding the poor/lack of lighting on the footbridge between Victoria Road and Elwick Place. KCC Highway’s solution is to, this morning, close the steps to the bridge; I was told because there have been accidents on the steps. Whilst this may protect KCC against claims, it does not resolve the issue of lighting on the bridge itself. It is totally unsatisfactory, that the claimed access issue has not been resolved during the time for which this issue has existed.

Please could you press KCC Highways to resolve this issue.

cc.
Cllr Mike Whiting, KCC Cabinet Member for Planning, Highways, Transport and Waste
Cllr Charles Suddards, ABC Victoria Ward,
Cllr Brad Bradford, ABC Portfolio Holder for Health, Parking & Community Safety
Cllr Paul Bartlett, ABC Joint Transportation Board Chairman

Kent County Council, News, Transport

KCC Libraries, Registration and Archives consultation

28 November 2018 0 Comments

Library imageLibraries, Registration and Archives Draft Strategy 2019-2022

Kent County Council

Opened 21 November 2018
Closes 29 January 2019

Introduction

The Libraries, Registration and Archives Service (LRA) run by Kent County Council (KCC) is a highly-valued community service. LRA’s wide range of services are delivered across Kent to anyone who lives, works, studies or visits Kent, and our services support everyone at important stages in their lives.

The communities and customers that LRA serves are changing and will continue to change over time. There are new challenges to face and opportunities to explore. The draft strategy sets out how KCC will continue to provide a sustainable libraries, registration and archives service to meet the needs and choices of their customers and communities.

Have your say

KCC want to hear your feedback on our draft strategy, which includes a proposal to tier libraries and review opening hours. No decision has been taken yet and your views are important in helping us to make a final decision.

The draft strategy is available to download from the ‘Documents’ section below. Please tell KCC your views by completing the online questionnaire via the link under ‘Respond’ below.

In the ‘Documents’ section below you will find the initial Equality Impact Assessments (EqIA) for the draft strategy and library tiering proposal for you to read and comment on via the consultation questionnaire.

Alternative Formats and Hard Copies

Easy Read and Accessible Word versions of the draft strategy and questionnaire are available from the ‘Documents’ section below. To request hard copies of any of the consultation documents, or for any other formats, please email: alternativeformats@kent.gov.uk or call: 03000 421553 (text relay service number: 18001 03000 421553). This number goes to an answering machine, which is monitored during office hours.

Documents

Respond

Links

Details

Consulting Organisation Type Kent County Council
Consulting Organisation Name Kent County Council
District / Borough areas affected by the consultation Ashford, Canterbury, Dartford, Dover, Gravesham, Maidstone, Medway, Sevenoaks, Shepway, Swale, Thanet, Tonbridge & Malling, Tunbridge Wells
Consultation Topic General interest, Libraries and archives
Consultation Methods Online survey / questionnaire / forms, Other survey / questionnaire / forms, Community event
Contact Details Email: lraconsultation@kent.gov.uk

Consultation, Kent County Council, News

KCC Budget Consultation

11 October 2018 0 Comments

Budget Consultation 2019-20

Kent County Council

Opens:11 October 2018
Closes: 21 November 2018

Kent County Council (KCC) provides a huge range of essential services to the people of Kent and when times are tough it is more important than ever to spend money wisely. We need to make some big decisions and would value your views before setting next year’s council budget (April 2019 to March 2020).

How KCC are funded£967m planned spend

Funding for the KCC budget comes from many sources in addition to council tax, including grants from central government. About a third of the council’s budget is made up of money we receive from council tax. Each year we decide how much we can spend on services for Kent residents and businesses for the next financial year, compared to how much funding we’re likely to get from the government and local taxation.
www.kent.gov.uk/about-the-council/finance-and-budget/how-we-are-funded

KCC prioritises spending on services that:

  • make sure children and young people get the best start in life
  • help communities feel the benefits of economic growth by being in work, healthy and enjoying a good quality of life
  • help older and vulnerable residents to be safe and supported with choices to live independently.

These are KCCs strategic priorities. The Strategic Statement Annual Report details how every pound spent in Kent is used to deliver better outcomes for Kent’s residents, communities and businesses.
www.kent.gov.uk/about-the-council/strategies-and-policies/corporate-policies/increasing-opportunities-improving-outcomes

The Big Challenge

£640m savings over 8 yearsSome councils are in severe financial difficulty and are now being forced to make some tough decisions, including reducing services to a minimum. KCC is not one of these authorities.

