Q36. The coalition Government is committed to advancing the new 'Localism' agenda. What specific aspects is the Borough Council committed to and opposed to? What provisions, financial and officer support has been/will be committed to develop this agenda? As this new spirit of localism develops does the Council envisage the establishment of town council's for Sittingbourne and the Isle of Sheppey (Faversham has had one for many years and is a good model for the other areas to follow)? If not why not and if so what resources are envisaged being made available to support them? Do you accept that given the pressures on Council finances, arising from Central Government squeeze, and the Government focus on improving and extending local involvement and control, resources will have to be 'freed up' from available budgets to allow any meaningful progress with development of localism? What specific resources have been identified for future financial years, beginning in 2011/12, to support the development of localism in Swale?

Ref: 10587282

Answer: Swale Borough Council is committed to the principles of localism and to playing its part in growing the 'Big Society' in the borough, but like other councils we are still working through the implications of the Localism Bill, the details of which will change as it makes its way through Parliament and its clauses are eventually enacted. We continue to enjoy a very strong relationship with town and parish councils and the voluntary and community sector, and a number of joint 'Big Society' projects are already underway, including asset transfers, formation of cooperatives, and further training and capacity-building work. We have also begun to reshape our community services team in response to this new policy context, and are reviewing our Local Engagement Forums - over time, and depending on the requirements of the Localism Bill, we have strong aspirations to devolve and delegate powers through these fora as they mature and develop. The council has been planning for a major reduction in Government funding for some time. Our priorities have not changed, but they will be extensively reviewed in the summer in conjunction with our Medium-Term Financial Strategy. The budget report to Cabinet on 5 January sets out the main variations in 2011/12 from this year's budget and will be debated by Full Council in February. It is a public document, available on our website.

Q35. Have you tried the new SBC Website, and what do you think of it?

Ref: 10588849

Answer: Thank you for your question.

In answer, yes I have used the website and find it an improvement on our old site. It should be stated that the website is currently in a state of evolution and is not the final version.

The original Content Management System (CMS) that facilitates posting information to the website was costing the council in excess of 10K per year. Approximately 18 months ago all the content was migrated onto a new CMS which is an openly available free resource.

As part of that process it was timely to look at the design of the old site. We had feedback from the public that, in summary, stated that residents wanted a much simpler site with fewer links and a better search facility and stronger use of colour.

The new website is very similar to the old in architecture, but in summary, the information presented is grouped into five core areas:

• Business and Jobs,
• Performance monitoring information,
• News,
• Information relating to administering; such as licensing applications, and Governing; our democratic information and finally,
• Living and Visiting in which lies the bulk of our services information.

This was because it was found that users tend to search out one of these areas when they visit the site.

Our Search facility is now much more sophisticated than it used to be, a search not only reviews our site, it also reviews our democratic services element so covers Council agendas and minutes. It searches our neighbouring Local Authority sites, Kent Police and Kent Fire and Rescue websites. Finally it searches the Frequently Asked Questions database managed by the Customer Service Centre. Feedback indicates that some users are not fully appreciating this ‘four level’ search and that it can cause confusion, and I’m advised that the Communications team will be reviewing how the results are presented.

The most frequently raised issue I am aware of relates to the home page and the lack of information on there. Our Communications and Marketing Manager is meeting with our Web Officer and IT Manager to discuss a plan to add a number of elements to the homepage. This will include listing consultations, quick links to our most popular services, latest news and a notice board section dedicated to promoting dynamic information such as refuse collection information during bouts of bad weather.

Local Authority sites are performance monitored and I am pleased that Swales site ranking has improved from over 400 out of 431 back in 2009, to168 out of 431currently (Source Sitemorse) and our Web Officer will continue to improve our ranking position. The CMS migration mentioned above also resulted in cost savings.

A number of other developments are in the pipeline, including the return of a new A - Z Listing of services, and GIS mapping, which will enable residents to, for example, locate their nearest recycling centre on a map.

If you have any specific feedback relating to the website, please contact our Web Officer or Marketing and Communications Manager via our Customer Service Centre on 01795 417850 and they will be happy to help or factor your feedback into the ongoing development of the website.

Q34. What is the current situation regarding the construction works at Neatscourt on Sheppey? Work seems to have ground to a halt over the last few months. What are the current plans and timescales for the site?

Ref: 10573047

Answer: We are now in phase two of the preparatory construction works at Neats Court and we are awaiting planning applications for future developments at the site. SEEDA (South East England Development Agency) and Crown Estates are actively marketing the land at Neats Court, endeavouring to attract new businesses to the area and thereby creating jobs. We are in talks with some companies who are keen to develop parts of this site. Work has just started on site this month to upgrade the electrical services for EDF, plus work for Southern Water to construct a foul water pumping station.

BIRSE, the main contractor, will return to site to complete the Rushenden Link Road this spring. The reason no work has been taking place is due to a planned break in construction to allow for a nine month period of ground settlement to the rail embankment and bridge. The new road will be open by September.

Q33. Do you consider the half a million pounds spent on the consultation process and architectural impressions for Sittingbourne town centre regeneration represents good value for money ? In addition, I understand that the plan is for some 15 to 20 years hence, so are the findings of the consultation at all relevant?

Mr H. of Sittingbourne Ref:10454840

Answer: Thank you for taking the time to submit your question regarding the consultation process and architectural impressions for Sittingbourne town centre regeneration.

I do think that the money spent on the regeneration process for Sittingbourne is good value for money and I truly believe that the regeneration will greatly benefit the residents of Swale.

The amount of money spent on preparing the master plan is broadly what this type of comprehensive exercise costs. There is a significant amount of work behind the scenes that has to deal with a range of technical detail ranging from transport analysis, flood risk assessment and environmental impacts. There is also a lot of work that considers viability and the practicalities around how the master plan will be delivered. The work also needs to look to the future and make sure what we build now will stand the test of time. The masterplan provides the flexibility in terms of phasing to make sure that the overall vision remains in place - as it should do - the route by which we get there can adapt to changes over time. I hope this answers your question

Q32. My address is XXXXXX (Blanked), I want to know that my house is in the correct council tax band and that I am not paying too much?

