News

02
Mar
2021
Census 2021 will provide a snapshot of modern society

Census 2021 will provide a snapshot of modern society

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

Posted by Tim Prater in News
23
Feb
2021

Beacons – Community engagement project with Alison Neighbour, Creative Folkestone and SparkedEcho

Beacons is an outdoor performance planned for December 2021. It is about the connections within our ecosystem and our dependence on each other (people, places, and creatures). It will involve a treasure hunt across the whole borough in November and December, leading to a magical sound and light performance on Sunny Sands beach on the winter solstice. 

The heroes of our story are Sea Gooseberries, creatures found in every ocean of the world who may be the ancestors of every other living creature, including us humans. From time to time, particularly in spring and early summer, they wash up on to the beaches of Folkestone. Containing millennia of experience could they be beacons we all need as we seek a way to save our world?

The other heroes are members of our community and our local and global eco system! We’re recruiting 13 Sea Gooseberry Guardians; one for each ward in Folkestone, Hythe & Romney Marsh. The role of the Sea Gooseberry Guardians is to make connections with as many people and businesses as possible in their ward, creating excitement for the project and collecting people’s stories. By November, each Sea Gooseberry Guardian will have recruited 13 places across their ward for a Sea Gooseberry – a beautiful, glowing art work made for Beacons– to be situated for the November and December treasure hunt.

In exchange for help engaging local communities in this project we are offering Sea Gooseberry Guardians a payment of £1000 in thanks for their time and efforts. Find out more about becoming a Sea Gooseberry Guardian here: Become a Sea Gooseberry Guardian – Creative Folkestone

Posted by Tim Prater in News
19
Feb
2021

Community Networking Event on Zoom

All community organisations operating in Folkestone & Hythe District are invited to join the 7th in a series of networking events in partnership with Red Zebra:

F&HDC Zoom Community Networking Forum ‘Staying Connected‘.
 
Thursday 25th February 2021, Start 11.30am

If you are interested in this topic and / or looking to make links with other organisations and to find out what is going on locally, then please join our Community Networking event.
 
On the agenda are three presentations from guest speakers including the Romney Marsh Hub, South Kent Mind and Stronger Kent Communities.  You will have an opportunity to ask questions if you wish.
 
Please RSVP by e-mail to Sarah Thomas at  sarah.thomas@redzebra.org.uk to book your place by midday on Wednesday 24th February.

Posted by Tim Prater in News
18
Feb
2021

Temporary Overnight Road Closures – Risborough Lane, Cheriton – 10-13 March 2021

Overnight closures of part of B2063 Risborough Lane, Cheriton, near Folkestone are planned for the nights of Wednesday 10 March to Saturday 13 March 2021 inclusive, from 8.00 pm through until approximately 5.00 am each night. 

B2063 Risborough Lane will be closed between the junctions with B2064 Cheriton High Street and Church Road, to the actual extent indicated on site.

Cheriton map showing diversion

The alternative route for through traffic is via B2064 Cheriton High Street, A2034 Cheriton Road, A259 Castle Hill Avenue, Shorncliffe Road, Earls Avenue, Sandgate Road, Sandgate Hill, Sandgate High Street and B2063 Military Road back to Risborough Lane.

Risborough Way will be closed at the junction with B2063 Risborough Lane, with personnel on site to allow managed access.

Access for any residents affected will be maintained when it is safe to do so, but there are likely to be delays and certain times when this is not possible for safety reasons.

The closures are to enable Kent County Council to carry out essential carriageway resurfacing works.

The works have been timed to be carried out overnight, to reduce their impact.

Some delays are likely, especially earlier in the evenings, so it is recommended that motorists allow extra time for their journeys or consider using alternative routes during these works.

These works are weather dependent, and if adverse conditions prevent works being fully completed within the planned dates given, the duration may need to be extended or some works re-scheduled.

The most up to date information on these works can be found here: https://one.network/?tm=120988995

The Kent County Council Highway Helpline phone number is 03000 418181 – please ask for Road & Footway Asset Team

Posted by Tim Prater in News
16
Feb
2021
Shaping Adult Social Care Strategy: Kent County Council Engagement Workshops

Shaping Adult Social Care Strategy: Kent County Council Engagement Workshops

Kent County Council want to work more closely with the public, people we support and our partners to develop Kent County Council’s upcoming Adult Social Care Strategy.

