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The young people of the uniformed sections and their leaders will make their yearly Remembrance Sunday Parade from the Scout HQ on the Recreation Ground in Oak Lane to St Mary's Church on the 12th of November.
Leaving at 9:30am, they will march (accompanied by marshals) from the Recreation Ground along Oak Lane and return at 11:30am.
Please be patient during this time.
If you need to drive through the village centre during the parade, please consider using Church Farm Road and Chaffes Lane instead.
Thank you
“WE WILL REMEMBER THEM”
Upchurch Matters
Families with children on free school meals can enjoy free bus travel across the county during the summer holidays.
Thanks to funding provided through the government’s National Bus Strategy and the co-operation of Kent’s local bus operators, eligible families can benefit from the scheme, titled Bus About Kent, between 23rd July and 31st August.
Families of up to four can take advantage of the offer, as long as there is at least one adult in the party, and a maximum of two.
Families already in receipt of benefits-related free school meals will automatically receive an e-voucher that contains the digital bus pass via email from their child’s school before the end of term.
David Brazier, KCC’s Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport, said:
“We are pleased to be able to promote this offer to some of the county’s most hard-pressed families and thank the bus companies and their staff involved for their co-operation in implementing it.”
Roads Minister Richard Holden said:
“Supporting Kent County Council with providing free bus travel to children on free school meals during the holidays is yet another important way we’re helping families in Kent save money through the cost of living increase and make the most of the fantastic days out and holiday opportunities Kent has to offer.
“People up and down the country deserve a modern, reliable, and affordable public transport system. That is why we’re providing Kent County Council with over £37 million to boost its bus services.”
Families, with up to four people travelling each time, will be able to use it as many times as they like between 23rd July and 31st August. Simply show it to the bus driver.
There are some restrictions on the use of this bus pass:
• At least one child and one adult must travel together;
• Journeys cannot start after 8:00pm in the evening;
• It is only for use by the family to whom it was allocated;
• These passes are only valid for journeys in areas maintained by Kent County Council. The passes cannot be used to travel into or out of the county (for example on services that start or operate in Medway, East Sussex, West Sussex or the Transport for London area);
• Medway is covered by a different local authority so residents in those areas should contact Medway Council for information about support for children and families.
The pass is valid in Kent on the following buses:
• Autocar
• Arriva
• Chalkwell
• Farleigh Coaches
• Go Coach
• Hams Travel
• Kent Coach Tours
• Metrobus
• Nu-Venture
• R&J Coaches
• Redroute
• Regent Coaches
• Stagecoach
• Starline Coaches
Kent County Council
To help meet the financial challenge Kent County Council is facing, the Community Warden service has been asked to reduce its annual budget by £1 million by 2024-25.
To achieve this level of savings, the council will need to redesign the service.
• The current Community Warden service, including what it does and how it operates.
• Why KCC is proposing to make changes and how they have developed their proposals.
• The proposed changes to the service and details of other options that have been considered.
The proposals presented in the consultation have been developed with information from service users and input from staff and partners.
Most of the service’s £2.4 million budget provides the salaries of community wardens. To reduce the service budget by the required £1 million, staffing reductions are needed. In summary, KCC is proposing to:
• Redesign the service, ensuring there is a core Community Warden presence across the county, with teams covering 2 districts.
• Reduce the service by 32 warden posts and 2 management posts.
• Retain the remit and community-based way the service currently works but cover fewer communities.
• Use data and information to identify where to place wardens for the most impact.
The service is currently structured with: • 70 wardens, including 6 team leaders.
• 2 area managers.
• 1 volunteer and apprenticeship scheme manager.
• 1 business coordinator.
Have your say!
Before any decisions are made, the council wants to hear your views on:
• How the proposed reductions and approach to allocating wardens could impact you.
• Any additional information that you think they need to consider.
• Any alternative suggestions for how the service could make the savings.
• The assumptions they have made in the draft Equality Impact Assessment (EqIA)
Please read the Consultation document first before completing the online questionnaire below.
The council is keen to hear your views on its proposals and how any changes may affect you and your family.
You can answer all or as many of the questions as you like. If you would rather not provide feedback on a section or question, just move on to the next one.
The consultation closes on Tuesday the 3rd of October 2023.
A weekend of free bus travel across the county
Bus passengers across Kent and Medway will be able to travel completely free over the weekend of 24th and 25th June, thanks to a collaboration between Kent County Council and the bus companies, paid for with funding from the government.
