2 Maidstone Borough Council
Budget roadshows continue across the borough
Gateway we’ve moved!
Hello from The Mall! Our Customer Services Team has moved to their temporary home, next to Sports Direct for the next four months.
The Gateway building is being transformed to include the construction of a mezzanine floor and a more open plan feel which will see Job Centre Plus and Citizens Advice Bureau locating to the building too.
Works are due to be completed in mid-February 2017
Residents are able to visit the Maidstone Borough Council website via their phone, tablet or computer where they’re now able to carry out many council related matters such as ordering a garden bin or renewing a parking permit as well as nearly 100 other such services too.
Our budget roadshows are in full swing and there are still a number of dates left to go for you to have your say on where you think our money should be spent. The theme for the events is ‘Your services, you decide’ with the aim of getting as many people across the borough as possible to think about what services they most value. It could be housing or you might think street cleansing is your top service. Either way, we want to know your views!
The roadshows follow on from our pledge that residents will be fully involved in planning ways to close a £4.2 million hole in our budget following changes to the way that local government is funded. The council’s income is being cut by an increasing amount over the next four years, leading to the shortfall in the Council’s ‘revenue budget’ which pays for services. The shortfall will mean services need to be cut or provided in different ways and standards.
Senior councillors and officers will be at the events so please come along and have your say at the following locations:
Tuesday 25 October 10:00-14:00 The Mall, Maidstone
Wednesday 26 October, St Martin's Church, Shepway 10:00 - 14:00
Monday 31 October 10:30-12:30 North Hall, Staplehurst
Saturday 29 October 09:30-12:30 Sutton Valence Village Hall
Cllr Fran Wilson, Leader of the Council, said: “Since 2010 we have been forced to make significant changes due to cuts in government funding. We’ve shared services with other councils to provide value for money, and achieved savings with efficiencies and changing the way we work rather than service cuts. We have worked hard to protect front-line services as much as possible.
“This has become harder each year and it is now inevitable that some services will have to be reduced over the next four years. It’s essential that residents play an active role in this process. We hope that as many people as possible will come along to the roadshows or take part in the online survey to share their views.”
If you’re unable to make the roadshows, please visit our website
maidstone.gov.uk where you can fill in our budget survey until November 18.
Helping you to engage with our services more
Our upgraded webcasting and microsite was launched earlier this month and has been very popular so far. The improved system allows more flexibility, helping to promote better engagement with the public.
As well as attending meetings in person, the public can also watch all proceedings from the comfort of their own home, whilst benefitting from state of the art audio visuals and interactive tweets.
The introduction of ‘live tweeting’ during Committee meetings has certainly brought a fresh feel to proceedings and utilises an easily accessible channel of communication. Why not see how you can get involved by visiting
www.maidstone.gov.uk
Annual Household Enquiry Forms (HEF) What is the form for?
The HEF form asks for a list of all people in the household who are over 16 and who are eligible to vote.
A response is required whether you add or delete people from the address or confirm that there are no changes within the property.
Once completed what do I do? The form can be returned by post in the return envelope or you can respond by going online to
www.hef-response.co.uk and using the unique security code on the front of the form. There is also an option to text to confirm that there are no changes or call a Freephone number. All details can be found on the front of the form.
Resident reminder If you do not respond a further reminder form will be sent out by 28 October. Canvassers are door knocking to encourage non-responders to complete the forms. Currently about 60% of households in Maidstone have returned the form.
What will happen if I don’t fill it in and return it? If you do not respond your details will be deleted from the electoral register when it is republished on 1st December.
ALSO it is a legal requirement to provide the information, if you do not you could be fined £1000.
Credit rating Apart from effecting your right to vote,
your application for certain credit purposes such as obtaining a mortgage could be affected.
I have just moved in to my property If you have moved to a new property or if your details do not show on the HEF you should go online to
www.gov.uk/register-to-vote and complete an individual registration form. You will need to include your date of birth and national insurance number. Once your details have been checked with Department of Works and Pensions and processed then a confirmation letter will be sent out.
For further information email:
electoralservices@maidstone.gov.uk
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