News
KCC to consult on 4% increase in council tax
KENT residents face a council tax hike of nearly four per cent as the Conservative-led authority tries to mitigate the impact of another year of cuts totalling £75m. Kent County Council (KCC) launched a consultation period with residents on whether, for the fourth consecutive year, they would accept an increase on the council tax of 1.99% plus a 2% so- cial care precept. KCC says this would contribute £23.7m towards balancing the books. If approved, the bill for house-
holds in Band C properties would rise by nearly £40 from £1,007.60 to £1,047.84. KCCleader Paul Carter said:“We started this journey to save hun- dreds of millions of pounds in 2010 and, by managing this sensibly,we have already saved more than half a billion pounds over six years. “The government has placed an enormous challenge on us by im- posing on local government some of the biggest cuts compared to other parts of the public sector. “With forward planning and fac-
Cllr JennyWhittle is backing the council tax increase
ing the challenge early on. we are now in a better position than most. We understand that some transfor- mational plans take many years to implement. We have made intelli- gent commissioning decisions and have the situation in hand. “Despite these huge challenges,
we are determined to continue to make Kent a great place to live and work, seeing the population grow and attracting new businesses.” Tory member Jenny Whittle,who represents Maidstone rural east, said she will support the rise and added:“We have stretched the elas- tic as far as we can – we don’t do nearly as much aswe used to.”
KCC Ukip member Frank McKenna said: “It’s a very tricky situation, especially when it comes to social care. It’s down to national government cuts.” The council has identified further savings of £75m for the next finan- cial year, on top of savings of more than half a billion pounds made over the last six years. KCC says there is still more to find before the budget is finalised in February. Residents will be asked if they support KCC’s proposed response to the “financial challenge while facing increasing demands and costs for county council services at a time of reduced funding”.
downsmail.co.uk
Charity play THEAlan Bennett farce Habeas Cor- pus will be raising money for the bells at St Nicholas’ Church, Otham. The performance by TheWilling-
ton Players is at the Hazlitt Theatre, Maidstone, on Thursday,November 10. Tickets cost £14. Email elizabeth-
piercey@btinternet.com.
Church plea PARTY-GOERSat Leeds Castle have raised £19,000 for up-to-the-minute equipment to diagnose and treat breast cancer in Kent. Two hundred guests attended the charity ball in memoryof a Larkfieldwoman who lost her battle with breast cancer in the autumn 2014. For more details visit
www.breastcancerkent.org.uk.
Book a date THE Great Leeds Book Sale takes place on November 11 and 12. The sale on Friday is from 4-8.30pm and from 10am-2.30pm on Saturday at St Nicholas Church.
Lions’ quiz MAISDSTONE Lions Club holds its annual quiz on Saturday, February 11, starting at 7.30pm. Players pay £5 and should bring
their own wine and food with them to Archbishop Courtenay School, in Eccleston Road, Tovil. All enquiries to Malcolm Luxton on 01795841439.
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Malling November 2016
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