Tim Prater

There is a vacancy for a Sandgate Parish Councillor following the death of Robert Bliss last year. As an election was called, the by-election for the Sandgate Village ward position will take place on Thursday 6th May.

To put yourself forward for an election you must complete a nomination form.  To request a nomination pack please contact the Returning Officer by email at elections@folkestone-hythe.gov.uk.  Although the nominations period hasn’t officially started, you may receive the nomination pack in advance to read the instructions in your own time.

Most of the nomination pack is self-explanatory but if you would like to ask anything about the form or the process, please give Paul Butler an email on paul.butler@folkestone-hythe.gov.uk.  There may be some elements of the form that require you to seek your own legal advice.  Paul will let you know if this is the case.

The Notice of Election will include instructions of where you need to submit the nomination forms (by hand).  This will be published online at www.folkestone-hythe.gov.uk/elections/upcoming-elections on Friday 19 March 2021 and also on the Parish/Town noticeboard. 

You may submit nomination papers from Monday 22 March 2021, from 10am.  Given the circumstances, Anyone that approaches the Returning Officer via email, expressing an interest in standing will be asked nearer the time to set up a timed appointment slot so we can keep contact and wait times to a minimum.  That said, you do not have to have an appointment to submit nomination papers between the dates and times stated on the Notice of Election.

The Returning Officer will be providing a briefing to candidates and agents after nominations have closed.  The date for this will be circulated nearer the time.

There is a lot of useful information for candidates on the Electoral Commission’s website with regards to campaign spending, code of conduct, etc.  There address is http://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/i-am-a/candidate-or-agent.

Following a number of reports of use of quad bikes in parks in Sandgate, Kent Police have provided us with their information leaflet on them.

As it says: “It is against the law to use a go-ped, mini moto, quad bike or motorbike in public parks, open spaces or on footpaths, pavements, cycle routes and bridleways.”

For the avoidance of doubt, that includes Sandgate Park and Fremantle Park. There are no signs saying so because the same applies to ALL public parks, open spaces, footpaths, pavements, cycle routes and bridleways. Sandgate is not an exception, and Kent Police are aware of and watching for the issue. Any incidents of use of such vehicles in pubic parks should be reported to Kent Police via 101 or the Kent Police online reporting page. they ask that the report includes:

• The dates and times that you have been affected by nuisance vehicles

• The location of the vehicles and what they were doing

• Descriptions of the vehicles and people involved

• Whether the vehicles were ridden to the area, or whether another vehicle was used to transport them.

The information you provide will help them to identify those responsible and take action to prevent them causing problems in the future.

In under 3 weeks time on March 21st, households across Sandgate will be asked to take part in Census 2021.

The census is a once-in-a-decade survey that gives us the most accurate estimate of all the people and households in England and Wales. It has been carried out every decade since 1801, with the exception of 1941.

It will be the first run predominantly online, with households receiving a letter with a unique access code, allowing them to complete the questionnaire on their computers, phones or tablets.

“A successful census will ensure everyone from local government to charities can put services and funding in the places where they are most needed,” Iain Bell, deputy national statistician at the Office for National Statistics, said.

“This could mean things like doctors’ surgeries, schools and new transport routes. That’s why it is so important everyone takes part and we have made it easier for people to do so online on any device, with help and paper questionnaires for those that need them.”

There are more details about the Census on the Office of National Statistics website.

Census day will be on March 21, but households across the country will receive letters with online codes allowing them to take part from early March.

The census will include questions about your sex, age, work, health, education, household size and ethnicity. And, for the first time, there will be a question asking people whether they have served in the armed forces, as well as voluntary questions for those aged 16 and over on sexual orientation and gender identity.

Results will be available within 12 months, although personal records will be locked away for 100 years, kept safe for future generations.

For more information, visit census.gov.uk.

Leigh Poppy – Census Engagement Manager for South East Kent