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Borough Council Corner
(July 2007)
Public Trust in Professionals Survey
There has been much to do this month on many issues and I have soon got back into the swing of site meetings, council meetings and Borough training. Amongst this I found an interesting “Public Trust in Professionals” survey. Amongst these were: Doctors 91%, Teachers 87%, Clergy 71%, Police 64%, ordinary people 53%, Civil Servants 46%, Local Councillors 35%, business leaders 28%, Government Ministers 20% and politicians and journalists on 18%. (Mori Poll 2006)
Recycling Meeting
The recycling meeting, supported by the HELPERS residents’ association, has hopefully started some sort of debate and action within the community.
Action in Communities in Rural Kent
I am please to be representing the borough, since this is a group that gives tremendous help to parishes, ranging from Parish Plans to accessing grant funding.
The Post Bus
I am disappointed that the Post Office has made the decision to stop the post bus that operates in Platts Heath. I am working with Tony Harwood of MBC and Cabinet member responsible for transport issues. A robust public campaign involving local people and all three tiers of local government and MPs is needed. Tony is speaking to key MBC officers regarding engaging key individuals and agencies on a campaign strategy – incorporating campaign liaison between Maidstone and Canterbury.
This is very worrying for residents who have no other means of transport. If we are unable to reverse this decision, I will actively campaign to find another way of providing transport.
Liaison with Parish Councils
I am pleased to see new Councillors on the Parish Council and look forward to working with them. I am also glad to see that there is a move to working more closely with Harrietsham Parish Council regarding highway issues and can report that Kent County Councillor Keith Ferrin is willing to meet with me and Parish Councillors regarding traffic calming in The Square at Lenham.
Co-ordinator at Lenham House
The petition against the loss of the co-ordinator at Lenham House has been going very well and there has been much publicity in the local press, thanks to all those who have signed this petition. The petition would have been presented by Mr Corker from Lenham House to Sir Sandy Bruce Lockhart, our County Council representative.
Tom Sams, Borough Councillor: tomsams@maidstone.gov.uk teleno 859412
Complaints about high hedges
The law will be changing, expected to be fully in force by the end of
this year (hopefully) making it easier to complain about hedges that act
as a barrier to light or access and/or adversely affect the person’s
reasonable enjoyment of their property.
The local authority, Maidstone Borough Council,
will be able, under the new Act to, where proven, bring enforcement action.
A briefing document has been obtained and anyone wishing for a copy of
this can ring us and obtain one. Alternatively go to www.lenham.net and
go through this to the Harrietsham website, look for ‘Issues, High
Hedges’, and this document has been scanned in for viewing.
Tom&Janettasams@maidstone.gov.uk
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