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downsmail.co.uk KCC sets its ‘toughest’ budget
KENT County Council has balanced the books this year, but the task has been its toughest since 2010.
The £83.1m of savings for the 2015/16 budget come on top of £350m of savings already made by KCC in the previous four years. The level of savings is a result of a combination of reduced govern- ment grant and additional spending demands on services. This year’s budget reflects:
a decrease in government grants of 15% (£55.5m); an increase in the numbers of vul- nerable adults needing support; an increase in resources for chil- dren in care; an attempt for better value
Lib Dems choose David
COUNCILLOR David Naghi is to be the Lib Dems’ parliamentary candidate for Faversham and Mid Kent for the third successive Gen- eral Election.
Cllr Naghi (57), who has represented East ward on Maidstone Council since 2002, was beaten by the outgoing Con- servative MP
Hugh Robertson in 2005 and 2010. His share of the vote five years ago increased to 19.6% from 16.5%, beating Labour into third place for the first time since the Tory-domi- nated constituency was formed in 1997. In May he will be up against Labour’s Michael Desmond, UKIP’s Peter Edwards-Daem and Tim Valentine from the Greens. As the Downs Mail went to press, MP Robertson’s successor for the Conservatives was still to be an- nounced.
through commissioning services from the private and voluntary sec- tors.
The most significant savings have been achieved by changing the de- livery of adult and children’s serv- ices. Money has been invested in preventative services that avoid, wherever possible, interventions such as taking children into care and supporting independence for adults, helping them to remain in their own homes.
Further savings will be made by buying in more services from the private and voluntary sectors,
which come at a lower cost than KCC’s in-house services.
KCC’s transformation pro- gramme will also deliver further staffing efficiencies.
KCC has agreed to an increase of 1.99% for its portion of the council tax, which works out at an extra £21.33 for a band D home. KCC cabinet member for finance John Simmonds said: “There is no doubt that this is the most difficult and challenging budget that KCC has ever faced.
“Balancing the books has been tougher than ever before, but we
‘Depraved’ abuser jailed
A FORMER Maidstone man who sexually abused children for a number of years has been jailed. Peter Cordingley (69), who lived in St Leonards-on-Sea, assaulted children as young as six, most re- cently in January 2013 when he was living in Westmorland Close, Shep- way.
Cordingley was found guilty of four counts of sexual activity with a child and two counts of indecent assault, and was sentenced to 14 years’ imprisonment at Maidstone Crown Court. Investigating officer Detective Constable Samantha Bungay said: “Peter Cordingley is a depraved in- dividual who gave little or no thought to the impact his actions would have on the children he
have made savings where we can while protecting frontline services, so that we can put extra resources where they are most needed. “I am confident that the Kent economy is beginning to see signs of recovery. But there is a long way to go if we are to cope with so many years of reduced government fund- ing and increased demand on our services.”
KCC is putting an extra £4.75m into specialist children’s services and an additional £7.2m into adult social care to meet anticipated in- creases in client numbers.
Owner fined for dog mess
A BARMING resident has received a fine and a criminal record for not clearing up her dog’s mess. Janet Shaw was ordered to pay £225 in fines and costs after being found guilty at Maidstone Magis- trates Court.
abused. There is no excuse for what he did and I would like to pay trib- ute to the victims involved, all of whom showed tremendous courage in talking to us about what happened.”
Protected sycamore faces axe
A PROPOSAL has been submitted to fell a protected sycamore tree at Abberley Park, Sittingbourne Road, Maidstone. The planning application has received support from a neighbour, who
was concerned about potential damage to his property if the tree fell down. Maidstone Council will decide.
Planners agree homes rise
THE number of dwellings to re- place the former nurses’ home in Hermitage Lane, Maidstone is to be increased to 69.
In December 2013, outline plan- ning permission was granted to re- place the neo-Georgian building, which was previously accommoda- tion for employees of the nearby Oakwood Hospital, with 53 homes. Although Bellway Homes’ full application said there would be an increase in the number of homes, their density has reduced from 58 units per hectare to 46. However, members of the plan- ning committee were angered that one of the conditions imposed on the outline scheme – a 10m set-back
34 Maidstone Town March 2015
from the development’s frontage to Hermitage Lane – was ignored. Committee member Cllr Tony Harwood said: “Members of this committee demanded a 10m set- back and an avenue of trees along the frontage. But now the develop- ment is hard on Hermitage Lane.” Planning officers were happy with the applicant’s proposal for front gardens and a ragstone wall along Hermitage Lane.
The committee granted planning permission, but only on the proviso that senior members of the com- mittee as well as local ward coun- cillors have discussions with the applicant to ensure landscaping conditions are met.
Maidstone Council’s cabinet member for the environment and housing, Cllr Marion Ring, said: “There are real consequences for not clearing up after your dog. Our enforcement officers are working hard with the community to catch those who make things unpleasant for everyone, and to keep our streets and parks clean.”
Residents can report dog fouling online at
www.maidstone.gov.uk/ report, with all reports helping to identify “hot spots” so that in- creased patrols can take place where necessary.
Residents with information about those responsible can report it con- fidentially by calling 01622 602202.
Formore local news
www.downsmail.co.uk Houses set for transport yard
PLANNINGpermissionwas set to be granted for nine detached houses on the site of a former home and transport yard off London Road, Allington. The scheme for The Lodge includes an open space and access from
Beaver Road. Cllr Dan Daley,whorepresents Allington on Maidstone Council, told the planning committee hewas concerned about the traf- fic impact on Beaver Road given that two separate planning permis- sions already allow a total of 51 new homes south of the site, and another 140 homeswere previously giventhe go-ahead in Bridge Nurs- ery, the other side of the A20. He said: “Even without 200 houses the traffic is backed up. This is a
step too far.We have had incremental urbanisation creeping into the gap betweenAylesford and Allington.” Peter Rosevear, a transport officer for KCC, said work would be tak-
ing place to improve the A20 junction with Coldharbour Lane. Members indicated they would give consent once the proposal had returned to the committee for wording on planning conditions to be drawn up.
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