Council and Government Services

We are developing this page as a guide to who does what in local government and government.

  • ABC: Ashford Borough Council
  • FRA: Kent and Medway Fire and Rescue Authority
  • Gov: UK Government
  • KCC: Kent County Council

Not all services listed are statutory services.

Service Additional information Authority Department Agency Link
Benefits Gov Department for Work and Pensions ↗
Bus subsidies for socially necessary, commercially non viable services KCC
Cemeteries ABC ↗
Childcare and pre-school KCC ↗
Council Tax collection ABC ↗
Courts and Tribunals Gov Ministry of Justice Courts and Tribunals Service ↗
Driving Driving licences Gov Department for Transport Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency ↗
Highway Code, Driving Tests and safety regulation Gov Department for Transport Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency ↗
MOT tests ↗
Vehicle registration Gov Department for Transport Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency ↗
Vehicle Tax ↗
Employment Employment rules Gov Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy ↗
Education National Curriculum Gov Department for Education ↗
Schooling for children up to 19 or to 25 for those with special educational needs and disabilities KCC ↗
Apprenticeships Gov Department for Education ↗
Further Education Gov Department for Education ↗
Higher Education
(Universities and Higher Education Colleges)
Gov Department for Education ↗
Environmental Health Food Safety – registering and inspecting food premises ABC ↗
Statutory nuisance – noise, light, bonfires, odour, etc. ABC
Litter ABC ↗
Fly tipping ABC ↗
Fire and public safety extinguishing fires FRA ↗
protecting life and property in the event of fires FRA
rescuing and protecting people in the event of a road traffic collision FRA
rescuing and protecting people in the event of other emergencies FRA
Highways Motorways and trunk roads Gov Department for Transport Highways England ↗
Highways England fault reporting info@highwaysengland.co.uk
0300 123 5000
24-hour service
Other than motorways and trunk roads KCC ↗
KCC Highways fault reporting ↗
Housing Council housing ABC ↗
Private rented housing enforcement ABC ↗
Landscape management Highway Land – Motorways and trunk roads
Highway Land – Highways other than motorways and trunk roads including public footpaths and cycle paths KCC
ABC owned parks and open spaces ABC ↗
Libraries KCC ↗
Licensing Sale of alcohol, places of entertainment, taxis, street trading etc. ABC ↗
Parking Car parks ABC ↗
Parking enforcement ABC ↗
Planning National planning policy Gov Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government ↗
Housing need assessment calculation method ↗
Planning Policy – minerals and waste KCC ↗
Planning applications – minerals and waste and KCC sites KCC ↗
Planning policy ABC ↗
Submitting planning applications for residential and commercial development ABC ↗
Viewing planning applications ABC ↗
Power of attorney Make register or end a lasting power of attorney Gov Ministry of Justice Courts and Tribunals Service ↗
Prisons and Sentences Gov Ministry of Justice Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service ↗
Public Rights of Way KCC ↗
Registration Birth, death, marriage, civil partnership, citizenship KCC ↗
Refuse, Recycling and Waste
Waste management KCC ↗
Household waste recycling centres KCC ↗
Rubbish collection ABC ↗
Social care Adult care and support KCC ↗
Carers KCC ↗
Children in care KCC ↗
Adoption and fostering KCC ↗
Child protection KCC ↗
Child or adult abuse KCC ↗
Trading standards KCC ↗
Voting and elections Register to vote, check voter registration,
apply to vote by proxy or b post
ABC ↗