Swale Borough Council - Help With Cost of Living

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.”

To find out how to access the support available, visit: www.swale.gov.uk/hsf

Swale Borough Council 

Swale Borough Council - Waste Carriers Targeted in Joint Operation

Waste carriers were targeted last week as part of a day of action to crackdown on fly-tipping.

Swale Borough Council teamed up with Kent Police’s Rural Task Force to carry out enquiries and collate evidence with a view to prosecuting offenders for waste related crimes.

Outcomes of the day were:

• 4 vehicles stopped and searched
• 3 Fixed Penalty Notices issued

Cllr Rich Lehmann, chair of the Environment Committee at the council, said:

“Fly-tipping is something that affects us all. Dumping waste in our towns and across our countryside is irresponsible and thoughtless.

“Although the low rates being offered by some carriers may seem like a cheap and easy way to clear your waste, it could land you with a large fine.

“Remember, if using a waste carrier, it’s your responsibility to make sure they’re licensed. If any illegally carried or dumped waste leads back to you, you could receive a £400 FPN.

“Always ask to see a waste carriers license before using them.”

More and more of these action days are taking place across the county. A tremendous amount of preparation takes place ahead of these days, including the gathering of vital intelligence to support the Council’s Enforcement team with their duties.

What can you do to dispose of your waste responsibly?

Fly-tippers often target households via social media or local advertising, luring customers in with cheap rates to dispose of unwanted furniture, building rubble or garden waste. However, these unlicensed waste carriers often simply dump the waste wherever they can get away with it, including in Kent’s country lanes.

Householders or small businesses found to be using criminals to dispose of their waste can and are being prosecuted by local authorities in Kent with fixed penalty notices that go up to £400 per offence. Failure to pay such an FPN may result in court action where fines can be significantly larger.

To prevent this, householders should check whether someone is licenced to carry waste by visiting the Environment Agency website below, or alternatively call: 03708 506506.

It also helps if householders receive a written receipt or transfer note, including contact details, description of waste removed and details of where the waste is being taken to.

Visit: https://environment.data.gov.uk/public-register/view/search-waste-carriers-brokers

The 13 Kent councils, along with Kent Police, are working in partnership to Keep Kent Clean.

To keep updated with the council’s efforts to tackle fly-tipping and littering, follow #KeepKentClean

Swale Borough Council

New Leader of Medway Council Announces 100-day Plan

Medway Council’s new administration has set out its agenda for the next 100-days, with a key theme of providing the right support directly within communities.

Following the local election on 4th May 2023, the Labour and Co-Operative Group became the leading party responsible for the running of Medway Council’s services.

During Medway’s Annual Council meeting on Wednesday, 24th May, Cllr Vince Maple was elected as the new Leader of Medway Council.

As well as thanking the public for their support and recognising the value of council staff providing support to residents, the new Leader of Medway Council expressed his commitment to supporting residents from all walks of life, and particularly those who need to access support services, including housing and social care.

Cllr Maple took the opportunity to outline the key areas the council would be working on during his first 100-days in post.

During his speech at the meeting, Cllr Maple, said:

“In our first 100-days, we will start the change people voted for by bringing forward a Cost of Living Plan for Medway, start to tackle the rogue landlords, bring forward recommendations to improve GP services, enhance the democracy of this council, take on the fly-tipping and anti-social behaviour, reaffirm our commitment to our Armed Forces, increase the support for Medway’s small and medium businesses, work hard to ensure we make progress when the next Ofsted inspection of Children’s Services arrives, improve the way residents can interact with the council and much much more.”

Medway’s new Leader also announced the new Cabinet, who will be responsible for working towards the agenda:

• Leader Cllr Vince Maple - In charge of Finance and Strategic Overview
• Deputy Leader Teresa Murray - In charge of Health and Adults’ Services
• Cllr Adam Price - Children’s Services
• Cllr Tracy Coombs - Education
• Cllr Naushabah Khan - Housing and Property
• Cllr Simon Curry - Climate Change and Strategic Regeneration
• Cllr Lauren Edwards - Economic Regeneration and Inward Investment
• Cllr Tris Osborne - Community Safety and Enforcement
• Cllr Harinder Mahil - Heritage, Culture and Leisure
• Cllr Zoe Van Dyke - Business Management

Cabinet members will also be working with services across the council on a number of other projects including introducing a new neighbourhood warden for each ward, new parks and improved access to green spaces, regenerating Medway’s high streets and creating 1,000 new jobs in Medway by 2027, as well as on climate change, social care provision and better supporting schools.

To kick start the 100-day plan, Cllr Maple and members of the Cabinet will be supporting Volunteers’ Week from 1st to 7th June - a national campaign thanking everyone who contributes their time to make a difference in their communities - and visiting voluntary organisations across Medway.

Leader of Medway Council, Cllr Maple, said:

“I am privileged to have been elected and am proud to be representing Medway. I’ve lived nearly all my life in Medway since moving here when my Dad served in the Royal Navy, I was educated in Medway and I’m proud to call Medway home. Everything I have set out during our 100-day plan, and that I hope to achieve over our four-year term, is to help and benefit Medway residents.

“I am looking forward to getting out in the community meeting and working for our residents as the Leader of Medway Council, as well as developing closer relationships with Medway’s partner organisations to achieve more for Medway.”

The full list of ward councillors, Cabinet members and representatives on committees will be updated on our website, at: www.medway.gov.uk/councillor

Medway Council

The Six Benefice - Open Air Pentecost Ecumenical Communion and Picnic

The Six Benefice congregations will be joined by different Christian churches at an open air Pentecost Ecumenical Communion and Picnic on Whit Sunday, the 28th of May.

Reverend Amanda Lane and Reverend Nick Carpenter will lead the service at the orchard next to St Mary the Virgin Newington, beginning at 10:30am.

All are welcome from across the benefice for this service, followed by a picnic to enjoy after, spending time in this lovely setting.

Please bring your own picnic food, drinks and chairs.

Elizabeth Shorthouse

Website: www.thesix.org.uk

Poolside Bar & Courtyard Music Nights 2023 - July to September at Upchurch River Valley Golf Course

Jenny Giles - Upchurch River Valley Golf Course

Telephone: 01634 360626

Website: www.rivervalleygolf.co.uk

Vehicle Stolen - Newington | Keys Stolen - Upchurch

Hartlip, Newington & Upchurch Ward

Crime Number: 46/88928/23

On Wednesday the 17th of May, at around 05:30, somebody stole a grey BMW, KX58***, from a driveway in Playstool Road, Newington.

Crime Number: 46/88462/23

On Wednesday the 10th of May, between 15:30 and 16:00, somebody stole keys from the driveway of a residential property in Woodruff Close, Upchurch.

If you have any information that could help investigators, please contact Kent Police on telephone number 101 and quote the relevant crime number above.

For more information on crime prevention visit: www.kent.police.uk

Kent Community Messaging