New user fee charges imposed by KCC examined by cross-party group

From Cllr Jenny Matterface

The cross-party group set up by the Overview and Scrutiny Panel met for the first time on Monday evening, September 3rd.  Its brief was to examine the impact of the new user fee charges being imposed by KCC .

Cllr. Graham Gibbens,  KCC Cabinet member for adult social care and two KCC officers were invited to attend along with Thanet’s county councillors, users and other representatives.

Cllr. Kay Dark was elected Chair for the meeting and invited Cllr. Gibbens to speak to the group. He talked about the consultation that had taken place prior to the setting up of the charging structure but there was some confusion between his account and that of Mr. Thomas Sam from KCC who told us the consultation had run over 6 weeks but there were two meetings held in Thanet on different dates. Cllr. Gibbens only referred to one in Margate but there was another meeting later at Northdown House although no-one else present could recall such an event. Perhaps it wasn’t widely-publicised.

It was clear from the questions put by the group members that neither Cllr. Gibbens nor the officers were able to give us the answers we needed. They were asked about the number of users but the only figure they could quote was for the county-wide use. We asked about the charges e.g. who had imposed these? How were they decided? How many paid the full £40 per day? How many paid nothing? How many paid on a sliding scale? We were given percentages but no actual figures. To be told 10% pay the full charges is a meaningless figure unless we know if that is 2 people or 20.

Following some robust questioning from the group members other county councillors spoke followed by Cllrs Driver and Worrow and three members of the public who gave us the information we needed especially regarding the consultation process. Mrs. Godby talked about how important the centre is for her husband and many others and how users are being deterred from coming in as often as they need or would like due to the cost. Her husband gave a moving account how important it is to him to keep friendships going.

It is clear that the review group will need to meet again once we have written evidence from the relevant officers at KCC. To some a charge of a few £s per day may not be a significant amount but to many the charges imposed do mean the users cannot enjoy the facilities and vulnerable residents will lose the vital contact with others that keeps them involved in the community.

Cllr. King made an excellent comment about how unpaid carers should have their input valued and this reflected in the fees’ structure.

Committee members are Cllrs. Bruce, Cohen, Coleman-Cooke, Dark, King, Matterface

Congratulations Harbour Steam

From Cllr Clive Hart - TDC Leader.

'Congratulations to the Steam Museum Trust and their partners who have provided local residents and visitors with the excellent Harbour Steam Bank Holiday event in Ramsgate. It has been simply wonderful to see so many people enjoying themselves in such a beautiful setting'.

UPDATE: After receiving feedback regarding the lack of a mention with regards to the Summer Squall in Ramsgate, please see below to read Cllr Clive Hart's response (originally posted on the Ramsgate Arts Facebook page on Monday 3rd September):

"Just a note on the Summer Squall.
It certainly was brilliant and I have to say both the Squall and the Steam events complemented each other superbly. I'm sure that there were many who visited and enjoyed both.
My comment on our website regarding the Steam Trust was simply meant as a thank you to them for repaying our (administrations) trust. We took a leap of faith by signing the lease for the museum over to them earlier this year and our opponents said they would let us down. They didn't and that was all my comment was about.
However, please do pass on my sincere congratulations to all who made the Summer Squall event possible too. I'm afraid that due to grandparent duties I was unable to attend the evening events but all reports say they were brilliant and when I did attend on two afternoons the place was buzzing.
Hope you now understand my comment on our website. Our administration is truly thankful for all the sterling work of local volunteers.
Kind regards
Clive
Cllr Clive Hart - TDC Leader."

Secretary of State backs CPO proposed by Thanet Council to save Dreamland

The Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government has approved Thanet District Council’s compulsory purchase order to take over the Dreamland site. TDC will now be taking steps in partnership with The Dreamland Trust to reopen it as a major seaside visitor attraction.

Please read more on the TDC website: http://www.thanet.gov.uk/news/latest_press_releases/cpo_announcement_dreamland.aspx

Labour Cabinet protects public open green space in Broadstairs

The issue of the Broadstairs and St Peters Town Council proposal for a Community Centre was considered at Cabinet on 5th January but due to concerns about the impact of the proposal on Pierremont Park it was not agreed.

Further discussions have taken place with the Community Trust and Broadstairs & St Peters Town Council on amendments to the proposal and an indicative layout has been drafted. The aim of the draft has been to reduce the impact on the park.

The revised scheme would need to be submitted for listed building and planning approvals by the Trust. However, the revision could now be supported by the Cabinet provided that the final design fits the parameters within the Cabinet report. The proposal would also be subject to an advertisement in relation to its impact on a public open space.

In addition, if the proposals do proceed, Cabinet is agreeing formally to the Section 106 funding from the Ellington and Hereson School site to be provided to the Trust to support the proposal in association with other funding streams.

Cabinet Member Cllr Alan Poole said "I believe much of the responsibility for the current impasse must lay fairly and squarely with Cllrs Bayford and Wells because their continued indecision is the root cause of the current situation. They did not complete the project when they had the opportunity; they were in control of the Council for the last eight years and did very little to progress the project.

We are offering one last chance for the town council to come up with a viable solution that does not adversely impact on the Park. It took the leader and I ten minutes and a pair of scissors to come up with a solution. There will not be another opportunity as we will have to look for another deserving community project for the 106 money."