This initiative has been coordinated to support the Kent Big Weekend, organised by Visit Kent, which is promoting more than 70 tourist attractions across the county with many offering free or reduced cost entry.
The Free Bus Weekend is funded by the Department for Transport through Kent’s Enhanced Bus Partnership Schemes.
Passengers can just turn up and travel for free on any bus within Kent and Medway up to 8:00pm on both days and it is hoped that as well as supporting the Kent Big Weekend, this initiative will encourage more people to use buses again following the pandemic, to discover new places, visit friends or family and to help reduce the number of cars on Kent’s roads.
KCC’s Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport, David Brazier said:
“We are very grateful to the government for providing us with the funding to support our Bus Service Improvement Plan.
“Reduced use of buses and increased operating costs means that there is a real challenge for operators to sustain their services. This is one of a number of new initiatives that we hope can improve our network and encourage greater bus use helping to make services sustainable in the future.”
Richard Holden, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary at the Department for Transport, said:
“People up and down the country deserve a modern, reliable, and affordable public transport system. That is why we have allocated £35 million to Kent County Council for it to invest in its bus services.
“We hope that Kent residents can enjoy the free bus weekend and continue to use local services.”
For more information about the Free Bus Weekend, visit: www.kent.gov.uk/freebusweekend
Kent County Council
A programme to support people struggling to feed their families and pay their bills has reopened across the borough.
Swale Borough Council has received more than £500,000 from Kent County Council’s (KCC) Household Support Fund to help households access food boxes, get vouchers to pay their electric, gas and water bills, and buy items needed to keep warm until March 2024.
The money is being used to support organisations within the local community who have been on the ground helping people navigate the cost-of-living crisis.
Swale Foodbank, Children and Families, Faversham Food Bank and Diversity House will be providing emergency food parcels.
West Faversham Community Association will be providing meals to the young people visiting their youth hub and Age UK will be delivering hot meals and shopping to pensioners.
The council’s fuel and water home advisor and Citizens Advice Swale will be providing Fuel Bank Foundation fuel vouchers to people with pre-paid meters as well as advice and support. Children and Families will be providing Mastercard vouchers for people with billed utility accounts.
Cllr Richard Palmer, chair of the community committee at the council, said:
“We were able to support almost 6,000 local households with the previous round of funding over winter.
“Unfortunately, just because the weather has improved it doesn’t mean people are finding it any easier to make ends meet.
“We’ll be continuing to work with our partners in the voluntary and community sector who have been doing a tremendous job of reaching those who need the help most.”
Cllr Elliott Jayes, vice chair of the community committee at the council, said:
“The local organisations have done an amazing job reaching out to find and support people who are struggling with the cost of living.
“We can’t thank them enough for the work they’re doing, and we’re lucky to be working with such committed and hardworking partners.
“We’re committed to continuing the great work that has already taken place and supporting those most in need.”
Swale Borough Council
Household Waste Recycling Centres
Charges for non-Kent residents
New cross border charging policy from 1st April 2023
From 1st April 2023, non-Kent residents who use any of KCC's 19 Household Waste Recycling Centres (HWRCs), will be required to pay £10 to visit.
By non-Kent residents KCC means any resident that does not pay council tax to one of the following Kent councils:
• Ashford Borough Council
• Canterbury City Council
• Dartford Borough Council
• Dover District Council
• Folkestone and Hythe Borough Council
• Gravesham Borough Council
• Maidstone Borough Council
• Sevenoaks District Council
• Swale Borough Council
• Thanet District Council
• Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council
• Tunbridge Wells Borough Council
This also means Medway residents will be required to pay the £10 fee.
When you use the KCC booking system, non-Kent residents will be told they have to pay £10 per visit / booking on arrival at the HWRC site. This information will also be included on the confirmation Emails. KCC staff will request payment when you arrive and they reserve the right to request proof of residency.
Payment is by card only.
Read further information about the: decision about the cross border charging policy
Medway Council cross border policy
KCC has been informed by Medway Council, that from 31st March 2023, Kent residents (residents who do not pay their council tax to Medway Council) will no longer be permitted to use any of the 3 Medway Council operated HWRCs (Capstone HWRC, Cuxton HWRC and Hoath Way HWRC).