Miss H. of Sittingbourne Ref: 10301757

ANSWER: Thank you for your enquiry about checking to see if you are in the correct Council Tax band. The Property Bands for the purposes of Council Tax are assessed by the Valuation Office Agency and placed in the Valuation List. These bands are notified to the Authority (Swale Borough Council) in order that the relevant charge be placed against the accounts. The Authority has no control over Property Bands and I would advise you to contact the Valuation Office Agency direct at: Palting House, Trinity Road, Folkestone, Kent CT20 2TP. Telephone 01322 852 900. E Mail address voa@gsi.gov.uk. I hope this information is of help.

Q31. How can you justify the increases in your allowances, cut our services, and increase the council tax, when the country is in such a state 5% increase in allowances,why don't you resign and give the people a chance to show how much the money grabbing councillors are liked?

Mr S. of Teynham Ref: 10332941

Answer: Councillors allowances have been set for several years by an Independent Members Allowances Panel. The Panel have recently submitted their proposals for the coming year which go direct to Full Council. They will therefore be discussed and voted upon by all members of Swale Borough Council on Wednesday 24th February 2010.

Swale Borough Council has a statutory duty to produce a balanced budget. Only 11% of our income (approximately) is derived from Council Tax. To put the Council Tax into context, for a Band D property the 2009-10 Tax is £1383.04, only £156.06 of this is allocated to Swale Borough Council for the year, the balance going to Kent County Council, the Fire and Rescue Authority and Kent Police. Therefore whether we are able to maintain services or introduce cuts is largely down to the grants we receive from Central Government and the duties they impose upon us.

At present one third of Borough Councillors are elected each year and as I am sure you are well aware there will be elections to Swale Borough Council on May 6th including the Teynham and Lynsted Ward. The Leader of the Council is an annual appointment made at Annual Council in mid May, therefore, Members of the Council have an annual opportunity to nominate and elect which ever councillor they desire.

Q30. Can you explain the conservative policy on the new equalities bill that for the first time puts white males at a disadvantage when applying for work. can you also advise why the conservative party supported the bill?

Mr S. of Teynham Ref: 10324339

Answer: I am not an expert on the new Equalities Bill and have no knowledge on how the Conservatives voted in the House of Commons or their reasons for doing so, I am therefore passing this question on to Mr Gordon Henderson the Conservative Parliamentary Spokesperson in the Sittingbourne Constituency.

Q29. Does the new equalities bill apply to the councils housing policy from July?

Mr S. of Teynham Ref: 10324428

ANSWER: For any bill to become law it must go through three readings in the House of Commons and three readings in the House of Lords before receiving Royal Assent. The Equalities Bill 2008/09 was introduced in House of Commons on Friday 24 April 2009 and has passed through House Commons, received its first two readings in the House of Lords and is due to go to committee stage on 9 February 2010. It is unclear when the Bill will receive Royal Assent but it is likely that the earliest that the changes will come into full force is the end of 2011.

One of the key areas of policy introduced by the Bill is a new unified public sector equality duty which is intended to promote equality in public policy and decisions making. Currently there are three separate duties for race, gender and disability, and the new duty would extend to cover sexual orientation, age, religion/belief and socio economic inequalities. Swale Borough Council already has in place a corporate equality strategy and statutory equalities scheme that covers the equalities six strands of diversity race, gender, disability, sexual orientation, age, religion/belief, and is currently undertaking a piece of work to refresh the strategy and scheme in light of these forthcoming changes.

We will be developing both corporate and service level action plans to demonstrate how we are responding to the new public sector equality duty as it is important that local authorities continue to demonstrate how they are meeting their existing statutory obligations. Swale Borough Council's Housing Strategy has recently been updated and is currently being consulted upon.

 02 Dec 2009

Q28. I was surprised to read an article in 'Kent Messenger Extra' (20/11/09) regarding the role of the interim director of regeneration for Swale that apart from his obvious task he also has additional responsibilities for waste collection, parks, swimming pools and leisure. Does the leader of the council believe that this gives an appropriate message to the people of Swale regarding the council's commitment towards regeneration?

Mr H. of Sittingbourne Ref: 10271371

ANSWER: The role of the Director of Regeneration does exactly what it says on the tin - it is focussed on regeneration in all its forms. As a senior role within the Council and in a time of tight financial resources, the job naturally has other responsibilities, but those not directly concerning regeneration are dealt with by experienced heads of service. This leaves the Director free to concentrate on the big picture - which is to encourage the regeneration we need while respecting the environment we live in. If the Council were to increase the number of senior management posts, this would inevitably incur an extra cost to the Council Tax payer.

 04 Nov 2009

Q27. Can the leader explain whether the additional 50.00 landfill tax will be added to the prospective increase of 5% next year or can he now confirm that we will have to pay extra to the KCC because of the 50 million of public funds lost.

Mr S. of Teynham Ref: 10244455

ANSWER: Swale Borough Council are responsible for waste collection and Kent County Council for waste disposal. Any landfill tax for waste disposal would therefore be the responsibility of KCC and not SBC. However, the introduction of the twin bin scheme to Swale residents in 2007 has been very successful in increasing recycling and therefore reducing the amount of residual waste that would normally go to landfill. In addition the residual waste that is produced in Swale does not go to landfill but is taken the energy from waste plant at Allington where it is burnt to create electricity. Any increases in landfill tax will therefore not be an issue for the domestic waste generated in the Swale area.

I assume that the impact of the "50 million of public funds lost" refers to the £50 million which KCC had as deposits in Icelandic banks. As the financial effect of this sum is a matter for KCC, I cannot comment on whether there is any connection between this and the landfill tax to which you refer. However, I am sure that KCC would be happy to respond to your query.

