Consultation

Alternative Place of Safety Workshops

26 September 2017 0 Comments

East Kent Mental Health: Alternative Place of Safety Workshops

The East Kent Mental Health team are starting a new project looking at an adult, out of hours, therapeutic alternative place of safety (APoS) for east Kent residents experiencing mental health distress. We are inviting you to attend a workshop to get your views and ideas on what an Alternate Place of Safety in east Kent would look like, how it would operate and by whom.

Information, views and ideas gathered at these workshops will be used to develop an options paper on APoS for the East Kent Care Crisis Concordat steering group.

Ashford; date to be confirmed (to be mid October) 5 – 7pm Venue: Tesco Extra community room, Crooksfoot, Hythe Road, Wilesborough, Ashford, TN24 0YE

If you are interested in attending the workshop click the link here! https://goo.gl/forms/lRSJpYl60nBV3EIa2 (this will open up a google form)

These workshops will be run by Louise Piper and Sarah Parker from the East Kent Mental Health Team. If you can not access the booking form and would like a paper copy sent through or have other questions, please email: EKmentalhealth.commissioning@nhs.net

Consultation, Health, News, Security, Wellbeing

Discretionary Rate Relief Consultation

26 September 2017 0 Comments

ABC CrestDiscretionary Rate Relief – Autumn 2017

Ashford Borough Council

Opens: 25 September 2017
Closes: 6th November 2017

The revaluation of business rates by the Valuation Office Agency took effect on 1st April 2017. This has led to some businesses, including some in the Ashford borough, seeing large increases in the rateable value of the premises they occupy.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer has now stated that the government has put in place a £300m fund to enable local authorities to put in place a discretionary rate relief scheme. This is intended to help businesses apply for assistance if they have suffered from the impact of the first revaluation for seven years.

Ashford Borough Council has been allocated a share of the £300m funding pot to cover a four-year period, with £350,000 funding confirmed for year one and £175,000 for year two.

The government has issued guidance for local authorities and the council has put together a proposed scheme to help those business ratepayers who have suffered significant increases following the recalculation of the rateable value of the premise they occupy.

We are now consulting on our proposed scheme and invite you to comment. Please read the information in this summary document and then comment via this consultation portal.

You can respond to this consultation before 11.59pm on Monday 6th November 2017. Once the consultation has closed, an ‘output report’ showing all the responses received will be available on the council’s website from Friday 10th November.

Cabinet will meet on Thursday 9th November 2017 and consider the responses to the consultation. Full council will then consider the cabinet’s recommendations on 14th December 2017 and agree how the scheme will work for the remainder of the 2017-18 and then the 2018-19 financial years.

Consultation Documents

Respond to this Consultation

Consultation Links

Consultation Summary

Name Discretionary Rate Relief – Autumn 2017
Description The council is consulting on its proposed discretionary rate relief scheme, following announcement of a funding allocation from government to help businesses adversely affected by the Valuation Office Agency’s revaluation that came into effect on 1st April 2017.
Dates From 25 Sep 2017 at 00:00 to 6 Nov 2017 at 23:59. The results will be published by 10 Nov 2017.
Status Open

Ashford Borough Council 25 September 2017
https://haveyoursay.ashford.gov.uk/consult.ti/Discretionary_Rate_Relief/consultationHome

Ashford Borough Council, Business, Consultation, Finance, News

Have your say: self–care using medicines in the home

6 September 2017 0 Comments

Self–care using medicines in the home without needing a prescription

NHS Ashford Clinical Commissioning Group, NHS Canterbury and Coastal Clinical Commissioning Group, NHS South Kent Coast Clinical Commissioning Group and NHS Thanet Clinical Commissioning Group

Opens: 4 September 2017
Closes: 2 October 2017

Proposals to:

Proposal 1

To restrict prescribing of over the counter / minor ailment medicines to those conditions where the clinical need can only be met by a prescription.

Proposal 2

To tighten the prescription guidance on 18 items which are ineffective, or need safer guidelines, or where an alternative form would be more cost effective without reducing clinical effectiveness

There is an NHS Clinical Commissioners and NHS England national consultation, looking at how to improve prescribing in primary care (GP practices and local pharmacies), which the Ashford Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) and other East Kent CCGs will respond to. To help them respond, they want to know what you think of the proposals to reduce prescribing of medicines widely available over the counter or tighten prescribing guidance on some items which are ineffective, or can be prescribed in more cost effective ways.

