News
downsmail.co.uk New round of council complaints
FOUR more Bearsted parish councillors have been challenged in code of conduct complaints to Maidstone Council. Chairman Richard Ash, Alan
Rowe, Trevor Smith and Graham Farrow have been reported to the council for member misconduct in relation to the arrangements for last November’s fireworks display. The anonymous complainant
makes a range of allegations, which include bullying and bring- ing their office or the local author- ity into disrepute. Mr Farrow, pictured, resigned
from the council in March, listing his reasons as “thewasting of pub-
lic money on code of conduct complaints, disrupting the plan- ning of community events and in- competence”. He said: “There have been far too many code of conduct com- plaints brought in the past few years, from people whose obvious
disregard for parish money is there for all to see. The mature way to solve the problems would be with a discussion and not by
wasting thousands of pounds. This latest round of complaints is just a farce – especially as I amno longer a member of the council.” Mr Farrow says there have been
as many as 16 code of conduct complaints raised against mem- bers of the parish council in the past three years – mostly from members of one family. The former fire officer resigned
from the council after the an- nouncement that this year’s Music on the Green was in jeopardy. It has since formally been cancelled. Maidstone’s head of legal serv-
ices Paul Fisher is still considering whether any of the four new com-
plaints should be investigated. However, he confirmed that,
while complaints could be made against people who were no longer councillors, Maidstone Council had decided that such complaintswould be rejected and no further action taken. Cllr Rowe said: “I have no idea
what I amsupposed to have done wrong. It’s especially ironic given all the effort I put in to help or- ganise the fireworks display.” Cllr Smith said: “The letter came to- tally out of the blue. Maidstone Council must be sick and tired of all these complaints coming up against Bearsted members.”
Wait over as work begins to improve church
AFTER several years’ wait and a year of fund raising, improvement work costing more than £200,000 has begun at Boxley church. Thework will include upgrading
the toilets, repairs to the nave roof and creating wider paths around the church and to the main en- trance from the car park. Inside, doorways from the side
lobby and to the prayer room will also be widened to make it easier for wheelchair users and those with
pushchairs. Nearly £58,000 has been received from the SITA Trust and KCC and another £16,400 to- wards the roof repairs has been successfully applied for from Dame Susan Morden's charity, All Churches Trust, and the Friends of Kent Churches. While it is hoped further grants
will be forthcoming, about £138,000 is still likely to have to come from church reserves. Paul Hudson, from St Mary’s
Services we offer: Maidstone
• A vibrant Day Care Service in seven locations throughout the Borough in partnership with Golding Homes and the PCT
• If required, transport can be provided to the Day Care facilities on our fleet of mini-buses
• Community Foot Care Services in the home or at our nearest clinic.
• Community Bathing Service in the home for Maidstone & Malling
• Independent Living Support for those that need help with their housework, garden or shopping
• Volunteering opportunities • Advocacy Service for Maidstone & Malling • Disability Travel Vouchers on behalf of Maidstone Borough Council
• Computer Classes for the over 60’s • A list of local traders that have been recommended to us by older people
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For more information on all our services, please feel free to contact us at: 7, Mill Street, Maidstone, Kent. ME15 6XW Between the hours of 10am-4pm Monday – Thursday, 10am-2pm Friday Or telephone us on 01622 753618 Or email:
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10 Maidstone East May 2014
and All Saints’ parochial church council, said: “Plans have been in progress for several years to im- prove disabled access to the church, and repair the roof and after a year of fundraising and applications to a number of charitable trusts, we are extremely pleased that work has now started.” Efforts have been made to keep disruption to a minimum as the car park will be used by the contrac- tors. Work is expected to be com-
plete by the end of May. The nave roof repairs will follow,
in June, and should be finished by the end of August. Mr Hudson said: “None of this
would be possible without the gen- erosity of several grant making trusts and foundations. This still means a substantial dip into the PCC's reserves to meet the total cost of the works, but after talking about this for such a long time, it's wonderful to be getting it done.”
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