Swale Borough Council's 2009-10 Budget book does include a projection of its budget for three years, and shows an annual increase in its Council Tax of 5%. This does not include any forecast in Council Tax by KCC. However, for Swale Council, the 5% increase is only a forecast and the Council is not committed to this increase. Swale Council is currently preparing its budget for 2010-11 and Medium Term Financial Strategy for the next five years which will include a review of its assumptions for its increase in Council Tax.

 18 Oct 2009

Q26. Can you please tell me why, the litter in and around Iwade is not cleared ? The road between Iwade and Bobbing is the worst that I have seen in Kent. The village arranges a Village Clear up day, as the council neglect their duty. I sweep my road as I have in the last 5 years never seen a cleaner. A bag of rubbish was dumped near the medical centre in Iwade for 2 months before a neighbour cleared it. Swale Council, is without doubt the worst council in Kent. I travel all over the county for my work and Swale is by far the worst for litter. Can you explain what I pay my council tax for. PLEASE DO WHAT THE COUNCIL IS PAID TO DO. Iwade has a population of WORKING people that spend money in the borough and pay their council tax in full. This village is being neglected by the Council.

Mr J. of Iwade Ref: 10229790

ANSWER: Thank you for your question regarding littering issues in and around Iwade. A street scene officer has surveyed the area and the village of Iwade has been assessed as B which is graded as according to the code of practice on litter and refuse (COPLAR). The grading criteria are based upon the following criteria;

Grade A = No litter or refuse

Grade B = Predominantly free of litter and refuse apart from some small items.

Grade C = Widespread distribution of litter and/or refuse with minor accumulations.

Grade D = Heavily affected by litter and/or refuse with significant accumulations

There is further guidance available and if you would like a copy please contact Alan Turner on 01795 417285 or email alanturner@swale.gov.uk and he will provide you with a copy.

The B grading of the general area of Iwade satisfactorily meets the requirements of the code provided the area does not fall below grade B and if so this must be brought back to grade A within one day of it doing so. A road/area falls to grade B with just one piece of litter prevalent and it is recognised that grade A at all times is not practical therefore grade B is regarded as satisfactory. Iwade is zoned as an area of medium intensity of use which is consistent with the recommendations of COPLAR therefore it receives an alternate monthly litter pick/total cleanse on the scheduled day of Monday.

The road between Bobbing and Iwade has been assessed as grade D and is in urgent need of attention. This work will be carried out Thursday 1 October. The condition of this road with regard to littering is an issue generally due to littering emanating from the commercial premises nearby and officers will be discussing with proprietors on how best the amounts of litter deposited in this area can be reduced. The roadside verge has recently been cut and this has exasperated the situation with shredded litter but please be assured this is receiving the council’s immediate attention.

Alan Turner (Cleansing Services Manager) advises me that he will be happy to arrange for a meeting on site with you at your convenience if you so wish to discuss further these matters of concern to you.

 17 Oct 2009

Q25. We are working on a school project and we need some information on any future plans for the Isle of Sheppey's industry and housing.

Mr C. of Minster Ref: 10237383

ANSWER: The Local Plan states that from 2001 to 2016, 8,100 new dwellings, which equates to 540 new dwellings being provided every year, need to be built in the Thames Gateway area of Swale. This includes the Isle of Sheppey and Sittingbourne. Thames Gateway is the Government's growth area in the South East.

The main focus for Sheppey's new housing and industry/employment, is the Queenborough and Rushenden area. The plans are for around 2,000 new homes and around 180,000 sq.m. of new employment floorspace - nearly two million sq.ft. This will be a mixture of employment including warehouses, offices, industrial uses. There will also be a marina, a school, community facilities and open space provision.

If you would like to get a real idea about these plans I would suggest you speak to Austin Clays at the Gateway in Rushenden Road and I am sure he will be more than happy to talk to you and show you the model of the plans for the area. His email is austinclays@swale.gov.uk In the longer term Sheerness will also be a focus for more housing and employment/industry on the Isle of Sheppey but this is still to be determined through the Council's Core Strategy which we are in the process of writing.

 16 Oct 2009

Q24. Can you please explain the complete lack of co-ordination and common sense with regard to the so called regeneration plan for Milton Creek. Having stupidly allowed the building of a low level non lifting bridge over the creek because supposedly "no one wants to visit it", you now plan to make it more attractive!! I typical left and right hands approach. I cannot believe that the council allowed the inspectors report on the bridge issue and future of the creek to be acceptable when they have this plan in mind! Any other sensible council/Town would give a lot to have a navigable recreational waterway up to it. The comments made about the cost of the bridge were made by biased and uninformed people. Someone should have talked to the Dutch about effective and cheap bridges over roads (they even have automatic ones on very major roads).

Mr A. of Teynham Ref: 10234093

ANSWER: The discussion around the uses of the creek were explored at the public inquiry for the Northern Relief Road. The evidence from independent marine development consultants outlined that it would be very difficult to justify development of marine uses in the creek because of its very narrow tidal window for access. Only a handful of boats visit the creek each year, and without improvements to navigation this is highly unlikely to grow. Navigation can not be improved because of environmental sensitivities and providing mooring due to the low level of use is not commercially viable. A full and wide ranging debate was had at the public inquiry regarding the types of bridge that could be constructed, but it also had to consider aspects such as future maintenance costs and responsibilities for operation.

Access to the creek is something that we would like to promote to the wider community, not just those able to access it by boat. We are proposing a major upgrade of the Saxon shore way along the western side of the creek alongside high quality interpretation to convey its natural and historical features. This work will also complete the Church marshes Country Park and as a whole will create a much needed new green space for Sittingbourne. In terms of the Milton Creek Gateway Landscape project we are working with all of our environmental partners through the Green Grid Partnership to ensure that the best interests of the Creek and its diverse habits are both recognised and promoted where it is acceptable to do so. We have been fortunate to have this early input which has helped to shape and inform the project's development and we will continue to use their extensive expertise and knowledge as the project develops and matures in the coming years.

