Online shift makes good sense – and savings too
MAIDSTONE Borough Council has agreed a “channel shift strategy” – away from traditional customer contact to more online communication. This growth in online services follows com- plaints about the current over-the-phone contact, with residents saying it is not easily accessible or open at appropriate times. An evaluation of the council’s website visitors
also reveals that 15% of contacts are via comput- ers in London, assumed to be local residents who commute to the capital. Therefore, they would find it easier to communicate with the council through a 24/7 online platform. Other advantages include customers being re-
Rear veranda plan
for Lenham home PETER and Stella Hasler have applied to erect a glass veranda to go across 4 and 5 Lime Tree Terrace, Faver- sham Road, Lenham. Mr Hasler wrote in a sup- porting statement: “The glass veranda is at the back of the house and can only be seen by the public, who may walk on the public right of way which runs in the field next to number 5. Otherwise it cannot be viewed from the road.”
Maidstone Council will
rule on the planning appli- cation.
sponsible for their data entry, meaning reduced mistakes and less time wasting. Unnecessary face- to-face and telephone contacts will be limited, di- verting about 40,000 contacts to the web and producing a 20% rise in online transactions. The council’s business analyst, Paul O’Grady,
told a cabinet meeting that the strategy would en- sure savings could be delivered by 2015. Overall, the move would “ensure that people
can access the services they need in a way that suits them and provides value for money,” he added.
Council leader Cllr Chris Garland said: “This is a good strategy and the way forward.”
River Len investment SOUTHERN Water is to invest £2.5m in the River Len by up- grading Leeds Wastewater Treatment Works in Penfold Hill, Leeds, which recycles treated water into the river. Improvements will include a
new flow balance tank, re-cir- culation system and a new dos- ing unit, which will treat the water to a higher standard. This will ensure the site continues to meet tighter standards set by the Environment Agency.
North Downs homes A PLAN to erect four homes on an industrial site in the heart of the North Downs has been sub- mitted. It is the latest proposal for Purple HillWorks inWhite Hill Road, between Bredhurst and Yelsted, after Maidstone Coun- cil a year ago refused an appli- cation to increase its size from 643sq m to 1440sq m. The applicants wanted to re- develop the site as 12 small in- dustrial units.
Fishing equipment stolen from garages GARAGES in separate blocks in Vinters Park have been the target of thieves. In Bargrove Road, a key and fishing equipment, a black Marin
bike and power tools were taken. In Blean Square, thieves removed a padlock andmade off with power tools and golf and fishing gear.
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Thurnham has a new
head teacher CHRIS James has been ap- pointed the new head of Thurnham Infant School. Mr James
haslefthis position at Bredhurst Primary School, where he worked for over 12 years (the final eight as head teacher), to replace Freda Denyer, who retired from Thurnham after 13 years as head. According to an article in
the Bredhurst newsletter: “Within his time at the school he has overseen many developments including the vast improvements made when the school was ex- tended. The children were saddened by the news they will be losing their head but wished him good luck all the same. “The search for a new head
has begun and a new ap- pointment will be an- nounced in the near future.” In the meantime, deputy
head Mandy Bridges will be in charge at Bredhurst. Mr James begins his new role at Thurnham in September.
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