If you’re interested in the future of social care or have had a recent experience of accessing support in Kent, please get involved to share your views at our early engagement sessions.

Kent County Council would like to hear from people from all backgrounds in Kent aged 18 and over. Workshops are also open to members of voluntary organisations and community groups.

Join one of our online Zoom workshops in February and March*

  • 10.30am – 12.00 Friday 19 Feb
  • 10.30am – 12.00 Friday 26 Feb
  • 10.30am – 12.00 Friday 5 March
  • 10.30am – 12.00 Wednesday 10 March
  • 10.30am – 12.00 Friday 19 March
  • 10.30am – 12.00 Wednesday 31 March

(*Dates and times may change subject to demand)

Continuing the conversation

We want to make sure that as many different communities as possible in Kent have the chance to get involved. If you run a local voluntary group or charity, let us know if you would like us to attend one of your virtual meetings.

Register your interest at makingadifference@kent.gov.uk with your name, area of interest within social care, organisation (if applicable) and the date of the workshop you’d like to attend.

For information call the Stakeholder Engagement team on 03000 418 179.

Posted by Tim Prater in News
15
Feb
2021

Reporting Problems in Sandgate

Although Sandgate Parish Council is happy to try to help with sorting out issues in Sandgate, often we are not the ones who can actually get the problem sorted. In those instances, we need to pass it onto other agencies or Councils, such as Kent Police, Kent County Council and Folkestone and Hythe District Council.

Often the quickest way of getting those issues resolved, especially if it is urgent, is to report it directly to the right authority. We’ve complied the list below of many of the key services and places to report below.

If you would prefer to contact Sandgate Parish Council we are here to help, but a direct report to the correct authority may get a quicker response.

Kent Police

http://www.kent.police.uk/

Phone 101 to report a non-urgent crime. Crime prevention advice can be found on our website: www.kent.police.uk. You can report a crime online at:  www.reportacrime.kent.police.uk or call 101 to report a non-urgent crime.

In case of emergency dial 999 for Police, Fire, Ambulance or Coastguard Services.

If you are deaf or speech impaired text Police and your message to 60066.

If you wish to contact Kent Police to report non-emergency issues, here are some useful online reporting websites or ring 101.

  • Report a dangerous dog that has either already attacked, or put a person in genuine fear for their safety or the safety of others. For non-urgent matters report it online to Kent Police or in an emergency call 999)

Kent Highways (Part of Kent County Council)

If a problem may cause an accident please call immediately on 03000 418181 between 9am and 5pm Monday to Friday or on 03000 419191 at all other times.

You can report all non-urgent issues online at their fault reporting address of https://www.kent.gov.uk/roads-and-travel/report-a-problem including:

  • street light faults
  • potholes
  • drainage
  • traffic signal faults
  • overgrown vegetation (including hedges and grass).

Problems Kent Highways don’t manage

You need to contact:

To report any emergency issues outside of normal office hours (Monday – Friday, 9am till 5pm), please telephone 03000 41 91 91.

Kent County Council

Enquiries about Schools, Social Services, and Registering Births, Deaths and Weddings amongst others should go to Kent County Council.

Folkestone and Hythe District Council

https://folkestone-hythe.gov.uk/

To report issues locally on the Folkestone and Hythe District Council website you need to sign up to their MyAccount service. Registering is free, quick and simple and allows you to make use of the benefits of having all of your own information in one place. You can register in advance, or at the time of using the service, such as reporting a problem.

Having registered you can – amongst other things – report issues (and see updates on those reports), make a council tax payment and look at planning applications within a 500m radius of your registered property.