In recent years the amount of money available to local councils from the government has decreased while demand and cost for council services has increased. We expect this trend to continue in the future.

Since 2010, we have made savings of £640 million to offset these challenges. These savings have focussed on the transformation of services, which means delivering better outcomes at lower cost and working in more efficient ways. This has allowed us to continue to protect and invest in front line services.

However, there is also increased pressure on spending because of the rising demand for services, inflation and the living wage. This means that despite the £640 million savings KCC have already made since 2010, they still have a considerable shortfall to find now (around £94 million in 2019-20) and in years to come.

You can find out more about the council’s finance and budget (www.kent.gov.uk/about-the-council/finance-and-budget), including what they spend their money on (www.kent.gov.uk/about-the-council/finance-and-budget/spending) and council tax (www.kent.gov.uk/about-the-council/finance-and-budget/council-tax).

What do you think?

We’d like to hear your views on:

  • Council Tax – is a modest rise acceptable if it helps to sustain the services that you value most?
  • The future of KCC services – are they focussing on the right priorities or have we got some things wrong?
  • How can KCC improve their communication with you – so that you are aware of the challenges they face now and in the future?

Please read the budget consultation document before completing the online questionnaire.
https://consultations.kent.gov.uk/gf2.ti/f/965314/41994469.1/DOCX/-/Budget_Consultation_Information_Document.docx

The consultation will close on 21 November 2018.

Complete the online questionnaire
https://consultations.kent.gov.uk/consult.ti/DraftBudgetStrategy201920/answerQuestionnaire?qid=5376387

Consultation documents

For more details on the UK’s public finances and the terms used to describe them see the Office for Budget Responsibility’s Brief Guide to Public Finances (http://obr.uk/forecasts-in-depth/brief-guides-and-explainers/public-finances).

Kent County Council  11 October 2018
www.kent.gov.uk/about-the-council/finance-and-budget/our-budget

Consultation, Finance, Kent County Council, News

Kent Household Waste Recycling Centres Consultation

6 September 2018 0 Comments

Kent County Council

Opens: 6 September 2018
Closes: 1 November 2018

Introduction

Kent County Council (KCC) is seeking the views of service users, members of the public and other interested parties, on a proposal to charge for the disposal of non-household waste at the Household Waste Recycling Centres (HWRCs), sometimes known as the ‘tip’.

Non-household waste included in this consultation;

Soil, rubble and hardcore
Plasterboard
Even if originating from a domestic property, these materials are to be treated as non-household waste in accordance with the Controlled Waste Regulations 2012.

In recent years the amount of waste from household alterations and building works that is being brought to our HWRCs has increased. Furthermore, with neighbouring authorities adopting charging, this will have an impact on KCCs HWRCs with regards to cross border usage.

Therefore, we are proposing to introduce charges, which are in line with other councils, to recover the cost of dealing with these types of non-household waste, and continue to offer a disposal option. These charges are intended to help KCC achieve critical savings while still maintaining a comprehensive service for residents.

KCC is proud to have made significant progress in its environmental performance over the past 10 years. More than 99% of Kent’s household waste is now recycled, treated or recovered to produce energy, with less than 1% sent to landfill.

Have your say

Your participation in this consultation and views on this proposal are important and will help KCC to carefully consider options and inform any decision.

We recommend you read the consultation document which can be found in the ‘Documents’ section below. To take part in, please fill in the online questionnaire which is available by clicking on the link below.

This consultation closes on 1 November 2018.

Alternative formats: If you require any of the consultation material in an alternative format or language please email alternativeformats@kent.gov.uk or call 03000 421553 (text relay service number: 18001 03000 421553). This number goes to an answering machine, which is monitored during office hours.

Privacy: Kent County Council collects and processes personal information in order to provide a range of public services. Kent County Council respects the privacy of individuals and endeavours to ensure personal information is collected fairly, lawfully, and in compliance with the General Data Protection Regulation. To see a copy of our Privacy Notices please click here.

KCC recommend using Google Chrome if viewing and downloading consultation documents from mobile devices.

