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Above-inflation tax hike agreed


TONBRIDGE and Malling Bor- ough Council has agreed a tax hike for residents well above the rate of inflation. Councillors have agreed a 2.99%


increase on households, even thoughCPI inflation,whichbench- marks the rising cost of household budgets, stood at 1.8%in January. At its meeting on February 19,


Tonbridge andMalling’s full coun- cil agreed the increase from April, which will see the council tax for a Band D property rise by £6.08 to £209.50 – an increase


of around 50p


permonth. This forms only part of the overall bill, with the county council needing another £1,299.42, Kent Police (£193.15), Kent Fire Rescue Service (£77.76) and parish preceptswhere those apply.


In spite of the rise, Tonbridge &


Malling Borough Council cabinet member Cllr Martin Coffin (pic- tured) confirmed efficiencies or savings worth £550,000 will still need to be found over the next 10 years. He said: “The financial outlook


for local government continues to be extremely challenging, but our strategic planning andmethods of working have provided a robust plan that has enabled us to deliver efficiencies in excess of £2.4msince April 2016. “Despite losing over £1 million


in grant funding since 2016/17 – or 15.2%, we have worked hard to maintain first-line services, while exceeding the targets we set for making efficiencies. “As our independent auditors re-


ported in their most recent finan- cial assessment,


they were


‘satisfied that the council put in place proper arrangements to en- sure economy, efficiency andeffec- tiveness in its use of resources’.”


Gold coinsmystery


DETECTIVES investigating the discovery of a stash of gold coins are ap- pealing for the rightful owners to come forward. The nine pieces, varying in size and denomination, were found in an


area close to Allington Castle by a member of the public. The coins were housed in three


small boxes and police suspect theymay have been stolen. “Due to their condition, we be-


lieve they’ve been left at the loca- tion for some time,” a Kent Police spokesman said. The find was handed to police


on November 19, and enquiries have been ongoing ever since to establish the owners. Officers have now issued images of the coins, which aremarked with


the word Britannia and all appear to have beenminted during the last decade. Readers with any information should call the west Kent appeals line on 01622 604100, quoting reference KP-20181119-0807.


Harmchargeman in court


A 35-YEAR-OLD man has been chargedwith grievous bodily harm against aman inWestMalling. Stephen Fraser, of Fairmeadow,Maidstone, was also charged with


breaching a restraining order and attempting to pervert the course of justice. The charges follow an incident on February 22 at Ewell Av- enue,WestMallling,when aman suffered a fractured eye socket. Mr Fraser appeared beforeMedwayMagistrates’ Court onMarch 1 and has been remanded in custody.


DM2019 Malling March 2019 5


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