 15 Oct 2009

Q23. I have been asked to appear on the BBCs Question Time along with guests and politicians and to submit a question. Can you tell me how much Council Tax is collected, business and residential from the Isle of Sheppey? Also how many people are employed by Swale Borough Council? Thank you.

Mr B. of Sheppey Ref: 10234515

ANSWER: Unfortunately we are not able identify the amount of Council Tax and Business rates that are collected for the Isle of Sheppey as the data we hold is for the whole Borough of Swale. The total number of people employed by Swale Borough Council is 423.

 14 Oct 2009

Q22. I am aware of the housing problems in Swale, and can you explain how many of the extra houses in Rushenden will be for social housing, and will the Conservatives ensure that local people are housed first.

Mr S. of Teynham Ref: 10229148

ANSWER: We will be seeking 25% affordable housing with options for shared equity purchase of a total of 2,000 dwellings at Queenborough and Rushenden. This is lower than the 30% we normally require in recognition of the need to create a balanced community with an already high proportion of social housing in the area.

Planning approval will include a requirement for the affordable housing to be 'ring-fenced' for Swale residents, and a local lettings plan and nominations agreement with the developing housing association will re-enforce this.

 30 Sept 2009

Q21. I would just like a simple answer to a simple question. I along with many other residents of Minster Park have asked several times, exactly what is the status of MINSTER PARK, is it a holiday park or a residential park? The last answer I was given is that, in the eyes of the council, it is a residential park. Could you confirm this? Thanking you.

Mr S. of Minster Park Ref: 10224403

ANSWER: Minster Park is a holiday park, the occupancy of which is restricted for a period of 10 months via both planning permissions and section 52 legal agreement. It has permission to be open to residents from 1st March to 31st December and is therefore closed for the whole of the months of January and February each year.

 29 Sept 2009

Q20. I am a private owner on an Estate, I have had a great deal of problems with a Swale Housing tenant that lives next door to me. I feel that I have not been supported by Swale Housing and despite contacting them several times they do not seem willing or bothered to deal with the anti-social behaviour that I have had to put up with, they said they would keep me informed of progress and would deal with these issues but I have never received any communication and the tenant has continued causing problems. Also generally the whole Estate is in a poor state, rubbish being dumped, general litter, youths hanging in gangs and causing trouble. I have spoken several times to our local C.S.O but he said he is limited in what he can do.

I feel really frustrated as I cannot sell my property due to this problem neighbour and the reputation of the Estate and feel that NOTHING is being dealt with by the Housing Association, Council and Police. Can you please assist or advise?

Anonymous Ref: 10222191

ANSWER: I am sorry to hear about the problems you have been experiencing in your neighbourhood. I have passed your concerns on to the relevant departments who I believe are contacting you directly and I have asked them to keep me up to date on progress with your situation. Should you need to get back in touch, please contact my PA Mrs Janet Dart on (01795) 417438 or email: janetdart@swale.gov.uk.

 25 Sept 2009

Q19. I understand that the development of Further Education in Sittingbourne is now unlikely to take place. I should be grateful to know why this desperately needed facility for Swale is unlikely to become a reality and what impact this will have on supporting the desire to attract high tech industry to the area?

Mr H. of Sittingbourne. Ref: 10224412

ANSWER: The Council is committed to providing further education (FE) provision in Sittingbourne. We are the only major town in Kent without its own FE provision. We had been working with Canterbury College, our local FE provider, to prepare a bid to the Learning and Skills Council (the body responsible for funding college provision) for summer of this year. We had identified a site, size of building and possible course programme. Unfortunately in February the LSC announced that it was significantly over committed on its national capital programme and had to dramatically cut back on its funding. As a result only 7 of 85 submitted bids were funded. With no new funding likely to be available until 2011 at the earliest we now have to review how we can best achieve our ambitions. We have undertaken considerable lobbying with ministers, but now need to look at a range of options. Currently the responsibilities of national LSC are changing, and other agencies are being set up. We are working increasingly closely with Kent County Council. Our aim remains to have further education provision here in the heart of Swale.

 22 Sept 2009

Q18. With the new equalities bill going through Parliament and the provisions in the bill that deny access to certain positions to white male applicants, will Swale council and the conservatives ignore this part of the bill and ensure that all sections of the community are treated the same?

Mr S. of Teynham. Ref: 10221343

ANSWER: The Council takes its responsibilities in relation to equality seriously (this will include the new public duty under the single equalities act). We do not ignore legislation when it is passed in order to protect ourselves from proceedings and additional costs to local council tax payers. We try to ensure that proposals for the Swale area recognise the diversity of the local communities. Often this is not about treating people the same but about recognising difference and supporting and encouraging under represented groups.

In relation to recruitment in some exceptional circumstances legislation does allow gender specific appointments but these are very rare and not something that has been appropriate at Swale Borough Council to date. As part of our recruitment process we try to ensure that positions are open to everyone regardless of their age, gender, disability, race, religion or belief and sexual orientation.

 07 Sept 2009

Q17. I drove pass the council offices on the morning of the 20 August (Thursday) at approximately 9-15 and on the pavement there was parked the van belonging to the people who empty the cash boxes from your ticket machines, he had crossed the double yellow lines to park on the pavement all four wheels. So my question is, was this van issued a penalty charge notice or is this reserved only for the public to make money for the council. Your reply will be interesting...

Mr N of Sittingbourne. Ref: 10200780

ANSWER: Further to your recent question, I have made investigations with the Civil Enforcement Office and they have informed me that the van belonging to Contract Security Limited is given a concession to park their security vehicle in this location. It would not be wise to park a security vehicle any distance away from Swale House which holds large deposits of cash.

The van, in our opinion, does not obstruct the footway or cause traffic congestion to the traffic lights. During their stay of approximately 10 minutes they have cash/cheques to collect and this place is the safest, causing the least inconvenience to members of the public whilst ensuring the welfare of the contractors health and safety.

