Official figures show Tory councils charge most Council Tax

1. Analysis of the latest Council Tax figures for 2014/15 shows that households in Labour-controlled council areas pay less Council Tax on average than households in Tory or Liberal Democrat-controlled council areas.
   
   
   • Where Labour controls the local council, households pay on average £334 less per year than those living in Tory areas and £300 less than those in Lib Dem areas.

   • This will come as an embarrassment to David Cameron who claimed that Tory councils run the best-value councils and have the lowest council tax and who promised to freeze council taxes - this year over a quarter, 47 in total, of Tory-controlled councils increased council taxes.

   
   

   Hilary Benn MP, Shadow Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, said:

   “David Cameron once claimed that Tory councils offered best value-for-money but this official data shows that this isn’t the case.

   “Families with a Labour-run council have lower Council Tax bills than those living under Tory or Lib Dem control.

   “At a time when so many households are facing a cost of living crisis under this Tory-led Government, Labour in local government is doing its best to help local residents by keeping Council Tax bills down.

   “The truth is that while David Cameron cut the top rate of tax for people earning over £150,000, hardworking families are on average £1,600 worse off under him. This Tory-led Government stands up for the wrong people every time.”

   
   

   Labour Party

MANSTON

Cllr Clive Hart - Labour TDC Leader

UKIP county councillor and former TDC Deputy Leader Roger Latchford has falsely tried to blame TDC's position on night flights as the reason for Manston's current problems. At a public meeting at Winter Gardens on Saturday he also tried to blame the existing 106 agreement for the airports current situation.

The fact is that the TDC position on night flying was the councils agreed view following public consultation and full and open debate in the council chamber. For further clarity it should be noted that TDC is a hung council with no political party in overall control and where no single party makes the final decision. It is also the case that in any event the final decision on night flights is with the owners themselves and neither Infratil or the new owners have ever come back with any final proposals on the issue. A major factor is undoubtedly that airport owners would need to provide 24/7 emergency cover which is extremely expensive and the current airport owner and her representatives have not indicated any real necessity for night flights for the airport to succeed.

Ironically, the existing 106 agreement is the same document that was in place during all of Roger Latchford's time as a TDC councillor and whilst he was a former Deputy leader. During that time no attempt was ever made to review the agreement. 

However, under our new administration, TDC does now have a Cabinet Advisory Group established and standing by to renegotiate the 106. The group was understandably 'stood down' temporarily following the recent sale of the airport and whilst the new owners finalised their plans for Manston, but will be ready to reconvene quickly if and when required. 

The fact of the matter is that night flights are not the reason for the current owners consulting on closure of the airport. Economic viability is clearly the real issue. 

We are supportive of sustainable development at Manston and will therefore continue our push for enterprise zone status which has been so favourably welcomed by our partners at KCC and through the South East England Local Enterprise Partnership.

Thanet Labour group.

LEADERS REPORT TO COUNCIL

Cllr Clive Hart - Report to council – 24/04/2014

“Thank you Chairman.

We have a number of projects planned across Thanet, from re-planting of public gardens to the regeneration of empty properties and the creation of more affordable housing.

Working together with the local communities we’re making real headway.

Some of the projects:

RAMSGATE HARBOUR

£2million partnership bid is proposed to be made to the Heritage Lottery Fund this Autumn (2014).

The bid will comprise:

•   Capital works to structures

•   Conservation Management Plan for the Harbour

•   Agreement with English Heritage as to what requires listed building consent

•   Funding of post to promote Harbour as a Heritage Destination and an education and engagement programme

EAST PIER YARD RAMSGATE

Proposal to discuss whether to develop a town square for Ramsgate in this location, with consideration given to the current public parking.

This would involve:

•   Developing as town square for Ramsgate

•   Relocation of Saturday Market

•   Proposal to remove as off street car park

DOLPHIN LIGHTS

The Dolphin lights are a key heritage feature of Ramsgate.

Work will be undertaken to undertake repairs and will involve some changes to location of the lights to make the layout more rational.

