Still time to respond to KCC budget consultation

With the Chancellor giving his Autumn statement next week, there is still time for residents to respond to Kent County Council's consultation on its budget for 2017-18. The consultation, launched five weeks ago, closes on 27 November.

Like many other councils, KCC has been under severe financial pressure for quite a number of years, chiefly because of sharp reductions in government grant at a time when areas such as social care for the elderly have increasing need. It is quite a thought that KCC has delivered savings of £514 million – more than half a billion pounds – since 2010.

For 2017-18, the Council faces a financial gap of £108 million. It is - reluctantly - proposing an increase in council tax of 3.99% (including a 2% ‘precept’ for social care), but even after this has to deliver savings of £80.4 million. Our consultation focuses on how to deliver this; so far around £75 million has been identified and proposed.

You can respond to the consultation here.

Community Wardens for the villages

When Steve Armstrong, the highly-regarded Community Warden for Crockenhill, Eynsford and Farningham retired earlier this year, the County Council committed to finding a replacement as soon as possible. At the same time, it was recognised that the recruitment needed to be undertaken along with a number of other appointments to the Warden service. Until this took place, other Wardens covering the Sevenoaks area would serve the three villages on a rotational basis.

This recruitment round has now taken place. All the advertised posts were filled; however, the person appointed to Crockenhill, Eynsford and Farningham had to withdraw at a late stage. It has therefore, regrettably, not been possible to fill the post at present. However, Paul Sharrad, the new Warden for Swanley, will now also cover Crockenhill (as well as Swanley Village and Hextable) as and when required. Similarly, Paul Robertson – who is very well-known in Darent Valley as the Warden for Shoreham, as well as covering Otford - will cover Eynsford and Farningham when required. Thus all the villages should get more frequent and more personal coverage than has been the case since Steve’s retirement.

KCC hopes to fill the vacancy in the next recruitment round. However, the interim solution proposed by the Service should provide a valuable enhancement to the Warden presence in the three villages.