It is standard practice to allow security vans concessionary parking in the High Street when there is not a parking bay directly outside the premises they are serving.

 14 Aug 2009

Q16. The Leader and the council have received a number of questions recently regarding the issue of odours in the Swale area. What have we been doing about the odours?

ANSWER: Swale Borough Council have investigated many complaints from odours relating to farmers activities this summer. Some of these complaints have been substantiated, and the odours have been unacceptable. Others have not been witnessed by the council, despite visiting the complainants address, and alleged source.

In July there was an incident in Bredgar which involved the spreading of paper sludge. The odour from this operation did affect some areas of Sittingbourne. The Local Authority worked closely with the Environment Agency (EA) on this matter, and the odour subsided (The EA are the leading body for paper sludge complaints - 08708506506). Recently it appears that a further paper sludge spreading operation has started near Borden village, which again the EA are investigating in full.

There have also been complaints of odour from compost which has been spread on farmers land. These complaints were also investigated in full with the Local Authority and the EA. It was deemed that odour from one of these activities in Bobbing village was quite strong, although the odour subsided soon after the spreading stopped.

Composts were also spread in fields to the west of Sittingbourne. However, on investigating these activities, there was no evidence of a statutory nuisance, and the activities were in compliance with the Code of Good Agricultural Practice.

Swale Council received many complaints regarding odour from sewage sludge spreading on the Isle of Sheppey near Warden. This odour has subsided as a result of the council working closely with the farmer and contractors. We are still investigating this matter, and we will take whatever action we feel is appropriate once we have investigated in full. Due to wind directions etc, this odour will not have impacted upon Sittingbourne.

We will be continuing to work with the EA to address odour issues, and we will investigate what measures can be put in place to prevent further repercussions.

Many farmers choose to recycle materials, and use them on their fields as an alternative to inorganic fertilisers. These activities have positive environmental outcomes, and reduce significant quantities of waste from going to landfill. If these activities are completed in compliance with the Code of Good Agricultural Practice, then the impacts on other communities should be limited.

 12 Aug 2009

Q15. I have heard that the subject of parking with wheels on the pavement is back on the agenda. In my road the pavements are 10ft wide, the road is 20ft. My car is 8ft including non retractable wing mirrors. If I park with my wheels next to the kerb that means a reduction of 7ft on my side of the road, double that it equates to a useable road of 6ft meaning that if I and the people down my road work longer than those at the "mouth end" then there will be approximately 80 vehicles that need parking spaces, also I received this information the same day I received a flyer from Kent fire and rescue regarding access for their vehicles because children might die. Please explain how you want me to park. Also if I have a day off on bin day and I am parked legally, how can people get their bins emptied. I drive a lorry for a living and I am impressed by the bin man's reversing skills, but he is not that good!

Mr G. of Queenborough Ref: 10179255

ANSWER: There is no indication from your question as to where you live so it is difficult to comment on the particular issues for parking within your road. If you would like to make contact with the Council's Engineering Team they may be able to offer advice for your particular area.

On the general issue of parking it is very important that access is provided for emergency vehicles, particularly Kent Fire & Rescue vehicles, to ensure the safety of all who live in your area. Parking on the footpath is an offence of obstruction which the Police have taken action to prevent in some areas because the paths are completely obstructed preventing access to wheelchairs, pushchairs, etc.

In cases where the footpath is wide it is unlikely that the Police will take action if reasonable wheelchair access is available.

 5 Aug 2009

Q14. The smell from the local farms is disgusting and has made my partner ill. It is unhealthy and anti social, when will it stop and can you stop it?

Mr F. of Warden Ref: 10187129

ANSWER: Swale Borough Council have received complaints with regards to the odour from agricultural land in this area. Officers from the council have been monitoring this activity very closely. The odour was from a 'lime stabilised sewage sludge' being spread on the fields as a fertiliser. This particular batch was more odourous than other sludge's. The product was incorporated into the field swiftly, and in accordance with the Code of Good Agricultural Practice.

However, for some reason the odour from this batch was extremely persistent. The situation has been monitored, and further investigations are underway with the producers of this material. In the mean time, we have been assured by the responsible parties, that there will be no more of this type of treated sludge brought on to the Isle of Sheppey this year.

Our officers did visit the area again this morning (3rd August), and they were pleased to find that the odour had subsided. The spreading of these products on the fields are a recognised practice, and can have a benefit to agricultural land. This practice, and similar ones have been encouraged by industry, and regulators alike, as they demonstrate strong environmental values. By treating various types of waste sludge, they become valuable to other industries such as farmers. This prevents the need to produce and purchase inorganic compounds as fertilisers. It also results in a substantial amount of waste being diverted from landfill. If these activities are completed appropriately they should have limited impact upon the local communities, yet they will deliver strong environmental benefits.

 3 Aug 2009

Q13. Swale council wants to withdraw funding from the Hop festival. The council want to transfer the management of the festival entirely to a private company and give it no funding whatsoever by 2012. As something that's very important for the town would you support this or not?. The town is dying year by year through lack of investment, this is the one time of year the locals can come together. What are your views?

Mr M. of Faversham Ref: 10171863

ANSWER: As Faversham is my home town, the Hop Festival is one of the first things that goes into my diary each year. I would wholeheartedly agree with you that festivals like the Hop Festival are important to Faversham, as they are to Swale as a whole. Swale Borough Council (SBC) has in the past, and still does, support festivals and events in the area and acknowledge the excellent work undertaken to date by the many groups and organisations within the community. As SBC would like to widen both participation and the festival offer, a review of current provision was undertaken and best practice from other areas was looked at.

On the 8th July 2009, the Executive considered a report which summarised the findings and recommendations of a review of Swale Borough Council's festival and events programme. The review was undertaken to ensure SBC festivals and events programme was fit for purpose, efficient and effective resulting in better service delivery, a more open and transparent scheme and would help to progress cultural events in the future.

SBC feels that it needs to move to a commissioning approach to the delivery of festivals supported by grants, this will mean realigning of budgets and changing the events supported by Borough Council funding over a phased 3 year period.

