Media policy to stop press leaks
BEARSTED parish councillors have had their knuckles rapped after an email and papers dis- cussed in private found their way into the hands of the local press. The ongoing row over the working hours and conditions of the clerk, who is currently on sick leave, continued again in private session at this month’s meeting of the council. But, after details of a similar discussion at the February meeting found their way into the media, the council has adopted a new “media policy” in relation to the press. Councillors can no longer ap- proach themedia without prior approval of the chairman, un- less they are acting in a private capacity, and journalists will in future be directed to speak to the clerk. Chairman Cllr Paul Young said: “An email which was dis-
cussed ‘in camera’ was sent to the press, which can only have come from one of the council- lors. “It sought to undermine the council and caused a lot of em- barrassment and a lot of prob- lems for me. It has not been a pleasant time. “This highlighted the need for
some kind of media policy which needs to be adhered to.” In his report to members, Cllr
Young stressed that good com- munication was key, and said the newsletter had been a great asset, largely thanks to the ef- forts of vice-chairman Cllr Bar- bara Dunford. However, he said: “We have
also taken several steps back- wards with negative gossip and anonymous tip-offs to the press from within the council, which serves no purpose apart from to undermine the council and paint us in a negative light.”
Detached home plan refused by council MAIDSTONE Council has refused Ashfold Estates’ application for a new detached three-bedroom home in Sutton Street, Bearsted. The decision notice claimed the development “would constitute additional sporadic development in the countryside and erode the open space between the existing dwellings. The development is therefore unacceptable in principle.”
You’ll find the same trusted numbers on-line that you’ll find in the newspaper!
Pupils at Eastborough Primary School get a cookery lesson Going bananas for Fairtrade
PUPILS from East Borough Primary School in Vinters Park helped super- market giant Sainsbury’s celebrate 16 years of selling Fairtrade prod- ucts. To mark the store’s fifth year of selling only Fairtrade bananas, young
cookswere taught howto make pancakes with banana ice cream,with produce supplied by Sainsbury’s at Larkfield.
We all have our crosses to bear... SOME 20 students from Swadelands School, along with four members of staff, lent a hand to help clean up the parish war memorial. The students joined parish clerk Margo McFarlane, members of the Lenham Enhancement Association and local farmers for a day of Cross
cleaning, when they weeded and cleared the area in readiness for a complete re-chalking of the Cross, to be undertaken as part of the Diamond Jubilee events. The clerk said: “The Cross is an iconic symbol which deserves to be tended and has been a landmark for many years.”
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