Swale Borough Council - Area Committee Consultation

Swale council wants to know if people would support area committees in different parts of the borough.

The council is currently looking at ways to spread power among councillors and improve public engagement in decision-making.

As part of a constitutional review, the council is the currently looking into whether it should set up three or more area committees across Swale.

Area committees can give residents an opportunity to see and take part in the council’s decision-making.

The council want to know what residents think about this idea and, if they were set up, what form they should take and what powers they should have.

Cllr Mike Baldock, deputy leader of the council who is leading on the constitutional review, said:

“We want people to be more involved in the decisions we make that affect their lives.

Area committees could be a good way to do this, but we want to ask if it’s something people would support, and what they would like them to do.

Is three the right number, or would more be better? What decisions could they take? How could non-councillors get involved?

We genuinely want to know what people think so it can help shape what we do going forward to help reconnect people with their council.”

Area committees can take many forms and can be made up of different people such as borough councillors, members of the public and representatives from other public bodies such as parish and town councils.

Their role could be to:
• make strategic action plans for the relevant areas

• advise and respond to consultations on behalf of the local community

• make decisions that allocate resources to projects

To take part in the survey, visit: www.swale.gov.uk/area-committees-consultation or pick up a paper copy from Swale House reception or Sheerness Gateway and respond by Friday, 1st November.

Swale Borough Council

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Activities Planned Across Kent for National Libraries Week

Libraries across the county will be focusing on their role in the digital world as they participate in this year’s National Libraries Week from Monday to Saturday, 7th to 12th October.

They will showcase how they help build digital skills and confidence, encourage digital inclusion and engage communities through technology under the national slogan Get creative, get connected and learn new skills.

KCC’s Libraries, Registration and Archives service wants to use this week to inspire and encourage people to explore their digital resources and other library services, and to share their positive experiences. Residents are encouraged to join the library, use e-books, e-audio books, e-newspapers, e-magazines and online resources.

Mike Hill, KCC’s Cabinet Member for Community and Regulatory Services, said:

“Our library staff have been working hard to produce a wide-ranging programme of activities during Libraries Week which we hope will appeal to residents of all ages.”

Libraries will be marking the week as follows:

• Having displays of library stock focusing on computing, coding and the digital world.

• Branding existing activities such as code clubs, rhyme times, talk times, reading groups, Summer Reading Challenge medal presentations and school visits.

• Short videos about different digital resources to be posted on social media.

• Offering a list of suggestions from which staff can choose according to local priorities:

• Library bingo - customers are invited to read different books and digital resources, with prizes for some lucky participants.

• Library quizzes and word searches.

• Encouraging customers to add book reviews to our online catalogue.

• Staff book recommendation displays.

• Library selfies - inviting customers, staff and volunteers to post a selfie using our new selfie frame or blending themselves into the covers of books as Bookface images.

• The return of soft toys in the library - follow their adventures on social media.

Activities will vary across the county, and to find out those planned for specific areas, the public is advised to contact their local library.

For the latest news and updates, visit: www.kent.gov.uk/libs or www.librariesweek.org.uk

Murray Evans

Kent County Council

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Kent Fire and Rescue Service - FREE Safe and Well Home Visits

Hartlip, Newington & Upchurch Ward

This is a message from Neighbourhood Watch on behalf of Kent Fire and Rescue Service.

What happens during a Safe and Well home visit?

A home safety officer will visit you at home at a time that’s convenient to you - they’ll have an ID card which states they work for KFRS. They’ll carry out simple checks around your home, such as testing smoke alarms and making sure they’re in the best place - they can install new ones if needed; all for free. If you have hearing or eyesight challenges there are special smoke alarms that flash and vibrate that can be provided too.

The officers can also identify any potential fire risks such as overloaded sockets, look at the position of candles, as well as anything that could increase the chance of slips, trips and falls - providing advice about how to enhance safety in your home.

You’ll also have a chat about escape routes, and they’ll go through what the best options are for you in your home in the event of a fire.

