News

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

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.

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.”