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10 Maidstone Borough Council


What do you think of Borough Update? You could win £50!


We want to know what you think of Maidstone council’s ‘Borough Update’ in Downs Mail and one lucky reader will win £50 in Marks and Spencer gift vouchers for giving us their views. Please complete and return the form below to Communications, Maidstone Borough Council, Maidstone House, King Street, Maidstone ME15 6JQ or email the same information with the words Borough Update in the subject line to pr@maidstone.gov.uk


Maidstone Borough Council publishes Borough Update in Downs Mail to keep Maidstone residents up-to-date with information about council services and general public information.


Do you like the overall look of Borough Update magazine? –


YES/NO Is it easy to read? – YES/NO Is it interesting? – YES/NO


On a scale of 1-5, with 1 Not Satisfied and 5 Very Satisfied, how satisfied are you with Borough Update? 1 – 2 – 3 – 4 - 5 Would you like more:


short news stories? –


YES/NO


in-depth stories? –


YES/NO


Other comments, including what you like most and least about Borough Update and what you’d like to see in future issues:


Name .............................................................. Address .......................................................... .......................................................................... .......................................................................... .......................................................................... Tel ....................................................................


Entries must be received by 6 March 2015. One entry per Maidstone Borough resident – not open to Maidstone councillors or council employees


Homelessness funding


Maidstone council has successfully joined Canterbury City Council and Tunbridge Wells Borough Council in bidding for over a quarter of a million pounds to help homeless people to turn their lives around. 100 rough sleepers will be identified across the three areas and work will be carried out to make sure that they have a personally designed “pathway” to move from being street homeless to accessing and maintaining the most suitable accommodation for their needs.


The money will allow for extra services and outreach work, and will make sure that access is available to housing advice, dentistry and GP services, mental health provision, help with drug and alcohol issues, food, washing facilities, translation services and a safe base. All of this will help to support those in the most need to work towards getting back into accommodation and work through any issues that might have contributed to their becoming, or staying, street homeless in the past.


Residents’ priorities lead council plans


A clean and safe environment, and improvements to transport, are high on Maidstone council’s agenda after residents voted them as their top priorities. More than 1,100 people took part in the “My Council – What Matters to Me” budget and strategic plan consultation at venues around the borough and online during autumn 2014. Their comments and votes have been taken into account in the council’s Medium Term Financial Strategy and Strategic Plan 2015-20.


Councillor Annabelle Blackmore, Leader of Maidstone Borough Council, said: “The road shows which took place around the Borough of Maidstone were a great opportunity for the cabinet to speak to residents and find out what really matters to them. I’d like to thank everyone who took the time to give us their views. At one school we were delighted the children took part and gave us their opinions too. Consultation is important to us and I would like to assure residents that we have listened carefully to make sure that their priorities are reflected in the council’s financial and strategic plans.”


At its meeting on 17 December, Cabinet agreed the draft Strategic Plan 2015-20, which will be considered by Full Council alongside the council’s budget – including the Medium Term Financial Strategy – in February 2015. The “clean and safe” priority sees the highest level of revenue funding allocated to it in the budget, reflecting its top position in residents’ priorities.


Transport infrastructure is not the direct responsibility of Maidstone Borough Council, but funding is allocated to public transport and parking management. The council has also agreed to set aside substantial capital resources for infrastructure and is developing a community infrastructure levy, which will help to raise funds for transport infrastructure improvements.


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