Councils’ efforts to keep tax down
RESIDENTS in Maidstone could be looking forward to a council tax hat trick if the lead- ers of the borough and county councils get their sums right. KCC leader Paul Carter has
said he is determined to freeze the council tax bill for the third consecutive year, despite pres- sure from national spending cuts, while Maidstone Council leader Chris Garland isworking out how Maidstone can keep costs down to a minimum. Maidstone has managed to
freeze the council tax for two years, from savings and a guar- anteed grant from central gov- ernment. However, it will be December before the council learns if the Government is pre- pared to make the same sup- porting grant for 2013/14. Cllr Garland said: “We are
going through the council’s budget at present and will need to save about £1.1m. Whatever the grant will be, if any,wewill be seeking tominimise asmuch as possible any council tax in- crease for next year.” An increase of 2.5% in MBC council tax would cost taxpay- ers an additional £5.56 a year on an average Band D property, whilst an identical KCC in- crease would cost £26.19 on an average Band D property.
KCC has launched an eight-
week public consultation on the county’s budget proposals for 2013, which prioritise boosting the Kent economy in the year ahead, while focussing on young people, employment and job creation, and support for the vulnerable and people in need. Cllr Carter said: “It would be
the easiest thing to bow to po- litical pressure to leave services unchanged or spend ‘more on
this and more on that’ but that only leads to soaring council tax and poorer services. “It is pointless to pretend the
money will keep rolling in from taxpayers to see the same old services in the same old way. It won’t. In almost every area of life, people are working differ- ently or using new technology to make things easier. Councils must do that too.” Mr Carter admits that tough de-
Friends say farewell to Pauline
Street, ran Bearsted Rid- ing School until six years ago and left four hectares of land to BearstedWood- land Trust. A slow-moving proces-
sion began at her home in Broadacre and headed to Bearsted Green, before finishing at the church for the funeral. Speechesweremadeby cousin IanBruce-Russell,BWT lifepresident
PeterWillson and her lifelong friend Justin Byrd,whosaid: “Paulinewas my mentor in life; someone I admired dearly. She was there when I needed help, always knowing, always understanding, always support- ing and never judging. “Paulinemeant so much to us all, she inspired us through her love of
life, animals and all that is true and right. She touched so many lives and enriched us all as a result.”
THE CUTBUSH & CORRALL CHARITY (INCORPORATING THE QUESTED ALMSHOUSE CHARITY)
ABOUT 200 people packed Holy Cross Church to say farewell to Bearsted stalwart Pauline Moore. Pauline (86), of Sutton
cisions have to be taken, and has set out in clear terms where the council plans to make savings. If the county council did not
make savings, in four years time it would need a 42% rise in council tax to keep services run- ning at present levels. Residents have until Thurs-
day, November 1, to give their views on the proposals, before members take the final decision on the budget in early 2013.
Extension blocked TIM Batchelor’s application for a single-storey rear extension at 28 Hockers Lane, Detling, has been refused. Maidstone Council’s decision
notice said: “The development, by virtue of proposed roof lights within the southern roof slope, would lead to a signifi- cant loss of privacy and over- looking to 30 Hockers Lane, detrimental to its occupiers.”
Tree may be felled A CONSERVATION area re- quest has been made to fell a sycamore tree at The Vicarage, in Upper Street, Hollingbourne. The planning application, which will be determined by Maidstone Council, says the tree is obstructing a boundary and blocking out light
FLAT ROOF PROBLEMS?
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Founded 1865
(Incorporating the Sir John Banks, Mary Duke, Edward Hunter, John Brenchley & Quested Almshouse Charities)
OPEN DAY
THURSDAY 25TH OCTOBER 2012 10.00 – 14.00 HOURS
COLLEGE FARMHOUSE, 40 COLLEGE AVENUE, MAIDSTONE ME15 6YJ
Please come along for an informal open day at the charity’s administrative offices in College Avenue, Maidstone and find out more about this local charity which has been providing long-term, quality affordable housing in the Borough of Maidstone for nearly 150 years, and, more recently, in Harrietsham, for residents of that village. Applicants should be resident locally, over the age of 50, retired from full time employment and in need.
Information regarding the various sites in Maidstone and Harrietsham and the different styles of properties the charity owns will be available and will include details of the six new one bedroom properties being built in Church Street, Maidstone as part of the Golding Homes development.
You will have the opportunity to ask questions, meet the Clerk, Administrator, Scheme Wardens and some of the Trustees and view a few of the nearby almshouses.
Refreshments will be provided.
For further details please contact the Administrator, Caroline Gambell (01622) 765612
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