KCC has launched a six week consultation on its 2016-17 budget. The consultation will close on 24 November, one day before the government's Comprehensive Spending Review (CSR).
The County Council has delivered huge savings - £433 million over the last five years. However, further savings of some £80 million will be needed this year, and after delivering such large-scale economies in recent years, we now face difficult choices. The precise amount of savings needed cannot be determined in advance of the CSR and the subsequent local government financial settlement, but the general scale of the challenge facing us is clear. At the same time the County Council is proposing a moderate council tax increase of 1.99%.
Rising pressures on the budget, such as the need for social care services driven by demographic change, are the biggest factor driving the need for savings. This effect is exacerbated by anticipated further reductions in government grant.
You can find the consultation, which covers the proposed council tax increase and the value that residents put on different services, here.
KCC will publish its post-consultation budget proposals on 11 January and the budget will be out to County Council on 11 February.
Wednesday, 14 October 2015
Tuesday, 29 September 2015
Boundary change proposals: the effect on Darent Valley
The Local Government Boundary Commission for England has over the last year or so been conducting a review of Kent County Council's electoral divisions. Today it issued revised proposals for the Sevenoaks District area.
The Boundary Commission proposes a modest reduction in the number of KCC Members, from the current 84 across Kent to 81. Sevenoaks, which has seen much smaller population growth than many other parts of the County, is set to reduce from 7 Members to 6.
Some of the implications of this for Darent Valley are fairly clear. To its north, the Swanley Division is relatively small and will need to expand. Since a Division cannot cross District or Borough lines, Swanley can only expand to the south, into the contiguous sections of Darent Valley.
Under the Boundary Commission's original proposals, published in May with a consultation that ran through until July, the whole of the Swanley Town Council area, as well as Hextable, would be taken into the Swanley Division. Darent Valley would therefore lose Swanley Christ Church, the High Firs area and Swanley Village. It would, however, expand to the south, taking in Otford and Dunton Green, while adding Knockholt and Halstead to Badgers Mount (the latter three together currently make up a District ward). The remainder of the Division - Shoreham (including Well Hill and East Hill), Eynsford, Farningham, Horton Kirby and South Darenth - would remain within it.
However, following initial consultation and a number of representations (including an alternative proposal from Sevenoaks District Council), the Boundary Commission has brought forward significantly revised proposals. Under these, while Swanley Christ Church and High Firs would still leave Darent Valley, Swanley Village would remain. Badgers Mount would leave the Division, joining Halstead and Knockholt in Sevenoaks West. To the south, Otford would still come into the Division but Dunton Green would not; however, Kemsing and Seal would come in. The new Division - rather cumbersomely named Sevenoaks East and Darent Valley - would be very large, running from the north of the District and the London boundary to the south-east of Sevenoaks town (which, in contrast to the Boundary Commission's earlier proposals, is the centre of one Division rather than being split between two - almost certainly a key factor in the adoption of new proposals). You can see a map of the proposed new Divisions here.
Sevenoaks was the only District in the County for which the Boundary Commission's original proposals were amended; these are now subject to a stand alone consultation. This closes on 26 October and the final recommendations will be published on 19 January 2016.
The Boundary Commission proposes a modest reduction in the number of KCC Members, from the current 84 across Kent to 81. Sevenoaks, which has seen much smaller population growth than many other parts of the County, is set to reduce from 7 Members to 6.
Some of the implications of this for Darent Valley are fairly clear. To its north, the Swanley Division is relatively small and will need to expand. Since a Division cannot cross District or Borough lines, Swanley can only expand to the south, into the contiguous sections of Darent Valley.
Under the Boundary Commission's original proposals, published in May with a consultation that ran through until July, the whole of the Swanley Town Council area, as well as Hextable, would be taken into the Swanley Division. Darent Valley would therefore lose Swanley Christ Church, the High Firs area and Swanley Village. It would, however, expand to the south, taking in Otford and Dunton Green, while adding Knockholt and Halstead to Badgers Mount (the latter three together currently make up a District ward). The remainder of the Division - Shoreham (including Well Hill and East Hill), Eynsford, Farningham, Horton Kirby and South Darenth - would remain within it.
However, following initial consultation and a number of representations (including an alternative proposal from Sevenoaks District Council), the Boundary Commission has brought forward significantly revised proposals. Under these, while Swanley Christ Church and High Firs would still leave Darent Valley, Swanley Village would remain. Badgers Mount would leave the Division, joining Halstead and Knockholt in Sevenoaks West. To the south, Otford would still come into the Division but Dunton Green would not; however, Kemsing and Seal would come in. The new Division - rather cumbersomely named Sevenoaks East and Darent Valley - would be very large, running from the north of the District and the London boundary to the south-east of Sevenoaks town (which, in contrast to the Boundary Commission's earlier proposals, is the centre of one Division rather than being split between two - almost certainly a key factor in the adoption of new proposals). You can see a map of the proposed new Divisions here.