The home safety officer is there to help make sure you’re safe, provide advice, and answer any questions you may have. The visit will take around 45 minutes, and by the end you’ll have peace of mind that your home has been given a thumbs up for fire safety.

Who can have a FREE Safe and Well home visit?

The visits are tailored to keep people living safely and independently at home across Kent and Medway, and are available to:

• People over 70-years-old

• People with a long term health condition

• People living with Dementia

• Families with young children

• Expectant parents

• Smokers

How to book

Call Kent Fire and Rescue Service’s home safety team on: 0800 923 7000 and book your visit today, or book on behalf of someone you know who could benefit from a home safety visit.

Kent Community Messaging

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Swale Borough Council - Sittingbourne's New Multi-Storey Car Park Now Open

Sittingbourne’s new 317 space car park is now open for drivers visiting the town.

Bourne Place Multi-Storey Car Park has been built as part of the town centre redevelopment and includes 21 disabled and 4 parent and child parking bays.

The car park has 10 motorcycle bays, space for seven bicycles, and there will also soon be four electric vehicle charging bays to help support the growing number of electric vehicles using local roads and reduce vehicle emissions.

From today (Monday, 9th September) the short stay car park will be open from 8:00am until 7:00pm, seven days a week and will eventually be open 24 hours a day when the hotel and cinema open.

Cllr Monique Bonney, cabinet member for the economy property at the council said:

“I’d like to thank local people for their patience while we have been working on the car park.

We weren’t entirely comfortable with a few aspects of the design, so we’ve had to spend a bit more time getting these sorted out before we were happy to open.

The extra spaces will help ease some of the pressure on other short stay car parks, and I hope this encourages more people to visit the town centre and support local businesses.”

Parking charges for the car park are in place between 8:00am and 6:00pm. These are:

Duration	Charge (£)
Up to 30 mins	0.50
Up to 1 hour	1.00
Up to 2 hours	2.00
Up to 3 hours	3.00
Up to 4 hours	4.00
Up to 5 hours	5.00
Up to 6 hours	6.00
Over 6 hours	15.00

There will also be FREE parking on Sunday’s for visitors to The Light cinema when it opens next year.

For more information about car parking in Swale, visit: www.swale.gov.uk/car-parks

Swale Borough Council

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Upchurch Village Hall Improvement Project - Update

The Village Hall Management Sub Committee thought it time we brought you all up to date with our progress. Firstly the disappointing news, our bid for Lottery funding failed. However we have other fund raising available and we are well on the way to seeking a grant from the Garfield Weston Foundation, so keep your fingers crossed.

We have completed parts of the project using our own funds. For example, the emergency lights have all been checked, the guttering and roof gullies have been cleaned and redirected so that the hall no longer floods when it rains hard. The kitchen lights now meet modern lighting standards and are safe to use. We have also replaced some plug sockets in the chair store that were dangerous.

Shortly (in late September and October) the rear hall will get a coat of paint. It is hoped that in the new year the main hall will also be painted. Unfortunately this will mean the hall will be closed, for perhaps a week, we will let you all know these dates when we have them.

The extractor fans in both the rear hall and main hall will we hope be connected to a time on/off switch so that next time we have a heat wave (yes we did have one) those using the hall will be able to turn them on and extract the hot air from the ceiling.

The Friends of Upchurch Village Hall are taking a year off (having raised over £6,000.00 so far) as UpARA has nominated the Village Hall as their chosen charity for this year.

Lastly, despite the setback with grants, we are moving ahead as planned, it is just going to take longer than we had hoped.

John Tutt

For the Upchurch Village Hall Project Sub Committee

Website: www.upchurchvillagehall.weebly.com

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Upchurch Short Mat Bowls Club - House Singles Bowls Competition

Congratulations to Peggy Lightfoot, winner of the house singles bowls competition held at Upchurch Village Hall on Thursday 5th September 2019.

Competitions organiser, Peter McGibbon presented Peggy with the Brian Glover Memorial Trophy.

Malcolm Groves

Upchurch Short Mat Bowls Club

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