Have your say

You can give us your views in a number of ways:

  • Fill in the onlne survey www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/EKotcmedicines
  • Fill in the paper copy of the survey found at the back of the consultation document and send it to FREEPOST ADDRESS
  • Contact the Engagement Team on or Nelcsu.engagement@nhs.net
  • If you belong to a group or organisation, you can invite us along to one of your meetings by contacting us on the details above

The four East Kent CCGs have a big financial challenge to meet in the short term. While the NHS budget has been protected, costs and demand for healthcare have increased. Currently approximately £10 million more is being spent nationally than the existing budget on medicines. They think the money they spend on items that are readily available over the counter might be better spent on treatments, staff and essential services that patients cannot get in any other way. They
also believe it will be of beneft to patients to promote a positive emphasis on self-care for minor ailments and illnesses, which you can manage effectively at home and in a way that suits you. (more…)

Consultation, Health, News

KCC Rights of Way consultation

18 August 2017 0 Comments

Kent County CouncilRights of Way Improvement Plan

Kent County Council

Opens 10 Aug 2017
Closes 17 Sep 2017

Kent County Council’s Public Rights of Way and Access Service is reviewing its Rights of Way Improvement Plan which will be consulted on in late 2017/early 2018.

The Plan will cover how our rights of way are used and what changes are required to meet the needs of Kent’s residents and visitors over the next 10 years.

Prior to this consultation, we have commissioned Lake Market Research, an independent market research agency, to conduct a research study about Public Rights of Way. We would like to hear views of Kent residents who use Public Rights of Way and those that do not.

Click here to have your say on Public Rights of Way.

If you require a hard copy of the questionnaire, please contact Denise Roffey.

Consultation Links

Consultation Summary

Name Rights of Way Improvement Plan
Description Kent County Council’s Public Rights of Way and Access Service is reviewing its Rights of Way Improvement Plan which will be consulted on in late 2017/early 2018. Have your say on the service and help shape the plan.
Dates From 10 Aug 2017 at 00:00 to 17 Sep 2017 at 23:59.
Status Open
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, Sevenoaks, Shepway, Swale, Thanet, Tonbridge & Malling, Tunbridge Wells
Consultation Topic General interest, Environment and countryside, Public rights of way
Consultation Methods Online survey / questionnaire / forms
Contact Details Denise.Roffey@kent.gov.uk

Consultation, Environment, Kent County Council, News, Transport

ABC Draft Open Space Strategy

11 August 2017 0 Comments

Draft Open Space StrategyABC Crest

Ashford Borough Council

Opens: 8 August
Closes: 20 Sep 2017

Open spaces enrich the quality of our lives and contribute towards a healthy lifestyle. They help define and add to the character and history of a place as well as provide vital green infrastructure for wildlife, biodiversity, water, tranquillity, recreation, play, food production and safe off-road pedestrian and cycling routes.

Ashford borough currently enjoys a wide range of open spaces across its urban and rural environment. The borough has the benefit of existing wildlife sites, protected landscapes and a network of accessible countryside. It also has the benefit of having many organisations and groups of people active in the community who take great interest in their current and future green environment.

This Open Space Strategy attempts to focus on what’s important for Ashford’s open space provision up to 2030 in consideration of previous studies and strategies, recent audits, consultation and the emerging Local Plan.

The consultation is open until 20th September. Please comment using the online questionnaire here, or by printing out a comment form and returning by post to: Cultural Services, Place and Space, Ashford Borough Council, Civic Centre, Tannery Lane, Ashford, Kent TN23 1PL or by email to culture@ashford.gov.uk

You can respond to this consultation

Consultation Documents

Respond to this Consultation

You can respond to this consultation using any one of the options presented below.

Consultation Links

Consultation Summary

Name Draft Open Space Strategy
Description The Open Space Strategy will provide a robust framework to help strengthen Ashford’s open space provision by providing a series of interrelated actions that are all working towards the same goal. These are to protect, enhance and provide an open space network across the borough to create a thriving landscape of well-located and well-connected open spaces, which supports our existing and future community.
Dates From 8 Aug 2017 at 15:00 to 20 Sep 2017 at 23:59.
Status Open

Ashford Borough Council, Consultation, Environment, Leisure, News

KCC postpones consultation on Infant Feeding Services

8 August 2017 0 Comments

Kent County CouncilKent County Council has withdrawn the consultation on infant feeding after listening to feedback from concerned families and other stakeholders.

The consultation, launched on July 18, will now be reviewed and relaunched in September as it is recognised the current consultation has caused some confusion and does not fully articulate what was intended.

Leader of Kent County Council, Paul Carter said: “This year, the Health Visiting service has seen an investment of £21.85million. By almost doubling the number of Health Visitors through this investment, we now have the capacity to reshape the health visiting service alongside enhanced breast feeding support.”

“Kent County Council is determined to deliver a comprehensive breast feeding support service in the future. We will be carrying out pre-consultation meetings in early September with those mothers and other key stakeholders who are currently expressing concern.”

“All feedback received so far will be taken into account when the Infant Feeding proposals go out to consultation again next month.”

Paul Carter continued: “Kent County Council is totally committed to supporting new mothers to breastfeed. The increased number of Health Visitors means that 95% of new mums now receive their new birth visit as required.”

“We are determined to deliver an enhanced breast feeding advice service and are prepared to take extra time in rewording the consultation document to make our intentions clear and set out our proposals with absolute clarity.”

