News
downsmail.co.uk KCC facing division shake-up
THE writing could be on the wall for Kent County Council if five local authorities press ahead with plans to join forces. Canterbury, Dover, Thanet, Ash-
ford and Shepway are considering combining to form a unitary au- thority, delivering all their own services without recourse to KCC. It has also been revealed that Maidstone is in talks with Medway and Dartford and Gravesham councils about how they can pro- vide more cost-effective solutions, while Tonbridge and Malling council is speaking directly with KCC to avoid duplication of its functions. Council leader Nicolas Heslop
WI meeting
AYLESFORD and Eccles WI will meet on Wednesday, April 27 at 7.30pm in the Brassey Centre, Sta- tion Road, Aylesford when Sharon Lynn will give a talk about the work of health-detecting dogs. There will also be tea and cake
and a chance to chat, also to find out about events and trips. The competition will be for any
item starting with the letter U and there will be a bring-and-buy stall. New members and visitors wel- come, call Eileen on 01622 715205.
Aylesara date AYLESFORD Active Retirement Association (AylesARA) will meet in the village community centre at 2pm on Thursday, April 28. There will be a talk by Barbara
Stevens on the Trials of a Public Speaker as well as a raffle and a chance to find out about interest groups, day trips and social events. The group is for anyone over 50. CallWayne on 01622 710734.
Organ recital
ST Peter’s and St Paul’s Church, Aylesford will host an organ recital at 3pm on Sunday, April 24 by David Poulter, director of music at Liverpool Cathedral. This will be a chance to show off the refurbished 1865 Forster and Andrews organ. Tickets are available at £9 from
the church office on 01622 719366 or Michael Keays, organist, on 07831 246810, or on the door.
Thief jailed
KAYLEIGH Battams (22), of Apple Close, Snodland was jailed for 40 days by Mid Kent Magis- trates’ Court after she admitted shoplifting and assaulting police. On January 2, she stole wine and
cider worth £11.92 from a service station in Malling Road, Snodland and assaulted a police officer. She must also pay £11 compensation.
30 Malling April 2016
From left: Bluebird Care director Priyanka Pawar, Jade Bray and Cllr Derek Butler present the cheque to Janice Heale, centre
Award for care worker
GLOWINGcompliments fromclients have helped earn Mereworth resi- dent Janice Heale the title of Blue- bird Care care worker of the year for Maidstone. Janice, who visits clients to help
with personal and domestic care, has worked for the company for two years, after a career in accounts. She was presented with a cheque
for £200 by Deputy Mayor ofMaid- stone Cllr Derek Butler, at an after- noon tea at the company’s offices in Barham Court, Teston. Janicewas nominated following a
survey with customers where she re- ceived many compliments. She said: “Iamflattered to receive
this award. It makes me feel very proud to do what I do and really shows howmuch the work I do is ap- preciated.”
Care manager Jade Bray said:“We
have a great team of care workers and are very proud of them all. We very much appreciate the hardwork and dedication they give their cus- tomers. “The feedbackwe receive fromour customers about Janice is always very positive. She forms a great rela- tionship with her customers and it is our privilege to be able to recognise her in this way.” BluebirdCare (Maidstone) provide services which enable people to lead full, comfortable and independent lives in their own home. This includes care visits, live-in and
overnight care, help with washing and dressing and assistance with medication. They also provide sup- port with domestic tasks such as cooking, washing and cleaning.
said: "I am working closely with the other two west Kent districts, the county council and others in- cluding the police and health serv- ices to seek opportunities for how we can deliver a more cost-effec- tive way of delivering local serv- ices so thatwe drive up standards, minimise duplication and deliver best value. “The borough council is in dis- cussion with the county council on a ‘district deal’, which would seek opportunities for more local serv- ice delivery and better use of prop-
erty assets. Secondly, along with fellow West Kent district councils, discussions are being held on the development of a closer working relationship with the county coun- cil to improve the co-ordination of services to our communities.” KCC leader Paul Carter believes
the division of Kent would be dis- astrous for the county and a huge waste of time, during a period when resources are already being stretched. He said: “The great counties of this country should not be broken
up. County governance working with other public sector partners and boroughs and districts has the ability to deliver transformation.” The county council currently manages most of the education function in Kent, but the govern- ment has announced it wants all schools to become academies by 2020 – free of local authority inter- vention. It is just one part of the govern- ment’s plans aimed at giving more power to local people.
Licence for
pet-siers NEWrules for people who provide holiday and day care in their homes for other people’s pets are being introduced by Tonbridge and Malling Council. Traditional kennels for dogs and
cats must, by law, obtain an annual licence costing £262 from the local authority. However, the borough council says a new style of board- ing is becoming increasingly popu- lar where animals are home boarded “in a domestic environ- ment” for a holiday period or for the day. It is bringing in a new licence for
home boarding and dog day care establishments for an annual fee of £150 to cover administration and inspection costs. First time appli- cants will also have to pay an addi- tional charge for a veterinary inspection. The new licence is based on
British Kennel and Cattery Associ- ation guidelines.
Art on show
COBDOWN Art Club will be holding an exhibition and sale of members’ work at the Brassey Cen- tre, Aylesford on Saturday and Sunday, May 14 and 15, from 11am to 5pm.
Admission is 50p, and refresh- ments will be available.
Karaoke singer jailed for violent aack
A MAN who headbutted a bar- maid, fracturing her cheekbone in a drunken attack, has been jailed for five-and-a-half years. Gregory Lees (34), formerly of Sherwood Avenue, Larkfield, car- ried out the vicious assault at the Earls public house in Earl Street, Maidstone, on the evening of Wednesday, July 2, 2014. Maidstone Crown Court heard Lees had been singing karaoke at
the pub and had been chatting to his 28-year-old victim when she went outside for a cigarette break. As shewas about to
go back inside, he headbutted and punched her before pushing her to the ground. He punched
her several more times before leav- ing.
Police traced Lees back to his girl- friend’s house, where he was ar- rested the same night. In court, he admitted causing grievous bodily harm with intent. Detective Constable Scott Ennals
said: “This unprovoked attack left an innocentwomandeeply trauma- tised and with a fractured cheek- bone. Lees has shown remorse for what he did but that will provide little comfort to his victim.”
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