As such it was agreed that the Festival Hop Committee and SBC should discuss reviewing options for setting up a new delivery vehicle for 2010 with the ownership and management of the festival to transfer by tender to a new management delivery organisation for 2010. This new delivery vehicle will be decided by the Hop Committee. The decision of which organisation the transfer of management will go to has not yet been determined. SBC will work with and support the Hop Committee to take this decision which will be to the benefit if the Hop Festival and allow it to and make its own decisions on how it should run independently of the council.

Funding of £10,000 has been granted to the Hop Festival for 2009 by SBC to support the Hop Festival, however the Festival is also successful in generating income and this could further be maximised by a new management vehicle being independent of the council. The funding to the Hop Festival will reduce to £6,000 for 2010 and £4,000 for 2011 so SBC supports the Hop Festival Committee/ new Vehicle whilst it makes the transition and seeks funding from other sources but will also retain the income received instead of it going to the council.

By taking this new approach to the way SBC delivers and supports festivals and events across Swale will create wider opportunities for community arts groups to access the limited funding SBC has directly and will also enable us to work more collaboratively to realise wider opportunities and access other funding from other agencies. It will also mean that the limited resource SBC has can be targeted more effectively to achieve its priorities and deliver a high quality artistic programme resulting in more people taking part and enjoying festivals and events in Swale.

 13 July 2009

Q12. In one of the few positive articles I have read about Sittingbourne and surrounding villages ('Mid Kent Living' summer 09) it states that the redevelopment of the town centre will take place over the next 10 to 20 years. Is this correct?

Mr H. of Sittingbourne. Ref: 10173880

ANSWER: The short answer to this question would be yes. The aspiration we have for the town is to bring much needed new retail to the town as well as new community, housing, leisure and most importantly learning facilities all within a much improved environment.

Such a change in any town takes time. There will be certain pieces of infrastructure that would need to be in place before parts of regeneration can come forward, in Sittingbourne's case this is the northern relief road, which will be starting this autumn and will need to be in place before major parts of the scheme can develop. The plan includes around 3,000 new homes, and on anticipated build rates this will take a number of years to fully deliver. What we have done is to set our vision for how we see the town 15/20 years in the future and through developing the masterplan we have drawn the 'road map' that will take us there.

 12 July 2009

Q11. Who decides the rate of council tax for holiday chalets? I believe that Minster Parks band is set to high and what can I do to have it looked into?

Miss L of Minster-on-Sea. Ref: 10172831

ANSWER: Members of the Swale Borough Council Executive Committee recommend the level of Council Tax payable on dwellings where the dwelling is not the sole or main residence of an individual and which is furnished and where the occupation of which is prohibited by law ( normally by Planning restrictions) for a continuous period of at least 28 days in the relevant year. This recommendation then goes to Full Council to make the final decision.

The level of discount allowable for these types of dwelling is between 10% and 50%. The discount applied by Swale Borough Council is 10%.

 12 June 2009

Q10. I understand it is an offence, punishable by a fine of up to £500, to park a motor vehicle on any verge or road margin within the Borough-irrespective of whether there are or are not any restrictions in force under the Road Traffic Act. (By-Law 235). Whilst I wholeheartedly agree with this I am concerned that little (or no!?) publicity has been given to this issue. In view of the fact that the road Wardens, correctly, are enforcing this By Law do you not believe that all residents should be better informed of this issue?

Mr C of Minster-on-Sea. Ref: 10147153

ANSWER: The By-Law regarding the parking of vehicles on verges has been in place for a number of years. When first implemented there was media coverage particularly in the local press. However, it may now be appropriate to remind residents of the By-Law and the damaged caused by the parking of vehicles on grass verges and we will consider this for a future issue of council's quarterly publication 'Inside Swale'.

The Council Street Wardens would not normally prosecute on a first offence but currently issue warning notices to a vehicle and then may prosecute if that vehicle is once again parked anywhere in the Borough on a grass verge.

 01 June 2009

Q9. Are there any trees with a preservation order in Samsons Hall, Norman Road, ME12 4EU?

Mr P of Warden. Ref: 10138093

ANSWER: Thank you for your recent question sent in via the Ask the Leader web page. I can confirm there are no trees with preservation orders on at the address you specified. Should you require further information, please do not hesitate to get in touch.

 30 May 2009

Q8. There is a large infestation of Japanese Knotweed along the left side of the old road to Sheppey just near the Keycol Roundabout. It appears it is being cut with the verge and therefore inadvertently spread, contrary to national guidelines. Is the Council dealing with this notifiable weed, and if not how can we alert the appropriate department?

Dr L of Sittingbourne. Ref: 10134853

ANSWER: This issue has been investigated with Blenwood's Senior Contracts Manager. There are several areas where Japanese knotweed in the Borough is quite prolific. Blenwood are very aware that this vegetation should not be cut as this is a very efficient mechanism for this invasive weed to take hold further. To emphasise this, the Contracts Manager will be compiling a memo reiterating that this type of vegetation is not to be cut / strimmed and that they should work around these areas cutting as much of the grass vegetation without interfering with the Japanese knotweed.

On further investigation along the Sheppey Way there is evidence of knotweed that has been cut. The rural verge cutting is now underway, this has been undertaken by a sub-contractor on behalf of Kent Highway Services. I would like to mention at this point that Swale Borough Council, nor their appointed contractors, have undertaken this work and this issue will be taken up with Kent Highway Service immediately.

The area of land near Key Street Roundabout / Sheppey Way is a highway area and is owned by Kent County Council. A quotation was obtained by Swale Borough Council to eradicate the Japanese knotweed using chemicals sometime ago and forwarded to Kent Highway Services. Unfortunately they are not prepared to pay for the eradication of this weed. In the meantime we will continue to work round this issue so as not to make the situation any worse.

Thank you for getting in touch to highlight this matter.

