Huge petition forces debate on grants


CRUCIAL grants paid by Maidstone Coun- cil to more than 30 parish councils were the focus of a heated debate at the Town Hall. Under heavy pressure from the parishes,


the borough has reduced its initial demand for the abolition of concurrent functions grants, which total more than £400,000 an- nually.


Suggestions that the grants be phased out completely over three years – 50% in 2011- 12, followed by two further cuts of 25% – have now been reduced to a 30% cut this year plus a comprehensive review of the grants system. A petition signed by more than 2,100


across all parishes led to a full council de- bate on the subject. The case was presented by CllrPeter


Coulling (Teston), on behalf of the Maid- stone branch of the Kent Association of Local Councils. He acknowledged the bor- ough's "substantial move" away from its original stance but he argued that the cut in grant should be further trimmed as the Gov- ernment was not reducing its local authori- ties' grant by as much as anticipated.


Pub event’s


charity boost MORE than £500 was raised for Make aWish children’s charity in an event held at The Dirty Habit pub in Holling- bourne. The evening, billed


as a re-launch event of Boniface Hair and Beauty Salon, brought in over 150 attendees who raised the money through an auction and raffle.


THERE were reports that Christmas trees, farm animals and turkeys were being stolen and sheep savaged at the Leeds Castle farms. Christmas wreaths were


stolen from front doors in Egre- mont Road and Royston Road, Bearsted. A greenhouse window was smashed at Greenhill Farm- house, Green Hill, Otham. Fol- lowing discussion with the owner, three youths were taken home to their parents. A catalytic converter was re- moved from a vehicle and found in a nearby hedge in Church Lane, Bearsted. A small articulated tractor was stolen from Holly Farm Road, Otham. A JCB powerpack


was stolen, despite being left chained to the back of a work tipper van in Mon- crieff Close, Bearsted. A lock was damaged during


an attempted shed break-in at the rear of a cottage in Honey Lane, Otham. A ladder was stolen from a garden in Roseacre Lane, Bearsted. A male was arrested for cannabis possession outside


But he stressed that, because parishes


have greater knowledge of local priorities, concurrent functions – however they are re- vised in future – should fulfil the original spirit of the Parish Charter so that the bur- den of providing services across the whole borough is shared fairly. CllrDavid Marchant, a borough


(Downswood & Otham, Ind) and parish councillor, found it "almost offensive" that the borough gave only four days' notice of a meeting to discuss the grants when the Parish Charter says six weeks should be al- lowed for such consultations. The parishes were being faced with a "fait accompli". Cllr Marchant said they knew they had to


accept some cuts and that certain things should be financed via the parish precept. But there should not be one rule for the parishes and another for the non-parished areas. "We are doing the jobs that council workers are doing in other areas of the town," he argued. CllrClive English (Tovil, Lib Dem) said previous decisions on issues like public toi- lets and cleaning streets had "very little


strategic vision" and he hoped that negotia- tions on concurrent functions, starting this month, would focus on innovations for pub- lic services, not merely on savings. He was applauded by parish council representatives in the chamber. CllrDan Daley (Allington, Lib Dem) said


he did not represent a parished area, but it was important to listen to the voice of the people. He said council leader Chris Gar- land (Shepway North, Con) had earlier urged members to listen to the public on the frequency of borough elections but asked if he was going to listen to the 2,000-odd peo- ple who had signed this petition. He was loudly applauded, too. Cllr Garland said decision-makers are sometimes given unenviable decisions to make – and this was one of them. He strongly denied the borough would be withdrawing resources from parishes, just delivering them in a different way. CllrPaulina Stockell (Sutton Valence & Langley, Con) said the borough's long-term, good relationship with parishes was being damaged. Saying concurrent functions should be abolished was a "step too far" and it was about time the borough appreciated the work done by parishes. More applause. CllrFran Wilson (High Street, Lib Dem


leader) said, as well as failures by the bor- ough, there had also been "some big mis- conceptions" by parishes. Financial constraints mean concurrent functions grants could not continue in their current form. "We have to find a fair and equitable way forward for all the resources of the bor- ough," she added. CllrJohn Horne (Detling & Thurnham,


Con) said the idea of concurrent functions was to balance the differential between serv- ices provided in the town centre and those that are additional in rural areas. But he said over the years this had become "unfocused"


Beat the criminals IF YOU CAN HELP, PLEASE PHONE: Police: 01622 690690 Crimestoppers: 0800 555 111


Bredhurst Village Hall, Hurst- wood Road. Vehicle interference occurred


in Forge Lane, Bredhurst. An attempt was made to steal


items from a shed in the grounds of Barty House Nurs- ing Home, Roundwell, Bearsted. Number plates were stolen from a vehicle in Ash- ford Road, Bearsted. A motor scooter


was taken from a pub in Ashford Road, Bearsted. It was found burnt out at nearby Church Land- way. Items were taken from


a vehicle in The Street, Boxley. Fireworks were stolen from a container at Notcutts Garden Centre in the Newnham Court Shopping Village. Items were taken from a ve-


hicle in Saracen Fields, Walderslade. A cable was stolen from a sub-station at The Street, Box- ley. Tools were stolen from a


workshop in Westfield House, Lidsing. Bicycles were stolen from a garden in Weavering Street, Weavering. Bicycles were taken from a garage in Yew Tree Close, Lordswood. A car bonnet was damaged in Franklin Drive,Weavering. Mirrors were damaged on a vehicle in Olivine Close, Walderslade. A tractor was stolen in Forge


Lane, Boxley. Iron gates were stolen from Scragged Oak Lane, Detling. Tools were stolen from a building site in Rosemount Gar- dens, Ashford Road, Weaver- ing.


Large farming machinery was removed from The Street, Detling. A doorbell was stolen from


Briar Fields, Grove Green. There was a report of non- payment of petrol from the Shell Garage on the A249 Detling Hill. Items were taken from a vehi- cle in Wheatfields,Weavering.


in many areas. He said they should work out which services were needed and agree who should be the provider, and this should be backed by service level agree- ments.


CllrJohnWilson, the cabinet member responsible for the grants, admitted some regrets but added: "We are where we are.We must go forward."


£2,000 offer after


quad bike thefts A £2,000 reward is being of- fered by the victim of a theft after two child-size quad bikes were stolen from his house late on Friday, December 17. The incident occurred be-


tween 11.55pm and 12.30am when two men broke into the garage of a property in Otham Street, Otham, taking the Fal- con 90 quad bikes – one red and the other blue. Both men were wearing grey jogging bottoms and black hooded tops. The reward is for information leading to the conviction of the offenders and recovery of the bikes. Anyone with information can contact the police on 01795 419182 quoting crime reference CY/020013/10 or Crimestop- pers anonymously on 0800 555 111.


Support YOUR local paper — and we can support YOU - advertise on 01622 630330 East 15


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48