PLANTING OF ROYAL PARADE ALCOVES

The arches opposite the dolphin lights on Royal Parade are to be cleared out and washed, with some replanting and the placing of large seafront pots in some of the alcoves by Ramsgate Town Council.

EASTERN PROMENADE GARDENS

This will involve:

•   Formal planting scheme around the Bandstand

•   Friends of Ramsgate Seafront taking on planting bed by Granville Theatre

•   Madeira Walk planting to match work at Albion Gardens

•   Supporting potential HLF bid by Ramsgate Society on Ramsgate Heritage Promenades

THE CENTRE REDEVELOPMENT NEWINGTON

The regeneration of The Centre at Newington is progressing well with 37 new affordable homes delivered and 38 more homes with planning consent due to be delivered by Orbit Housing.

The Council have transferred the Flowing Bowl site to Orbit to complete the regeneration of the area. This final phase of the regeneration should be complete by 2016.

EMTY PROPERTIES PROJECT IN RA

The regeneration of empty properties in Ramsgate is underway with three new affordable homes complete and works due to start at 52 Addington street and 59 Grange road providing an additional six new homes.

There are further properties and projects in the pipeline to provide a further 17 affordable homes.

RAMSGATE TUNNELS

There are nearly 4 miles of disused tunnels underneath Ramsgate which are the responsibility of Thanet District Council.

A Big Lottery grant of £53k was achieved by Ramsgate Town Council for feasibility work.

Thanet Council is providing £51k of funding to the Ramsgate Regeneration Heritage Trust (RRHT) for safety equipment, services, security and asbestos removal.

The terms of a lease are being finalised for RRHT to operate 'Tunnel Explorer' tours starting this summer.

RHRT have recently secured a further grant from Heritage Lottery Fund for £84k.

The grand opening of the tunnels is programmed for the beginning of June.

HARBOUR PROJECTS

Recent negotiation with the lead partner of the LOPINOD Interreg project.

The aim is to develop self-funding investment projects.

Potential projects to be covered by study include:

•   Tidal turbines using Smeaton's inner harbour sluices

•   Photo panels on port and harbour building

•   Micro- wind turbines and Marine heat pumps

THE GREEN BOX

Consultants are to consider the feasibility of developing a centre dedicated to the low carbon and environmental goods and services sector in Thanet.

The proposed centre could provide a combination of accommodation for businesses, education and exhibition space, café/networking space and somewhere for people to find out more about renewable technologies.

This would form part of the Council’s Economic Growth and Regeneration Strategy – way to take advantage of a growing sector in the district, taking advantage of the Operations and Maintenance bases of the offshore windfarms, Thanet Earth, East Kent College’s Environmental Technologies training centre, developing solar farms and other renewable activities in and around the district.

The aim would be to act as a catalyst for a step-change in the acceptance of low carbon solutions as an important part of our economy

KING STREET RAMSGATE

King Street in Ramsgate has previously benefitted from previous interventions to convert underutlisied/derelict properties into residential use.Discussions are now underway to progress a deliverable vision for the area.

ROYAL PAVILLION

•   Lease negotiations to proceed with JD Wetherspoon.

•   Create a high quality restaurant/pub in two thirds of the building.

•   The other third will be available for leisure or retail offers.

•   But JD Wetherspoon must satisfy the Council lease terms, adhere to listed building requirements and gain planning permission. 

•   Invest approximately £3 million pounds in the building.

•   Create employment – 50/60 jobs in their restaurant.

•   The other third will be refurbished to a high standard ready for fit out.

•   Once open will draw people into the area.

Likely to stimulate other commercial activity in the vicinity.

 MARGATE - DREAMLAND

Thanet District Council is progressing with plans to create a world class leisure attraction at the Dreamland site in Margate.

The council, which owns the entire Dreamland site in Margate, plans to develop the whole site for leisure use and has assembled a funding package to bring forward the first stage of Dreamland’s restoration.

As the successful operation of an amusement park requires specialist technical expertise, the council is now looking to progress an open procurement process, to identify a suitable operating company to run the park.

The council is working towards re-opening the first phase of the park in 2015 with a restored Scenic Railway, thrilling historic rides and top quality food and beverage outlets. Further phases would then follow.