Kent County Council 07 August 2017
https://kccmediahub.net/kcc-consults-infant-feeding-services745

Children, Consultation, Kent County Council, News

KCC Consults on Infant Feeding Services

1 August 2017 0 Comments

Kent County CouncilInfant Feeding Service

Kent County Council

Opens: 17 July 2017
Closes: 3 September 2017

Families across Kent are being asked their views on proposed changes to infant feeding services, including breastfeeding support.

KCC Director of Public Health, Andrew Scott-Clark explained: “The current contract is coming to an end and we have been investigating what service users and providers need – the consultation runs until the beginning of September and considers timely support, more joined up services and more information about the peer support teams with rapid referral to a lactation consultant when needed.

“As part of the development of the Health Visiting model, there have also been discussions with PS Breastfeeding CIC, Early Help and KCHFT. As a result of these conversations, we are consulting on transferring responsibility for community infant feeding support to the Health Visiting Service and are inviting people’s views.”

He adds: “We expect that this proposal will enable all families to access nutrition advice as part of a comprehensive infant health service that links to Children’s Centres and maternity services, making best use of the existing professional skills and resources in the Health Visiting Service. (more…)

Children, Consultation, Heritage, Kent County Council, News

Ashford Heritage Strategy

7 July 2017 0 Comments

Ashford Borough Council

Opens: 07 July 2017
Closes: 31 August 2017

Ashford Borough is home to an extraordinarily rich and significant stock of heritage assets which provide important and wide-ranging evidence of the rural history of this country and its tapestry of rural settlements. The Borough’s heritage is extensive too, with more listed buildings than any other in Kent, and with more grade 1 and II* listed buildings than other districts also.

This Heritage Strategy describes the rich history of Ashford Borough and its broad wealth of heritage assets. In doing so it responds to, and is compliant with the requirement for a ‘positive strategy for the conservation and enjoyment of the historic environment’ promoted by the NPPF. It sets out how the historic environment can play an important role in delivering regeneration in the Borough, particularly supporting the objectives of the Local Plan for the regeneration of Ashford Town Centre, and the role of heritage in growing the tourism offer of the Borough. Having regard to the Government’s localism agenda, the Strategy promotes an agenda of further understanding and engagement with the historic environment, where the public play a leading role in delivering the outcomes of the strategy and shaping where they live, work and visit.

The borough’s attractive natural environment, including two Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty and the successful Ashford Green Corridors initiative are widely recognised. However, the historic environment is equally one of the Borough’s most valuable assets, and one which can and should play an important role in its future development.

Have your Say

The Council is inviting you to have your say on the Ashford Heritage Strategy from Friday 7th July 2017 until midnight on the 31st August 2017.

(more…)

Ashford Borough Council, Consultation, Heritage, News, Planning and Development, Planning Policy

ABC Local Plan changes

7 July 2017 0 Comments

Help shape our Local Plan

Main Changes to Local Plan 2030

Ashford Borough Council

Opens: 07 July 2017
Closes: 31 August 2017

Ashford Borough Council are preparing a new Local Plan to 2030. It is being prepared with the aim of ensuring that future development within Ashford is well planned and managed effectively whilst having a positive impact on local communities, the economy and the environment. The new Local Plan will provide a consistent approach to planning into the future across the whole of the borough. Once adopted, the Local Plan 2030 will form the statutory development plan. A draft of the Plan was formally published and made available for consultation during the summer of 2016.

Ashford Borough Council are now consulting upon a series of Proposed Main Changes to that Publication Draft of the Local Plan. These changes are intended to:

  • resolve issues that were raised during public consultation on the previous draft of the Plan;
  • meet the increased housing need requirements identified through an update of national population projections;
  • ensure that the Plan is up to date; and
  • make sure that it meets the requirements of current national planning policy and guidance.

It is considered appropriate to address these issues before the Local Plan 2030 is submitted to the Secretary of State to be examined by a Planning Inspector. (more…)

Ashford Borough Council, Consultation, News, Planning and Development, Planning Policy

KCC Older Persons Wellbeing Consultation

13 June 2017 0 Comments

Kent County CouncilOlder Persons and People Living with Dementia Wellbeing Core Offer

Kent County Council

Opens: 12 Jun 2017
Closes: 23 Jul 2017

Kent County Council is developing a new model for the Wellbeing Core Offer of Services for Older Persons and People Living with Dementa.  The offer seeks to improve people’s wellbeing and support them to live as independently as possible.

Kent County Council (KCC) wants to hear your views on the proposal to ensure that the new model meets the needs of Kent residents and delivers the outcomes which are most important to them.

In designing the new model, KCC is proposing to end annual grants which fund older persons and dementia community and voluntary sector services and re-invest the funding in a new contract. The proposed contract will create a more joined up pathway for supporting people to live well, will be delivered through a Strategic Partner approach and will be in place for 5-7 years. (more…)

Consultation, Health, Kent County Council, News, Wellbeing