Issues you can report online to Folkestone and Hythe District Council include:

Environment Agency

Report an environmental incident by calling the Environment Agency incident hotline on 0800 80 70 60 (24-hour service) or email enquiries@environment-agency.gov.uk to report:

  • damage or danger to the natural environment;
  • pollution to water or landpoaching or illegal fishing;
  • dead fish or fish gasping for air;
  • main rivers blocked by a vehicle or fallen tree causing risk of flooding;
  • flooding from any river, stream, canal, natural spring or the sea;
  • incidents at Environment Agency-regulated waste sites;
  • illegal removals from watercourses;
  • unusual changes in river flow;
  • collapsed or badly damaged river or canal banks.
Posted by Tim Prater in News
15
Feb
2021
Sandgate Parish Council Budget and Precept 2021-22

Sandgate Parish Council Budget and Precept 2021-22

On January 19th, Sandgate Parish Council unanimously agreed its budget for 2021/22. As the minutes from the Parish Council meeting show:

“The draft budget and proposed Precept of £80,625 were considered following the recommendation of Resources Committee. The budget proposed a 2% increase (on Band D Council Tax, an increase of 84p a year on the current £41.81), but with a lower tax base than last year: it was therefore proposed that General Reserves be used to meet a budgeted total income shortfall of £1,667. Following discussion the draft budget and Precept of £80,625 were approved.”

Parish Council Chairman Tim Prater spoke at the meeting on the budget and the proposed increase, and how it affects Sandgate Parish Council’s Council Tax. He said:

“The consideration of our annual budget isn’t a quick process, or done in one night. The proposals put forward tonight have already been through Resources committee twice. Requests for funding have been put forward by our committees, and we’ve carefully looked at this years expenditure and made realistic assessments of how that then applies to next years budget.

“We are supporting the running costs (including electric) of around £4,000 a year for the new CCTV system, but I think that annually that will prove to be a good investment, making local residents feel more secure and hopefully helping us reduce the thousands we have had to spend this year on repairing vandalism.

“We are maintaining our spending on maintaining our parks and open spaces, funding Christmas lights, summer planting, hanging baskets and more: the “quality of life” spending that make a real difference to Sandgate.

“We’re also continuing to manage the library and all other services: we have one of only two libraries in the district offering library services at all at the moment. I would like to publicly thank Gaye and the library staff and volunteers that are making that happen.

“However, it has been a really hard year financially for many. That has fed through into the number of houses locally actually paying full council tax, which in itself cuts our income.

“We’ve done everything we can to limit the increase in Council Tax, but to balance to books we are seeking a 2% increase in the Band D Council Tax rate.

“A Band D property is Sandgate this year (2020-21) paid £1963.60 Council Tax. Of that:

  • £41.81 is set by Sandgate Parish Council;
  • £33.93 goes to the Folkestone Parks and Pleasure Grounds Charity;
  • £79.29 is for Kent Fire and Rescue;
  • £203.15 for the Police and Crime Commissioner;
  • £268.38 goes to Folkestone & Hythe District Council;
  • £1351.26 goes to Kent County Council.

“The Sandgate Parish Council rise adds 2% just to our element of that. That’s 84p a year on our £41.81 for a Band D household. Just 1.6p per week.

“By way of comparison:

  • Kent County Council have agreed a 5% increase in their element of Council Tax for next year. That’s an extra £67.50 a year, or £1.30 a week.
  • The Police and Crime Commissioner has agreed a 7% rise in their element of Council Tax (an extra £14 a year).
  • It looks likely Folkestone and Hythe District Council will seek 2% on their Council Tax (£5.36 a year).

“I make no judgment on those rises here, but point out that the impact is much higher.

“I’d also like to mention that there is a popular belief that we pay more Council Tax in Sandgate than elsewhere in the district. It’s not true. In 2020 Council Tax was higher than Sandgate’s in Folkestone, Hawkinge & New Romney.

“Finally, many thanks to our excellent RFO Simon Horton for his many hours of getting this budget together, and to Adrian Watts and the Resources committee for the number of times they have been through the options on this.”

Posted by Tim Prater in News
12
Feb
2021

F&HDC Community Group & Charity Update Feb 2021

Folkestone Town Centre Place Plan development

This is a message for services and charities who support residents of Folkestone and who are interested in being part of the stakeholder group for the development of Folkestone Town Centre.  We Made That have been commissioned to engage with stakeholders in the development of the plans. For more information see the attachment and the press release here:

https://www.folkestone-hythe.gov.uk/news/place-plan-appointed

If you are interested in feeding into the development of the plans, please email Alex Sansom at communitydevelopment@folkestone-hythe.gov.uk with a contact name, organisation name, email address and a brief sentence on your role in Folkestone for me to pass on to We Made That.