GREEN SPACE IN BROADSTAIRS PROTECTED

An amended scheme for a Broadstairs Town Council Community Centre in Pierremont Park should come back before the TDC cabinet on July 26th . After much behind the scenes work to protect open green space in the park carried out by TDC Leader, Clive Hart, Deputy Leader, Alan Poole, and Broadstairs councillor, Jenny Matterface, an amended scheme will now be considered at TDC Cabinet on July 26th.

Cllr. Matterface said, ‘The revised scheme has saved the park from an intrusive building since it follows more closely the footprint of the existing Park Hall rather than the original scheme submitted to Cabinet in January. The demolition of the old Age Concern building to create a formal garden will enhance the park. I do, however, still have real concerns over the financial burden this project will impose on the council taxpayers of Broadstairs and St. Peter’s at a time when many residents struggle to pay bills.’

Cllr Alan Poole said “The final decision to build a community centre in Pierremont Park is a matter for Broadstairs Town Council and the TDC Planning Committee but I am pleased that the new scheme does at least protect much-loved public open green space” Cllr Clive Hart said “I am very grateful to Cllr Poole and Cllr Matterface for all their help in protecting our environment. Thanet’s parks are wonderful green spaces that bring tranquil beauty into busy urban areas and our administration will fight to preserve them whenever and wherever they are threatened ”.

Historic Labour win in Westgate-On-Sea

After weeks of hard campaigning Thanet Labour have won an historic victory in Westgate-On-Sea. Thanet Labour have not won a seat west of Margate Central since 1999, and this victory came about after a 8.2% swing from the Conservatives to Labour since 2011.


We are now delighted to welcome Councillor Jodie Hibbert as the newest member of the Labour group, and also the youngest ever female Councillor in Thanet. Jodie has worked extremely hard throughout the by-election and will be a welcome addition to our team. This result sends a message to David Cameron and his Government that they are taking the country in the wrong direction. Victory in historically Conservative Westgate-On-Sea shows that the Labour party is appealing to people beyond the core areas, and we will continue to work hard for ALL people. Thanet Labour will continue to fight on behalf of the residents of Thanet and do everything we can to soften the blow of the Coalition's ill prepared plans.


Thank you to everyone who has helped support Jodie's campaign in Westgate-On-Sea, and thank you to everyone who voted.

Welfare Reform and Universal Credit

George Osborne and David Cameron seen having a good laugh at our expense. Are we really “all in this together”?

WHAT WILL THE CHANGES MEAN?

• Universal Credit will replace a range of existing means-tested benefits and tax credits for people of working age
• It will replace the Disability Living Allowance with a Personal Independence Payment
• It will restrict Housing Benefit entitlement and introduce a ‘bedroom tax’
• It will change the child maintenance scheme
• It will limit payments of Contributory Employment and Support Allowance to a 12-month period
• It will cap the total amount of benefit that can be claimed
• Local councils will be asked to reduce people’s Housing Benefit to make sure the total benefit income remains less than the ‘cap’ level set.
• It will replace Council Tax Benefit with a ‘localised’ Council Tax support scheme.
• The ‘granny tax’ will freeze the age related tax allowance. It will not be increased in line with inflation. Half a million pensioners will be affected.

WHERE WILL PEOPLE BE ABLE TO GO TO APPLY?

So far the government is not planning to set up a local office.

There are no answers to the questions:

• how and where will someone apply locally?
• what documents will they need and where will they take them locally?
• where will there be a ‘Universal Credit’ office?
• how does someone get face to face advice and help if they have a problem?

People will be expected to apply on-line or through a call centre.

UNIVERSAL CREDIT will be paid MONTHLY, IN ARREARS, TO ONE MEMBER OF THE HOUSEHOLD.

If anything goes wrong with the claim, a whole family could be without any income for a whole month!

WHO WILL BE AFFECTED?

By the time the new system is fully in place, 2017, it will affect 19 million people

It will affect particularly:

• pensioners
• disabled people
• people on long-term sickness
• families on low income and their children
• people living in rented accommodation
• unemployed people
• single parents

Do any of these people choose to be in that situation? Of course not! But they should all be treated with fairness and respect.

COUNCIL TAX BENEFIT

Local councils are being placed in the difficult situation by this Tory-led government of having to produce a localised Council Tax Benefit scheme but with less money to pay for it. The minority LABOUR administration at Thanet District Council will try to minimise the impact of the overall 10% cut in funding imposed by the coalition on Thanet residents who currently receive Council Tax Benefit.

HOW CAN WE CHALLENGE THIS?

• become active in the campaign
• join the Labour Party
• make sure you and your family and friends are all REGISTERED TO VOTE so that you can BOOT OUT THE TORIES at the next election.

YOUR LABOUR COUNCILLORS will do everything they can to defend the Welfare State as a symbol of a just and civilised society that looks after people who find themselves in a difficult situation through no choice of their own.


We will be available to help and discuss any benefit problems residents in our wards may have.

Published by Thanet Labour Group Councillors
North Thanet Constituency Labour Party at
South Thanet Constituency Labour Party at 28 Newington Road, Ramsgate.