Sevenoaks was the only District in the County for which the Boundary Commission's original proposals were amended; these are now subject to a stand alone consultation. This closes on 26 October and the final recommendations will be published on 19 January 2016.
Monday, 28 September 2015
Further A225 works from 21 October
Last year we saw resurfacing work on the A225 in Eynsford, running north from the Baptist church to the junction with Mill Lane. The works were very welcome, though their timing - on the eve of the Kent Test - was much less so.
Kent Highways has committed to carrying out further works running north towards Farningham, from Mill Lane up to the Bessfield Lane junction. A notice has been issued and the works will start on 21 October. They will be carried out overnight (between 22:00 and 05:00), and will last for three days. During that time there will be a road closure in the area affected, though only for the overnight period when the works are taking place; the road will remain open during the day. There may also be some disruption from the "milling" (an operation to remove the existing road surface), and from the noise of vehicles beeping as they reverse. However, Kent Highways have pledged to seek to keep keep disruption to a minimum.
This will be a very welcome improvement to the road. Some particularly severe damage to the surface has already been dealt with through temporary patching.
Kent Highways has committed to carrying out further works running north towards Farningham, from Mill Lane up to the Bessfield Lane junction. A notice has been issued and the works will start on 21 October. They will be carried out overnight (between 22:00 and 05:00), and will last for three days. During that time there will be a road closure in the area affected, though only for the overnight period when the works are taking place; the road will remain open during the day. There may also be some disruption from the "milling" (an operation to remove the existing road surface), and from the noise of vehicles beeping as they reverse. However, Kent Highways have pledged to seek to keep keep disruption to a minimum.
This will be a very welcome improvement to the road. Some particularly severe damage to the surface has already been dealt with through temporary patching.
Tuesday, 22 September 2015
Street lighting consultation: give your views
KCC continues to make progress in its procurement of LED lighting for the 118,000 street lights that it is responsible for across the County. This should deliver annual savings of £5.2 million. Coupled with lower costs, the new LED lighting will bring with it a Central Management System, which will allow for greater flexibility in dimming lights and in varying times when lights are turned on and off.
This represents an opportunity to gather residents' opinions on the system of part-night lighting that was introduced in Sevenoaks District at the start of a County-wide roll-out in late 2013. The County Council therefore launched yesterday a 10-week consultation on whether residents want to continue with part-night lighting or go back to having lights on all night. The results of the consultation should allow for a varied approach across different areas. This makes sense; in many urban areas (such as Swanley within Darent Valley), residents were very concerned about street lights being turned off at night, whereas in many rural areas there may be a very different view.
The consultation runs until 29 November. You can find KCC's press release here, and the consultation itself here. I hope as many Darent Valley residents as possible take part.
This represents an opportunity to gather residents' opinions on the system of part-night lighting that was introduced in Sevenoaks District at the start of a County-wide roll-out in late 2013. The County Council therefore launched yesterday a 10-week consultation on whether residents want to continue with part-night lighting or go back to having lights on all night. The results of the consultation should allow for a varied approach across different areas. This makes sense; in many urban areas (such as Swanley within Darent Valley), residents were very concerned about street lights being turned off at night, whereas in many rural areas there may be a very different view.
The consultation runs until 29 November. You can find KCC's press release here, and the consultation itself here. I hope as many Darent Valley residents as possible take part.
Sunday, 30 August 2015
More good news on local schools
As we approach the start of the new term, there is more encouraging news about local schools that was released over the holiday period.
Anthony Roper Primary School in Eynsford had its Ofsted inspection in early July. The inspectors' report - released after the school had broken up for the summer holiday - rated ARPS as Good. The school already had a Good rating, though that dates back to 2010, with a different head and a very different inspection regime. The report painted a favourable picture across the board - in pupils' learning, behaviour, the school's teaching, leadership and management - which does credit to Lynda Newton and her staff. Ofsted described the school as
Earlier in the year, Crockenhill Primary School under the leadership of Sarah Warshow also retained its Good rating. As previously noted, schools in the Darent Valley with weaker ratings have seen strong improvements. Now only St. Paul's in Swanley Village has a Requires Improvement rating, and that school is showing strong positive momentum.
Coupled with good Key Stage 2 performance across the County, and strong County-wide improvements in Ofsted ratings, especially for primary schools, this means that local schools should return this week with the wind in their sails.
