News
Town tax office set for closure
HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has confirmed its Maid- stone office will close in 2020/21. The office, at Medvale House in
Mote Road, Maidstone currently employs about 200 people. Those still working at the time of closure will have the chance to relocate to one of two new regional centres. The Government’s taxation de- partment is now mid-way through a 10-year modernisation pro- gramme designed to create a tax authority fit for the future. It plans to close 43 offices in the London, South East and East of England by 2028, while creating re- gional centres in Croydon and Stratford, East London. William Hague, chief people offi-
cer, HMRC said: “HMRC’s work- force in the area is currently spread across 43 offices,many of which are a legacy of the 1960s and 1970s, and range in size from about 2,000 peo- ple to fewer than 10. By bringing them together in large, modern of- fices, equipped with digital infra- structure and training facilities, HMRC will support more skilled
jobs and varied career paths up to senior levels with less need to move around the country.” HMRC expects between 5,000
and 5,300 full-time equivalent em- ployees to work in the Stratford re- gional centre and 2,500 to 2,800 full-time equivalent employees in the Croydon regional centre. There will also be specialist cen-
tres in Worthing and Dover. The reorganisation includes in-
vestment in online services, data analytics, compliance techniques and new skills and ways of work- ing to make it easier for the honest majority of customers to pay their tax and harder for the dishonest minority to cheat the system. Lin Homer, HMRC’s chief execu-
tive, said: “HMRC has too many expensive, isolated and out-dated offices. This makes it difficult for us to collaborate, modernise ourways of working, and make the changes we need to clamp down on the mi- nority who try to cheat the system.” The plans are designed to gener-
ate estate savings of £100 million a year by 2025.
downsmail.co.uk Double success for James
JAMES Hall (20), who performs for Tovil-based gymnastics club Pegasus, has made history in both Great Britain and Germany in the space of twoweeks. Australian-born Jameswas selected as part of theGBteamto compete at
the world championships in Glasgow, which claimed the silver medal. Great Britain has never achieved such a result and the teamhasnowqual-
ified for the 2016 Rio Olympics. After Glasgow, James began
training for the Bundesliga inGer- many, where he joined the team representing Monheim of Ger-
many.Monheimwonthe compe- tition for the first time. James performed clean rou-
tines including high-level skills and new elements and connec- tions to carry the teamthrough the event to success.Heand his teammates have been asked to take part again next year. James first appeared for Team GB at the 2013 Australian Youth Olympic
Festival in Sydney, winning floor gold. Born in Australia, he is a multiple medallist at the Britishand English Championshipsandmadehis senior team debut at the FIGWorld Cup in Glasgow in 2014.
Charity swimmers raise £7,500
MAIDSTONE Riverside Ro- tary Club has thanked all the 24 teams and their supporters for making the very first Maidstone Swim Relay such a great success. More than £7,500 was raised
for local charities, with almost £4,500 of the total going to Chil- dren in Need. Plans are under way for the
2016 Maidstone Swim Relay. Maidstone Leisure Centre has agreed to loan the pool for the afternoon of Sunday, November 6 and many of the teams who took part have expressed an in- terest in doing so again. Any teams who would like to register an interest should email
info@swimrelay.co.uk.
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