 20 May 2009

Q7. Why is it so difficult to find the relevant web pages for applications to change the use of agricultural land? I wish to find out details of the proposal to turn the field at the top of Head Hill Road into a lorry park, but find the information impossible to find?

Mrs R of Goodnestone. Ref: 10128722

ANSWER: The area of land to which you refer is not the subject of any planning application. This is why you will not have been notified of any proposal or been able to find it on the web site.

The document you may have seen is the Council's draft Employment Land Review. This document is intended to:

1. Set out the economic factors that will influence future economic development in the Borough.
2. Provide the Council with evidence on the continued suitability of existing sites for employment purposes in the Borough.
3. Provide an analysis of a very long list of potential future sites that the Council could consider allocating to meet future employment needs.
4. Give the Council advice in terms of their economic suitability and viability.

The study will inform preparation of the Council's Core Strategy document - part of the Local Development Framework - the future planning blueprint for the Borough for the next 20 years. You can be assured that the Employment Land Review is purely a technical document prepared on behalf of the Council to support the Council's thinking on its Core Strategy. It has no formal status with the Council in terms of representing its policy concerning any given piece of land it contains.

The consultation that is underway has been aimed at those with an interest in economic development matters and it is being done to ensure that it is robust in terms of its factual accuracy and so that parties with expertise in the deliverability and viability of the sites can provide the Council with comment. The Council has not made the document widely available because it would have simply caused unnecessary concern and confusion as it clearly appears to have done in this part of the Borough.

It is not the purpose of the study to address the concerns about impacts upon the environment and community. These are important issues, but they will be matters that the Council will be taking into account at a much later date when it is preparing its Core Strategy in 2010. At that time, should the site in question be a part of the Council's draft Core Strategy, full consultation within the community will be undertaken then.

I hope this is of some assistance, but if I can be of any further help please do not hesitate to contact me.

 14 May 2009

Q6. Could you help please on how we can raise the profile of the Isle of Sheppey as an Island? Funding of our leaflet is much appreciated, but there is a lot more that we need. Isle of Sheppey signs on key road and rail networks, heritage signs, Welcome to Sheppey signs and our postcode to include the Isle of Sheppey not just Sheerness as it is for the majority of the Island. Also who could help us in our quest to have the key roundabouts as you come onto the Island landscaped. I and several others have been trying for years without success. The Aviation celebrations this year and next years 50 years since the Dockyard closed will be raising the profile of Sheppey in the media and it is such a pity that we are not presenting potential visitors with signs, welcomes and positive images of this Island. Hope you can help.

Mrs H of Sheppey. Ref: 10125163

ANSWER: Tourism remains a key part of our regeneration activities and is an integral part of the cultural work that is being developed through the Cultural Strategy and the Ambitions for Swale (Community Strategy) both of which can be located through the swale web site (www.swale.gov.uk). Resources are limited and priorities must be established thereby presenting the Authority with a number of challenges but amongst our most recent successes is the strength that is borne out of partnership working as has recently been exemplified through the Fly Navy 100 - the Borough Council had to call upon its many partners (Police/PCSOs/Prisons/Village Hall Management Committee) to support the co-ordination and management of the event. This demonstrates that we do not have all of the resources to hand and neither do we have all the solutions to the challenges but others do! The relationships do take time to develop and nurture and you are to be congratulated for the work that you have been able to achieve in a relatively short time. Perhaps one way to tackle the many competing challenges you currently face would be to have a fully-costed business plan which has very specific objectives and realistic timeframes attached to the project outputs. This will then give you an opportunity to share these responsibilities with others (individuals and organisations) recognising that with ownership comes responsibility too. This gives an opportunity for other sectors especially the private sector to play a key role within any emerging partnership or collaborative work as well as take on a greater leadership role around project delivery. You currently have a dedicated resource made available to you through the Healthy Living Centre (Amanda Duddle) and you should ensure that they are taking a lead on this development work with you - they will have a strategic overview of the situation and be able to provide a clear framework within which you and other partners can work. The solutions will come not from one source but from many different and often unexpected sources.

A number of years ago the Borough Council undertook a tourism strategic signing assessment and from this work has come the extensive brown and white tourism signing which is Island-wide however this has been naturally limited by the quality of the tourism offer - the Borough Council's efforts are placed upon providing business advise to existing, new and diversifying businesses with an emphasis on ensuring that at least a minimum quality level is attained. What we must not do is to raise expectations and then not to be able to deliver - tourism values are sustained not on the first visit but subsequent visits which arise from a combination of factors such as the 'offer', pricing, value for money, visitor welcome, quality of product. The fundamentals must be in place.

We have also been fortunate in having been given a number of opportunities to flagship the Island in recent times - we hosted the Kent Ambassadors who reviewed the aviation and environmental potential and indeed it is the environmental agenda that is more keenly pursued than any other on the Island but it is also one that always receives good press and patronage and indeed the Regeneration Manager has again been approached by Kent County Council to co-ordinate an environmentally focused tourism familiarisation visit in the coming summer months. Our enquiry level would suggest that much of this groundwork is bearing significant reward for the Island. We must continue to place an emphasis on both building the offer locally and ensuring quality compliance - the visitor now has an extensive pool from which to make their selections and this is an extremely competitive market. The Borough Council must and will focus on what it can do well with its partners and what is achievable within resources projects such as the North Kent Walking Festival is an example of both partnership work using local resources but supported by external monies for delivery. The new Festival Guide will be out shortly and I will ensure that you are supplied with a quantity for distribution.

Officers are aware of the significance of 2010 to Bluetown and the Regeneration Manager has already cited this to county tourism colleagues as being of potential interest in respect of the development of cultural work supporting The Cultural Olympiad (a programme leading up to London 2012).

Although Swale Borough Council could help with identifying locations for the 'Welcome to Sheppey' type signs suggested, Kent County Council Highways Agency would need to be approached to see if they had the funding to provide these signs. The key roundabouts are on the A249 and therefore would again require Kent County Council Highway Agency agreement to any landscaping and perhaps they could be asked to fund such work. With reference to your query about postcodes, these are set by the Post Office and the entire Island is ME12 except Queenborough which is ME11.