Social Prescribing Webinar

The National Academy for Social Prescribing are delivering a free webinar on Wednesday 17th February, 3pm.

This webinar is designed for those in voluntary, community, faith, and social enterprise groups and organisations who want to learn more about how the NHS is structured and how social prescribing fits in. Find out what is an ICS, STP or PCN. Understand the NHS’ structure, its jargon, and how social prescribing fits in.

In this webinar you will hear:

·       how the NHS is structured and how it works on a local level

·       how social prescribing fits in with the NHS and local authorities to build an effective social prescribing ‘eco-system’

·       about the impact social prescribing link workers are having on primary care

·       how community groups and organisations can work effectively with their local NHS and social prescribing structures

Please visit the Eventbrite page to register.

Job Opportunity

RMDC are recruiting a Services Manager to join the team. See the attached advert.

People can access the job description, person specification and job application on the website www.rmdc.org.uk or email jon.wilson@rmdc.org.uk for more information and an application form.

Closing date is Friday 19 February 2021.  Interviews will be held on Friday 26 February 2021.

Specialist Volunteers Ready to Help Kent Charities

Stronger Kent Communities (SKC) are in contact with specialist volunteers who can offer their skills to assist your organisation.

Examples of the types of volunteers and their skills that could assist your organisation with a task or project are:

·       Website Developer

·       IT Professional

·       Impact & Evaluation Volunteer

·       Professional Photographer

·       Student volunteers such as accountancy and media, are also looking for volunteering tasks and roles, as part of their courses

If you would like to enquire about a specialist volunteer to help your organisation, please fill in the online form here:

https://strongerkentcommunities.org.uk/our-services/specialist-volunteering-service/specialist-volunteering-needs/?mc_cid=9170815fb9&mc_eid=84d1706907

Hold the Date – ‘Staying Connected’

Folkestone & Hythe District Council in partnership with Red Zebra, are planning the next virtual Community Networking Event, ‘Staying Connected’.

The provisional time and date is 10am on 25th February.  Look out for the invitation next week with further details.

Posted by Tim Prater in News
09
Feb
2021
Sandgate CCTV System Commissioned and Live

Sandgate CCTV System Commissioned and Live

Sandgate Parish Council are delighted to have completed the installation of the Sandgate CCTV system. The system covers much of the length of Sandgate High Street, Castle Road Car Park, Golden Valley Shopping Centre and Sandgate Park.

The multi-camera recording system has been funded from a variety of sources including grants from the F&HDC High Streets Fund, the Sandgate Society, District Councillors Tim Prater and Gary Fuller, County Councillor Rory Love and Sandgate Parish Council funds.

Ongoing, the Parish Council will be paying around £4,000 a year to power and maintain the system – lower than the cost of other systems in the district. It is possible to extend the coverage of the system in future, but the current system will be evaluated before any options to do so are considered.

The Sandgate Park CCTV cameras are infrared to ensure the system is able to view detail at range at night. The other areas have sufficient light at all times not to need infrared.

The CCTV is a recording only system, and it will be operated according to protocols agreed by the Parish Council and laid down at https://sandgatepc.org.uk/cctv/

Cameras are NOT focused on private homes, gardens or other areas of private property. Should a Resident have a concern about an area of CCTV focus the Parish Council will, on receipt of a request in writing arrange to remove the area of concern from CCTV view. Any local resident concerned about the view of a specific camera of their property can arrange to check the area monitored. To arrange to do so, contact clerk@sandgatepc.org.uk or call 01303 248563.

There are signs advising of the CCTV system in each of the areas being monitored, and more signs will be erected soon. We don’t want to clutter the area with signs, but equally know that one of the most important elements of a CCTV system is its deterrent effect!

Regular crime statistics from Kent Police show that Sandgate is one of the safest places to be in the Folkestone & Hythe District, with a low crime rate. We hope that the new CCTV system acts as additional reassurance for residents and visitors.

Posted by Tim Prater in News