Anthony Roper Primary School in Eynsford had its Ofsted inspection in early July. The inspectors' report - released after the school had broken up for the summer holiday - rated ARPS as Good. The school already had a Good rating, though that dates back to 2010, with a different head and a very different inspection regime. The report painted a favourable picture across the board - in pupils' learning, behaviour, the school's teaching, leadership and management - which does credit to Lynda Newton and her staff. Ofsted described the school as
-
"a cohesive, orderly and purposeful community in which
good teaching is the norm and high standards of behaviour are expected and are met by pupils."
Earlier in the year, Crockenhill Primary School under the leadership of Sarah Warshow also retained its Good rating. As previously noted, schools in the Darent Valley with weaker ratings have seen strong improvements. Now only St. Paul's in Swanley Village has a Requires Improvement rating, and that school is showing strong positive momentum.
Coupled with good Key Stage 2 performance across the County, and strong County-wide improvements in Ofsted ratings, especially for primary schools, this means that local schools should return this week with the wind in their sails.
Friday, 21 August 2015
United House
The latter issue very much drew me in, as both local County Councillor and with my Education responsibilities. As soon as I was aware of the situation, I contacted KCC's Property team, who arranged for security cover for the school. There had been some break-ins to the school before this was put in place, but it did ensure that the site was secure from last Sunday onwards and much of what was apparently taken from the school appears to have been retrieved.
The owners of the United House site went to court for an Interim Possession Order (IPO), which the court granted them on Wednesday. This gave the travellers until 12:15 yesterday to leave; they did so late yesterday, with the police providing strong support to the bailiffs to ensure that this took place.
At local residents' request, I convened and chaired a meeting between the acting Chief Inspector, and local residents in Swanley Town Council this morning. Town councillors, town council staff and the deputy head of the school were also present. This gave an opportunity to review all that had happened, and there was agreement to look at ensuring the best possible communication between the police (as well as councils) and local residents, while maintaining the police role as impartial upholders of the law.
All this has meant a great deal of anxiety and uncertainty for local people, as well as for the school staff, whose summer break has been significantly disrupted, and who put a lot of time and energy into ensuring that the school was secure. However, with the illegal encampment ended, hopefully those anxieties can now ease. The site itself, of course, remains the subject of a major planning application at Sevenoaks District Council, albeit one that is, I understand, in the process of revision.
Thursday, 23 July 2015
Crockenhill junction project: some big steps forward
The project to enhance safety at the central junction in Crockenhill - where Cray Road, Main Road and Broadway meet - has proved complex and difficult to complete. Quite a lot of progress has been made, notably through the installation of high friction surfacing and an interactive sign. Extra and improved signs and lines have gone in on the hill coming down from Green Court Road into Broadway, along with safety fencing by the green. There has also been a speed and traffic survey in the area, and additional yellow lines are due to be painted.
The big difficulty, as I reported to the annual Parish meeting in the spring, concerns the installation of additional traffic calming and the road closures that this would entail. The Parish Council has long been concerned about the impact of road closures, especially on Green Court Road (which would entail long detours round Crockenhill and Swanley). However, since the annual Parish meeting, there has been a growing view within the village and the Parish Council that some closures are a price worth paying for better control of speeds within the village.
Following a site meeting and further discussions with the Parish Council, we now have a clear way forward. A 20 mph zone will be established in the approaches to the junction; Traffic Regulation Orders to implement this are under way, starting a three month process. I will pay (from my Combined Member Fund) for a series of small granite sets, which use a relatively quick-setting German technology to reduce the length of the road closure needed, that will act as a further reminder to drivers to slow as they approach the junction. The October half term looks to be a likely installation date.
The one outstanding issue is the possible addition of village gateway signs. This will be reviewed when we have a clear picture on the cost of the project that has been agreed, and whether this leaves anything over from what has already been committed in my Combined Member Fund.
The big difficulty, as I reported to the annual Parish meeting in the spring, concerns the installation of additional traffic calming and the road closures that this would entail. The Parish Council has long been concerned about the impact of road closures, especially on Green Court Road (which would entail long detours round Crockenhill and Swanley). However, since the annual Parish meeting, there has been a growing view within the village and the Parish Council that some closures are a price worth paying for better control of speeds within the village.
Following a site meeting and further discussions with the Parish Council, we now have a clear way forward. A 20 mph zone will be established in the approaches to the junction; Traffic Regulation Orders to implement this are under way, starting a three month process. I will pay (from my Combined Member Fund) for a series of small granite sets, which use a relatively quick-setting German technology to reduce the length of the road closure needed, that will act as a further reminder to drivers to slow as they approach the junction. The October half term looks to be a likely installation date.
The one outstanding issue is the possible addition of village gateway signs. This will be reviewed when we have a clear picture on the cost of the project that has been agreed, and whether this leaves anything over from what has already been committed in my Combined Member Fund.
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