Swale Borough Council Approves New Park Home Planning Policy

Swale Borough Council has approved a new interim policy that outlines how the council will manage planning applications for park home sites across the borough.

The policy was agreed at the virtual council meeting (17th June) this week and gives the council an opportunity to widen its housing options.

It will especially increase options for the elderly who make up an increasing number of the borough’s population and have no specific provision in the current local plan.

The policy will also protect the council when it seeks to enforce the current 8-10 month occupancy rules, which are currently vulnerable to appeal.

Cllr Mike Baldock, cabinet member for planning at the council, said:

“I am relieved that the new park home policy was passed at the council meeting.

Since February 2019, we’ve been unable to provide a five-year housing supply as set by the government which leaves us vulnerable to planning applications in areas outside our approved local plan.

This policy finally gives our officers, and our planning committee, a sound basis upon which Swale can judge park home applications. 

Park homes are not housing on the cheap - they are good, quality homes set in warm and supportive communities.

We anticipate a possible 200 to 300 new park home units from across the borough, as such homes are generally not appropriate in flood or coastal erosion zones.

We are currently working on a new, more realistic local plan that will take us to 2038 and help us demand the investment in local infrastructure we desperately need.

A local plan based on delivering local need and a wider range of housing options than has been the case in the past.

Thanks to this new policy, we will have an extra layer of protection from accepting planning applications that not only lay outside our approved local plan, but that don’t have the necessary infrastructure needed to support it.”

For more information about the policy can be found here

Swale Borough Council 

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Swale Borough Council Seeks Interest in Running an Art, Cultural and Creative Space in Sittingbourne

Local not-for-profit and commercial organisations are being invited to express their interest in running an art, cultural and creative space at 34 High Street in Sittingbourne.

The property - owned by Opportunities for Sittingbourne Ltd, a partnership between Swale Borough Council and U+I Ltd - is available for local organisations to occupy, manage and maintain for up to 20 years.

To express their interest, businesses will need to submit a business plan to the council outlining the desired lease length and annual rent on offer.

The business plan will also need to include the basics - proposed use of the building, opening times and events and activities - alongside the financial projections, marketing proposals and a demonstration of existing collaborations within the community.

The large two-storey building has previously been run as an arts and cultural centre and includes a shop front on the ground floor with offices above and access to an outside decked area and balcony.

There is also a large cellar and parking for eight vehicles to the rear of the property.

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

“We hope that a local organisation will express their interest in running an art, cultural and creative hub for the community.

The property has been an arts and cultural space for the local community for almost 10 years, and we think it’s important to keep that going.

We’re excited to see the ideas and inspiration from local organisations that bring out the creative side of the community, provide fun events and empower people to bring their imagination to life.

We are looking for local organisations that will encourage the arts, cultural, creative and digital enhancement of the town centre.

The EOI process is open to not-for-profit and commercial organisations until 29th June, and we encourage anyone with an interest to get in touch and submit a business plan.”

For more information about the property and how to submit a tender visit: www.swale.gov.uk/34-high-street

Swale Borough Council

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Birth Registration Appointments Resume in Kent

From Wednesday 17th June 2020 Kent County Council is pleased to announce that face to face birth registrations will resume at a number of registration delivery points across the county. Since the 23rd March 2020 birth registrations have been unable to be completed unless in an emergency situation due to the social distancing guidance and lockdown enforcement imposed by the Government and Public Health. 

While this has been necessary we appreciate that many parents have waited many weeks to register their baby so thank everyone for their patience and understanding during this period while we have worked to ensure the safe return of these appointments for both customers and staff.

During lockdown we have built up a large backlog of birth registrations that require appointments and as a result we will be opening as many appointments as is safe to do so in each location. We will be offering appointments between the hours of 10:00am - 4:00pm Monday - Saturday.

We will be contacting those couples who had by necessity had their appointments cancelled at the start of lockdown so we can book them a new appointment.

From tomorrow, our website - www.kent.gov.uk/births - will have information on the locations that are offering appointments. You can book an appointment online or call our contact centre on 03000 415151 (Kent) 03000 415252 (Bexley).