Medway Council
Update on Medway Household Waste Recycling Centres
From 31st March 2023, only Medway Council residents will be able to use the area’s 3 household waste and recycling centres (HWRCs).
This follows a decision from Kent County Council to end their contract with Medway Council to reimburse costs for Kent residents who use Medway’s waste facilities, following the opening of a waste and recycling site at Allington.
The decision from Kent County Council means that Kent residents will no longer be able to access Medway’s HWRCs. Medway’s HWRCs received, on average, 44,000 visits from Kent residents during 2021/22.
Residents who pay council tax to Medway Council will continue to be able to book a slot to visit all 3 of Medway’s HWRCs and access them for free. Medway residents will need to bring proof of address, such as a driving licence or council tax bill, with their booking reference.
What this means for Kent residents
From Friday, 31st March 2023, Kent residents will no longer be able to visit Medway’s HWRCs at Cuxton, Capstone or Hoath Way in Gillingham.
Kent residents will instead need to use the recycling centres managed by Kent County Council, including the new site at Allington.
Cllr Phil Filmer, Medway Council’s Portfolio Holder covering Waste Services, said:
“Medway provides an excellent waste and recycling service, including free weekly household collections. Medway’s three household waste and recycling centres accept a variety of items people no longer need, and the booking system helps manage demand for this service.
“Thousands of Kent residents had been choosing to use Medway’s household waste and recycling centres, and the agreement with Kent County Council ensured that costs were reimbursed so Medway taxpayers did not pick up the bill. However, now this agreement has come to an end Kent residents will no longer be able to access our three sites. From 31st March, only residents who pay council tax to Medway Council will be able to book a trip to a Medway tip.”
Medway has 3 household waste and recycling centres:
• Hoath Way, Gillingham
• Capstone, Shawstead Road
• Cuxton, Sundridge Hill
For more details on opening times and what you can recycle at a Medway HWRC, or to book a slot, visit: medway.gov.uk/tipbooking
Upchurch Matters
Kent County Council (KCC) has launched a public consultation on its Community Services which runs until 26th March 2023.
The consultation proposes changes to the way we use our buildings to deliver some of our community services. We invite your feedback on our proposals as part of this consultation.
Why are we proposing changes?
The Council has experienced big increases in costs and has less money to spend. So we need to look ahead and do things differently to make sure we can still help residents in the years to come. Whilst ensuring effective support for residents who need our services, we need to:
• Tackle the rising costs of maintaining our many buildings.
• Find savings, so we can balance the budget.
• Reduce our carbon footprint to meet our Net-Zero ambitions.
What services are included in the proposals?
Children’s Centres and Youth Hubs, Public Health Services for Children and Families, Community Services for Adults with Learning Disabilities, Community Learning and Skills, and Gateways.
What are we proposing?
• Having fewer permanent buildings, meaning that some of our buildings would close - we want to keep buildings in areas where they are needed the most.
• Co-locating more of our services, meaning more than one service would be available from some of the buildings you might visit.
• Continuing to deliver some services by outreach, which means they do not take place in a dedicated or permanent space, but move around to when and where they are needed.
• Ensuring residents can continue to access services and information online.
Our proposals have been designed by considering where there is greatest need for our services.
Find out more and share your views
Please visit: www.kent.gov.uk/communityservicesconsultation to view the consultation document, design handbooks, a video summarising the proposals, and the Equality Impact Assessments. You can respond via the online questionnaire (or download the Word version). You can also join us at a drop-in event where you can ask any questions you may have.
Kent County Council
A summary of data from 3 recent traffic speed surveys of vehicles travelling in both directions along Horsham Lane, Forge Lane, and The Street, Upchurch, is now available.
Traffic speeds were recorded at 15 minute intervals 24 hours per day for 7 days. The 2 measures used when looking at traffic speed are average speed and 85th percentile speed. The latter is the speed at which 85% of vehicles are travelling at or below.
Please click each graphic to enlarge it.
Horsham Lane
TSS carried out a 7 day ATC on Horsham Lane commencing the 14/10/22.
The number of vehicles exceeding the speed limit of 30mph was 1343, which is 5.48% of the total vehicles recorded in both directions, which was 24519.
TSS carried out a 7 day ATC on Forge Lane commencing the 06/10/22.
The number of vehicles exceeding the speed limit of 30mph was 1847, which is 7.25% of the total vehicles recorded in both directions, which was 25482.
