Maidstone Borough Council is working to fight the effects of the recession and bring prosperity to the borough. We help residents with housing and council tax benefits, heating and insulation grants, home improvement grants, free bus travel and by support for organisations which offer money advice.


High Street regeneration


At its Februarymeeting,Maidstone council’s cabinet agreed a funding option, which if the Council approves at itsMarchmeeting, will allow a start to bemade toMaidstone’s flagship High Street regeneration project.


Following on fromthe Council funding decision, the details of the scheme are due to be considered at the next cabinet meeting, also inMarch.


Take part in the


2011 Census The next census will take place on March 27 and it is very important that everyone takes part because the results determine the funding given to councils and health authorities.


In 2001, when the last census was held, 96% of forms were returned in our borough. This is a high rate of return but if everyone had replied Maidstone would have received an estimated extra £3 million a year to spend on services or to keep council tax rates lower.


The census also provides information to central government about the size, age, health and diversity of the population to develop schools, hospitals and roads.


It is vital that the information received is as complete as possible so that Maidstone Borough Council, Kent County Council, the NHS and central government can provide the services residents want.


Rural economy –


give us your views Maidstone council’s Leisure and Prosperity Scrutiny Committee is seeking residents’ views about the rural economy.


Send your ideas, views and opinions to Christina Chemsi, Overview and Scrutiny Officer. Email christinachemsi@maidstone.gov.uk, write to Maidstone Borough Council, Maidstone House, King Street, Maidstone, Kent, ME15 6JQ or call 01622 602463 . The closing date for comments is April 1, 2011.


Maidstone’s Big


Society More than 70 businesses, charities and voluntary organisations took part in Maidstone Borough Council’s debate about localism. The debate concentrated on actions that businesses and the council can take to support Maidstone’s communities.


Useful numbers


Citizens Advice Bureau – 01622 752420 or 01622 757882 Council tax – 01622 602003 Housing benefit and general housing advice – 01622 602557 National debtline – freephone 0808 808 4000 Heating and insulation grants - 01622 602470 First time buyers’ grants - 01622 602470 Energy Saving Trust - 0800 512 012 Concessionary Travel - 01622 602334 Jobcentre Plus – 01622 702700


Leader of the council, Cllr Chris Garland, said: “The ‘big society’ assumes we all have responsibilities, it’s about individuals and local groups doing things for themselves, looking to each other rather than officialdom to find solutions to local problems. One of the key strands is encouraging social responsibility that is encouraging organisations and individuals to get involved in social action.”


Dragons give to East Wing


video camera that can display any object or document on a projection screen.


Ben Potts received £700 from the Dragons!


Maidstone Museum Foundation has been awarded £700 from the Barclays Money Skills Junior Charity Challenge. Ben Potts, museum volunteer, competed in the Kent Messenger’s Dragon’s Den style event to win the grant towards a visualiser for the education room in the museum’s new east wing. It is a type of


The East Wing is expected to open later this year. It will create space to display more of the museum’s collections and improve the facilities on offer for schools, community groups and other visitors.


Maidstone council staff members are also taking part in an abseil on March 26 to help raise money for the east wing. So far £315 has been raised, to add to that visit www.justgiving.com/eastwingers.


Volunteers plant trees at Mote Park


A volunteer workforce is helping with one of Maidstone’s flagship regeneration projects. People of all ages have already planted new trees at Mote Park. The trees included - Alder, Birch, Hornbeam, Sweet Chestnut, Indian Bean Tree, Eastern Walnut, Beech, Tulip Tree, Oak, Redwood and Lime.


You can join the volunteer workforce by calling Alan Frith, Mote Park Audience Development Officer on 01622 602119 or email alanfrith@maidstone.gov.uk Further details about the project can be found online on www.maidstone.gov.uk.


01622 602000 customercare@maidstone.gov.uk www.maidstone.gov.uk Maidstone Council, Maidstone House, King Street, Maidstone ME15 6JQ


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