News Homes crisis
COUNCILchiefs say a combination of soaring property prices and wel- fare reforms could see social hous- ing organisations buying up sites in Kent. A new report by Kent County Council delivers the warning against a backdrop of benefit caps and a tightening up of eligibility. It claims that housing associations
fear a cut in social housing rents until 2020 could mean 600 fewer homes being built each year in Kent.
Mummyscan
THE Maidstone Mummy has been scanned to reveal the secrets of the 2,700-year-old teenager. Ta-Kush, who was 14 when she
died, has been scanned at a local hospital in the hope her face can be reconstructed and any other details of her life revealed. It is also hoped to prove once and
for all that she is not, in fact, a he. Ta-Kush has been a favourite at
the St Faith’s Street collection and came to England in the 1820s.
Poppy appeal
THIS year’s Poppy Appeal is launched at County Hall in Maid- stone onWednesday, October 26. ArmisticeDay falls on Friday, No-
vember 11, and Remembrance Sun- day on the 13th.
downsmail.co.uk
Lier police are back on beat after review
MAIDSTONE’S “litter police” are back on duty after being hauled over the coals by the borough council…and one departure from the sub-contracted team. It follows complaints from the
public about the council’s private enforcers being too heavy-handed. A woman was fined £80 at Tovil
for feeding ducks – because the warden maintained there were no birds around. The fine was later withdrawn by the contractor, King- dom Security. It follows the return of 61 fines by
the private enforcement firm since the company won the £160,000 two-year contract to enforce the council’s litter laws last June. But it appears this was the final
straw, leading the council’s envi- ronmental enforcement manager Martyn Jeynes to suspend the serv- ice for a thorough investigation. The suspension of the service,
which lasted 26 days, saw officers finally return to the streets on Oc- tober 12, minus at least one male of- ficer, amid calls for better training of all frontline staff.
Butt of the fines
A BREAKDOWN of the fines issued since September 1 2015 shows more than 2,000 fineswere issued for dropping cigarette ends, while only about 130 were issued for dropping litter. Fixed penalty notices were is-
The borough council’s head of environment, Jennifer Shepherd, said enforcement officers would be returning to duties following the review of the contract, which runs until June next year. She added: “I can confirm there
have been a number of personnel changes which Kingdom have made during the review andwe an- ticipate that two new officers will be joining the team. “We have been working closely
with Kingdom to ensure officers are able to provide a service which fulfils our priority of a clean and
sued for: • Cigarettes - 2,043 • Food/food packaging/chewing gum – 36 • Dog fouling – 8 • Other litter (cellophane, plastic stirrers etc.) – 98 • Literature – 16 Total 2,201
safe environment.” It is understood this will be a commitment to ensure officers re- ceive full training and regular re- fresher courses about the way in which they conduct themselves in response to the council’s enforce- ment requirements. Kingdom Security declined to comment.
www.bearstedpropertyservices.co.uk 12 Maidstone East November 2016
£100 worth of M&S vouchers with this advert at point of sale.
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