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.” Cllr Carter admits that tough


THEwraps are off the long-awaited meeting roomand changing facility atWest Farleigh Sports Club. The timber-clad building, at the football field on Charlton Lane, is the first permanent building on the site in the club’s history and was unveiled by Helen Grant,MPforMaidstone and theWeald. Mrs Grant, who helped the club access funding, cut


a ribbon to declare the rooms open and unveiled a plaque before a barbecue celebration. For decades, home and visiting players have had to


change in wooden huts, a concrete garage and a range of portable and crumbling buildings. Grants from theFootballFoundation, Sport England,


Kent County Council and the Kent County Playing Fields Association, plus support from club members and the community, mean construction is complete. Club chairman Peter Baggott thanked all who had


beeninvolved,especially secretary IanPayne,whohad pulled the project together. Mrs Grant said: “This is something for you and your


children inthe future. Youshouldbeproud of what you have done. With these fantastic facilities the club can


MP Helen Grant with some of the junior players fromWest Farleigh sports club


now grow and will surely attract even more sporting participants from the surrounding villagesofWestFar- leigh, Teston, East Farleigh, Coxheath and beyond.” The new premises feature disabled access toilets,


new showers, a kitchen and safe and secure chang- ing rooms, all of which will enable the newclubhouse to expand and supportmore teams.


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decisions have to be taken, and has set out 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.


Sports club changing rooms finally unveiled


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