TSS carried out a 7 day ATC on The Street commencing the 06/10/22.
The number of vehicles exceeding the speed limit of 60mph was 0, which is 0.00% of the total vehicles recorded in both directions, which was 3501.
The traffic speed surveys were funded by Swale ward councillors Alan Horton and Richard Palmer from Ward Members Grants allocations and are to help inform the current Parish Highways Improvement Plan.
Thank you to Upchurch Parish Council for sharing this information.
Upchurch Matters
People struggling to feed their families and pay their bills could be eligible for more support this Winter.
Swale Borough Council has received more than £250,000 from Kent County Council’s (KCC) Household Support Fund to help households access food boxes, get vouchers to pay their electric, gas and water bills, and purchase the items needed to keep warm.
The money has been allocated to organisations within the local community who have been on the ground helping people navigate the cost of living crisis.
Swale Foodbank and Children and Families will be delivering emergency food parcels, West Faversham Community Association will be providing meals to the young people visiting their youth hub and Age UK will be delivering hot meals and shopping to pensioners.
The council’s fuel and water home advisor and Citizens Advice Swale will be providing Fuel Bank Foundation fuel vouchers to people with pre-paid meters, and Children and Families will be providing Mastercard vouchers for people with billed utility accounts.
People can also request help with items that will help keep them warm this Winter such as water bottles, blankets, and draft excluders from the council’s fuel and water housing advisor.
Cllr Richard Palmer, chair of the community committee at the council, said:
“We’ve received more than £250,000 from KCC’s household support fund this time around.
“We received money from the first round this Summer and used it to support almost 8,000 households around Swale.
“Unfortunately, we haven’t received as much money as we did in the first round, but the criteria for who we can help has been relaxed this time, so we hope to be able to reach the households that weren’t eligible last time.”
Cllr Elliott Jayes, vice chair of the community committee at the council, said:
“Alongside helping with energy bills, we can also help residents with the cost of hot water bottles, blankets, and draft excluders.
“The funding is available until March, so anyone struggling to feed their family or keep their home warm this Winter can contact us for support.”
Swale Borough Council
Parents of children with special educational needs or disabilities who are changing school in September or who have had a new Education, Health and Care Plan issued since March are being urged to apply for school transport without delay.
Kent County Council (KCC) provides free school transport for eligible children and young people with special educational needs.
Not all pupils are eligible for free school transport, so it is important for parents to understand whether KCC is able to support them, or whether they may need to make their own arrangements.
Applications for school transport can be made by parents whose children are starting a new school in September or who have received a new or amended Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP).
KCC’s Cabinet Member for Education and Skills, Shellina Prendergast, said:
“We know that many parents of children who have special educational needs and disabilities need time to plan any changes to their child’s routine, especially when they are using new transport.
“We have written directly to parents to give them details about how to apply so that we can get transport organised for the start of school in September.
“We also made some changes earlier this year to simplify our mainstream transport applications so that we could free up capacity during the busy summer months to deal with SEND transport applications.
“Although we have received many applications so far, there are still some parents who have yet to apply.”
Parents can apply online. It usually takes six weeks for KCC to process applications, so any further delays in parents applying will mean that transport cannot be guaranteed to be in place by September.
If a child has SEND and attends a mainstream or special school, and already receives free school transport, parents will not usually need to reapply unless their child moves to a new school or when they move from Year 6 to Year 7.
Full details of the eligibility criteria and how to apply are available on KCC’s website
Murray EvansKent County Council
Free school transport applications made easier in Kent
Many parents with children entitled to free transport to school in Kent will find the process for obtaining the relevant passes has been made much easier for the coming year.
Historically, all parents have been asked to apply for free school transport and wait while their child’s eligibility is assessed by Transport Officers.
However, the team has been working hard to implement a number of improvements to the free school transport assessment processes, which has resulted in changes to how this year’s applications will be managed.
Due to these internal changes, KCC can now advise many parents of their child’s eligibility without the need for an application by using a geographic information system which automatically identifies a child’s nearest school and confirms whether it is further than the relevant statutory distance of three miles.
A KCC spokesperson said:
“This change will remove much of the work associated with the mainstream process during the team’s busiest period, which would allow significantly more capacity to be allocated to the completion of transport applications for children with special education needs which require more detailed examination of pupils’ individual requirements.