You should expect a phone call the day before the booked appointment confirming what to expect when attending the appointment. The registrar that completes the phone call will confirm who should attend the appointment, what to bring with you and anything you need to know about the location of the appointment in advance to make the process on the day as easy as possible.

We would like to thank everyone in advance for your patience and support whilst we work though the volume of birth registrations that we have to complete. 

Murray Evans

Kent County Council

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Video Advice for Businesses Coping with COVID-19

A new video, produced specifically to advise retail businesses in Kent on the new COVID-19 regulations concerning re-opening safely, has been launched today.

Further help and advice will be available during a live Question and Answer session tomorrow at 1:00pm (Tuesday 15th June).

The COVID-19 Business Support Hotline, run by the Kent and Medway Growth Hub, has received many enquiries from businesses asking about the new guidelines and how they can make sure they are following them correctly.

The video, produced by the Kent and Medway Growth Hub in partnership with Kent County Council Trading Standards, Dartford and Sevenoaks Environmental Health Partnership, Kent Fire and Rescue Service and South East Water, summarises the key points of the guidelines for retail businesses.

It offers guidance on which types of business are allowed to reopen, which COVID-19 social-distancing and safety guidelines they should follow, fire regulations, how to make sure a store is safe as they re-open and how to make changes to the layout.

There are also links to tools for businesses, such as a sign they should clearly display in their store to show their employees, customers and other visitors that they have followed COVID-19 guidance. There will also be signposts and links to further guidance.

The COVID-19 Business Support Hotline number is: 03333 602300 and phone lines are open from 8:30am - 5:00pm, Monday to Friday.

Businesses who are looking to diversify or trade differently, for example start selling new products that maybe imported from abroad or start selling their goods online, should seek free advice from Trading Standards.

To request free COVID-19 related advice from Trading Standards go to: www.kentpublicprotection.info/free-business-advice

The Q and A event, titled “Helping business to re-open and trade safely”, takes place today (Tuesday 15th June) from 1:00pm.

The panel includes Nathan Martin from Kent County Council Trading Standards, Annie Sargent from the Dartford and Sevenoaks Environmental Health Partnership and Tudor Price from the Kent and Medway Growth Hub.

It will be hosted online and businesses can sign up for the free event here: kentpublicprotection.info/trade-safely

The video can be seen here: https://youtu.be/iBsWyyrcPEY

Mike Whiting, KCC’s Cabinet Member for Economic Development, said:

“The past few months have obviously been a particularly worrying time for many businesses. They have not only had to cope with the impact of COVID-19 on their businesses, but they have also had to contend with planning for the future as the lockdown is gradually eased.

I hope this video will give them some guidance on how to cope with the latest situation and that bosses will also take advantage of the Q and A session if they have any specific concerns.”

Mike Hill, the Cabinet member for Community and Regulatory Services said:

“Over the past few weeks our Public Protection Group, including KCC Trading Standards, have been busy offering free advice to businesses about how to follow the various rules and regulations around their operations.

The situation is now changing on a regular basis and it is important the businesses continue to keep up with those changes and take advantage of the advice on offer.”

Murray Evans

Kent County Council

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Re-opening of Dental Services

Dental practices began to re-open on Monday 8th June.

The priority is to ensure public and patient safety and you are advised to continue to telephone your practice, rather than attending in person without an appointment.

In line with Covid-19 social distancing and hygiene rules, the treatments you will be offered may be different to those you received before 25th March 2020 and may differ from practice to practice. This will depend on the staff and equipment available at your practice.

Search for dentists at: www.nhs.uk

NHS Kent and Medway Clinical Commissioning Group

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Road Closures - Various Roads, Lower Halstow

It will be necessary to close various roads in Lower Halstow from Monday 15th June 2020 for up to 5 days.

The roads affected are Breach Lane Lower Halstow, The Street Lower Halstow , Wardwell Lane Lower Halstow.

The roads will be closed at various times off peak and diversion routes will be in situ for the duration.

This is to enable litter picking to be carried out by Biffa Waste.

For information regarding these closures please contact Kent County Council on:

03000 418181 (9:00am - 5:00pm)

03000 419191 (5:00pm - 9:00am)

For details of roadworks see: https://one.network

Kent County Council - Highways, Transportation & Waste

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