 22 April 2009

Q5. Can you advise why there was any increase in council tax, bearing in mind the current state of peoples income, and also as a member of KCC do you not feel that bearing in mind the Conservative administration has lost 50 million pounds of public money that a nil increase would have been more appropriate?

Mr S of Buckland. Ref: 10102948

ANSWER: As Leader of Swale Borough Council I am very aware of the local effects of the economic downturn and the financial concerns for many residents throughout the Borough.

In determining the Budget Requirement for 2009-10 Swale Councillors were very mindful of the impact on the council taxpayer. The unprecedented volatility of the past six months has been reflected in the budgets prepared by officers for 2009-10. As part of the budget preparation the Council's Budget Task Force, chaired by the Executive Member for Performance & Finance has been meeting on a regular basis since last June 2008. Part of their role was to come forward with budgetary options for the Executive to consider and recommend to Council at its budget setting meeting in February 2009. From the outset initiatives to reduce our expenditure and/or increase our revenue were being considered. Since October last year, following the collapse of the Icelandic Banks, the main priority has been to address the worsening financial position of the Council not only for the remainder of 2008-09, but looking forwards to 2009-10 and beyond.

Part of the income streams that Swale relies on to balance its budget for 2008-09 have been badly affected by the economic climate particularly the downturn in the building industry where income from planning fees, building control fees and local land searches have fallen off since the Autumn 2008. Other revenue sources such as car park income have dropped since Christmas. The biggest loss has been from investment income with the bank base rate dropping to 0.5%.

On the expenditure side demands on our homelessness costs are increasing as is the benefit applications for council tax and rent allowances. During last year the Council has been paying more for its utility supplies, although costs are now dropping reflecting the price of oil and gas.

For 2009-10 a budget shortfall of £580,000 was identified and this has been met by a package of savings amounting to £860,000, most will be on-going into future years. Of the £280,000 extra savings (i.e. £860,000 - £580,000) £100,000 has been allocated to the Local Engagement Forum for three local engagement forums to support the local delivery of the sustainable community strategy with our other public sector partners. This leaves a £180,000 buffer against uncertainties affecting the Council's budget for 2009-10.

The 4.9% increase in council tax was robustly debated within each political group and at the Council meeting that approved the increase on 25 February. All local councils are measured against their Band D council tax charge, which is used as the benchmark for comparative purposes. Amongst the 12 district councils in Kent, Swale remains the fourth lowest behind Ashford, Dover and Tunbridge Wells and had the third lowest cash increase at £7.29 for a Band D property. Of the twelve districts Thanet has the lowest % increase at 3.99% with a Band D council tax level of £204.93 compared to Swale's £156.06. Their cash increase at the lower 3.99% increase is £7.83, 54p more than Swale.

The demand for many of the services provided by the council is increasing, which adds further pressure on the budgets of the Council. The obvious ones are the provision of the front line services like support to the homeless families, the emptying of the wheelie bins, the street cleaning and provision of amenity and leisure facilities within the borough.

The Swale Councillors who are all residents of the Borough are very aware of the suffering that is arising from the general economic climate. As part of a long-term solution to the budgetary pressures the Council is joining with Ashford, Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells to explore partnership and joint working to streamline service delivery and explore efficiency savings across a wide range of services initially concentrating on the back office services. It is hoped that these initiatives will bring sustainable savings into the future to allow Swale to maintain its current level of services at minimal additional cost. However, as the recession deepens councils have to think the unthinkable.

The decision on the council tax level for 2009-10 was not taken lightly and if you require further information on the package of savings it can be found here: Democratic Services under Item 10, Revenue Budget and Capital Programme 2009-10 (The report and the attached appendices describe the background to the council tax setting for 2009-10).

With reference to the second part of your question, Kent County Council are confident that they will eventually secure the return of most if not all of the monies invested in Icelandic banks. In order to secure Kent's lowest ever Council Tax increase, savings of some £11 million had to be identified. To reduce the Council Tax level even further would have caused real cuts causing potential hardships to the people of Kent.

 27 Mar 2009

Q4. What is the council going to do about the amount of empty shops at the eastern end of the High St? With the closure of Woolworths, Blundells, and a variety of the smaller shops, that end of town is looking very sad.

Mrs H of Sittingbourne

ANSWER: The closure of some of the towns long established businesses is sad, but unfortunately the Borough Council is not able to bring empty shops back to life. This relies upon interest from individuals and businesses wishing to use these premises as a base for their retail business. In the current economic climate, with everybody tightening their belts, it is reducing turnover for many retail businesses in the High Street. In some cases, this can result in their costs of running their shops being exceeded by the amount they are getting in income. Running a shop includes Business Rates charges, and these are set through valuation panels and central government, although Swale Borough Council collects the rates, it does not set the rate level. What the Council can do is help new and established businesses either directly through advice on planning, environmental health and other issues or indirectly by introducing retailers to organisations such as business link that would be able to offer more specialist advice.

We are currently consulting on our plan for a rejuvenated and vibrant new town centre. This can be found by following the links from our home page. The plan will create a new town centre that will help to capture a lot of the custom that currently goes to shop elsewhere. It would also make the town a more attractive proposition for retailers.

 06 Mar 2009

Q3. Why is learning and skills Swale's top priority?

Anonymous

ANSWER: Learning and skills is a top priority because the gap in qualifications between the highest and lowest performing areas is worst in Swale than in other boroughs.

 05 Mar 2009

Q2. Why is the business rate so high?

Anonymous

ANSWER: Business Rates are set through valuation panels and central government, although Swale Borough Council collects the rates, it does not set the rate level.

 03 Mar 2009

Q1. Why have you introduced this new Ask the Leader facility?

Anonymous

ANSWER: We are often asked the same questions so this facility means you can ask me a question directly and we can publish the question and answer in order to help other Swale residents.