“We were expecting the process to remain unchanged this year, but we have seen a significant increase in SEN applications in what is already the department’s busiest period.
“The transport sector continues to be put under considerable pressure as a result of current world events, so KCC is doing everything in its power to ensure the transition to the new school year goes smoothly.
“We hope that this simplifies the tasks that parents are required to complete before their child starts school this year.”
When notified of the free transport offer, parents will be asked to consider whether or not their child will make full and regular use of it during the forthcoming school year. KCC will incur costs assuming travel on every school day for all pupils, so it would be an inefficient use of public resources to claim transport that will not be used as a child’s main method to access school.
KCC will contact mainstream families this week to let them know if their child is eligible for free school transport. Eligible families will then be contacted again in the next few weeks so that additional information can be provided about the child, including a passport style photo so that a pass can be produced.
Murray Evans
Kent County Council
Supporting you to live well in Kent
KCC's new Kent Connect to Support website provides information and advice to help you stay independent and connect with your local community.
Unsure where to look or who to contact, visit the information finder tool for help.
The website helps you to look after yourself or a friend or relative and includes:
■ Information and advice
■ Community directory
■ Care directory
■ Applying or renewing a blue badge or bus pass
■ Report abuse or neglect
■ Advice on staying healthy
■ Request for care support services
■ Information about housing
■ Financial advice and support
■ Transport and accessible facilities
Upchurch Matters
Rogue traders active in Kent
Following Storm Eunice and continuing high winds, be alert to rogue traders knocking on your door. We have received reports of over-priced repairs to fencing in the Kent area.
Common tactics include:
• Repairing damage on your roof,
• Removing tree branches overhanging on a footpath that could cause injury or
• Repairing your damaged fence to protect your property.
Do not panic - close the door on the cold caller.
Remember:
• Never agree to work on your house or garden by someone who knocks on your door.
• Request free No Uninvited Traders door stickers
• Reputable builders, roofers and gardeners do not cold call.
call: 03000 41 64 38 (open 9:00am - 6:00pm on weekdays and 9:00am - 5:00pm on Saturday).
Report cold callers to Kent Police on: 101 or call: 999 if they are aggressive or refuse to leave. For free advice, contact Citizens Advice Consumer Helpline on: 0808 223 1133.
Please warn family members, friends and neighbours!
We know doorstep criminals tell us our roof tiles are loose, our chimney stacks are dangerous, our trees are diseased and our driveways need jet washing.
Help keep your community safe. Report doorstep criminals as soon as you see them or tell your local Community Warden or Police Officer.
Even if you're not sure if they are a criminal tell us anyway, we want to know.
For advice and to report issues to KCC Trading Standards contact:
Kent County Council Public Protection
Reconnect: Kent children and young people
Grants of up to £50,000 are available for organisations to provide exciting activities for children and young people next year.
Kent County Council is making up to £1million available through its Reconnect: Kent children and young people programme for a new county grants scheme. The money can be used for activities, events or projects that address gaps in learning missed, promote health and happiness, encourage the take-up of sports or other outdoor activities, help children and young people reconnect with friends, family or communities or generate more work-related opportunities.
Reconnect has already committed £2.5milllion to its locality grants scheme to enable small local organisations to deliver activities for children and young people, with £1.8million allocated so far.
The new scheme enables organisations to apply for a grant to deliver projects across at least three district areas or across the whole of Kent by the end of August 2022.
Organisations can submit up to four bids although none will be awarded more than three grants. The maximum amount, which together will be limited to no more than £100,000.
There are two rounds of funding for the county grants scheme - this round which will allocate £850,000 and a separate round totalling £150,000 specifically for Economic Wellbeing Grants, where businesses and organisations can bid for up to £20,000 for projects that support young people to bridge the gap between education and work.
Full details of the application process, funding criteria and the online form to apply are available on the Reconnect website
The deadline for applications is midnight on Sunday the 9th of January.
Sue Chandler, Cabinet Member for Integrated Children’s Services, said:
“It’s fantastic to be able to announce this latest round of funding that will see even more children and young people reconnect to the things they love or try out new activities.
“Our passionate and committed community already provides a wide range of activities for children and young people. By applying for the additional Reconnect funding, groups and organisations can build on their great work and give even more children and young people the chance to do fun activities with friends, enjoy new experiences, take up new hobbies or enjoy outdoor pursuits.”
Kent County Council