Respond

Details

Consulting Organisation Type Kent County Council
Consulting Organisation Name Kent County Council
District / Borough areas affected by the consultation Ashford, Canterbury, Dartford, Dover, Gravesham, Maidstone, Medway, Sevenoaks, Shepway, Swale, Thanet, Tonbridge & Malling, Tunbridge Wells
Consultation Topic General interest, Recycling, rubbish and waste management
Consultation Methods Online survey / questionnaire / forms
Contact Details If you have any questions about the proposal, or require paper copies of any of the supporting documents, please contact: wastedisposalstrategy@kent.gov.uk or 03000 41 73 73

Kent County Council   06 September 2018
https://consultations.kent.gov.uk/consult.ti/wasteconsultation/consultationHome?

Consultation, Environment, Kent County Council, News

Beware of internet banking scams

20 July 2018 0 Comments

Kent County Council (KCC) have received reports of fraudsters tricking people into giving them access to their internet banking.

The criminals pose as employees from broadband providers and claim that someone has hacked into their account, the user is then tricked into giving access to their computer and told to log into their internet banking.

So far, Police have identified 45 victims with a combined loss of £128,000.

A current trend is for victims to be sent an automated message stating that their router has been compromised. Please do not respond to this message but instead contact your broadband provider directly for advice.

Never allow a caller access to your computer. An internet provider will never ask for your bank details.

NEWSFLASH: Ashford man loses £21,000 to internet banking scam.
www.kentonline.co.uk/ashford/news/man-conned-out-of-21k-in-cyber-scam-186590/

For more information on how to keep you and your family safe from scams, visit the KCC Public Protection website.
www.kent.gov.uk/social-care-and-health/care-and-support/staying-safe/scams/types-of-scam

Report it

For advice and to report issues to KCC Trading Standards contact

Citizens Advice consumer service on 03454 04 05 06
Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm.

Online: https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/scams/reporting-a-scam/

Kent County Council 20 July 2018
https://mailchi.mp/b5521017efa9/beware-of-internet-banking-scams?e=5d620a3416
(KCC distribute Consumer Alerts via Mailchimp)

Crime, Finance, Kent County Council, News, Security

KCC reports on the future of Kent

29 June 2018 0 Comments

A report into what the future could hold for the county and how it will handle the growth in population and new homes has been published by Kent County Council.

The Kent and Medway Growth and Infrastructure Framework (GIF) helps KCC, Medway Council, local planning authorities and the government understand what services and infrastructure are required to support that growth.

The GIF provides a picture of planned growth across Kent and Medway to 2031, as well as starting to examine the challenges and opportunities likely to face Kent and Medway to 2050.

Kent and Medway is expected to see 396,300 new people, 178,600 new homes and 170,300 new jobs with a total infrastructure cost of more than £16 billion.

The report also shows a 14.3% increase in the number of vehicles on major roads in Kent between 2006 and 2016 and an increase of 42% in people using trains in the past 10 years.

As the county continues to grow, pressure increases on the existing infrastructure, and the GIF highlights the challenges to Government, infrastructure providers, district councils, parish councils, local communities, Kent and Medway businesses and developers.

KCC Cabinet Member for Planning, Highways, Transport and Waste Mike Whiting said: “Kent and Medway are embracing growth. We recognise the benefits business and housing growth brings to the county in terms of new jobs, new facilities, and new communities.

“New approaches are required to secure the additional public and private investment needed and the GIF includes a forward-thinking action plan to begin to close the investment gap.“However, the GIF makes it clear that the current mechanisms in place for the planning, funding and delivery of infrastructure are not sufficient for accommodating the level of growth planned for Kent and Medway.

“Over the coming year, we will be looking to develop a GIF Implementation Plan to take forward these actions.

“The GIF identifies a shortfall in meeting the infrastructure costs associated with housing growth up to 2031. With only 76% of the infrastructure cost either secured or expected, the county is left with a funding gap of £3.96 billion.”

Since the original GIF was published in September 2015, the authorities and infrastructure providers across Kent and Medway have worked collaboratively to secure £120 million of Local Growth Funding from central government for a range of schemes.

  • There is a commitment from government to deliver a new Lower Thames Crossing, with identification of significant private sector interest in its financing.
  • Government support and funding in excess of a million for Otterpool Park Garden Town.
  • Since 2015, £121,449,009 has been secured for KCC services through section 106 planning contributions.
  • Over two years, 15,068 new homes have been built in Kent and Medway (2015/16-2016/17).

Kent County Council  27 June 2018
https://kccmediahub.net/kcc-reports-future-kent745

Kent County Council, News, Planning and Development