The council has a professional project management team on-board to manage the project.

This team of professionals have pulled together detailed cost plans and are working through the costs and risks on a day to day basis. They meet regularly with council officers, and updates on progress will continue to be shared with Councillors.

BROADSTAIRS

PLAY AREA

At Cabinet we agreed to provide approximately £40,000 of funding to help improve the facilities at Memorial Park playground in Broadstairs.

The decision follows a 1,760 strong petition submitted to the council by local residents to undertake major improvements to the Broadstairs play area, and will include relocation of the play area to a more suitable place.

Cabinet agreed to the refurbishment of four play areas across Thanet that were highlighted by ROSPA (Royal Society for the prevention of accidents) as a health and safety risk.

The other four play areas to receive funding cover Margate, Ramsgate and the Villages, so undertaking improvements in Broadstairs also means the council will now be investing in play facilities across the whole district.

SKATEPARKS ACROSS OUR DISTRICT

Thanet District Council has committed almost a quarter of a million pounds to develop new skate park facilities across the district.

£220,000 has been set aside to develop three brand new state of the art skate parks in Broadstairs, Ramsgate and Margate.

The council is very close to awarding the contract and has been involving the local community and groups of young skaters in the plans for some time.

I’m very keen keen to set the record straight following recent coverage of the demolition of the unofficial skate park constructed in Cliftonville.

The council is serious about creating new opportunities for our young people and has listened to the requests for the council to develop more skate parks in Thanet.

Following a petition last year, we’ve set aside a considerable amount of money to achieve this and have been involving the young skaters directly in the plans.

With hundreds of thousands of pounds committed to developing new state of the art skate facilities right across the district, we believe we now need to move forward more positively in partnership with the local community and celebrate what’s still to come!

MANSTON

I proposed an emergency motion on Thursday 20 March to crucial regional meetings concerning exploring the extension of the enterprise zone. This was discussed at the Kent Leader’s meeting and at the Thanet Regeneration Board.

I put forward the emergency motion so that we could explore the possibility of extending the Enterprise Zone from Discovery Park at Richborough. I’ve suggested discussing extending this to cover the Richborough corridor, which is a former power station site, Manston Business Park and Manston Airport itself.

The council has been clear that it has supported the airport and this could help us find the best opportunity to either save the airport in its current form or find the best possible future for the site, whichever scenario plays out. This proposal was well-received and it is reassuring that this has been discussed.

Government is now officially being asked to consider extending the current enterprise zone at Discovery Park in Sandwich to also cover Thanet.

The final draft of the Kent and Medway Growth Deal document, delivered to Government this week, features as a chapter in the South East LEP'S Strategic Economic Plan. 

It asks Government to permit Thanet District Council to retain 100% of business rate receipts within the Zone with no impact on their baseline, in order that discounts can be fully funded by receipts above the discount level.

It proposes to allocate £3.5 million in Local Growth Fund finance to support commercial development at Manston and Discovery Park.

It also proposes to support SEFUND investment in commercial and residential development.

The recent news of the proposal to consult on possible closure of the airport came as a real shock. However, whether or not the site remains as an airport, the proposals to Government in the Kent and Medway Growth Plan for enterprise zone status will give us the very best chance to turn the current situation into a long-term success.

THE SHED PROJECT BROADSTAIRS.

Thanet District Council has supported the project by issuing a licence to the Broadstairs Town Team. The agreement has allowed the Shed project to have base to work from and in return they will help TDC by repairing some of the building at Pierremont and thereby reduce the potential costs the Council would have faced had it needed to pay for the repairs. The Shed project has the potential to work on improving projects in the local town and ideas have already included a temporary disabled ramp to the nearby War Memorial for commemorative purposes and discussions possibly to provide a fence to the proposed new play area at nearby Memorial Recreation Ground.

ELLINGTON PARK

This has been the focus of a lot of local enthusiasm and a bid to the Peoples Millions succeeded this last year and TDC has granted a licence for a wildlife garden to be installed which was . This is part of a bigger project that officers have worked on to try and secure a Heritage Lottery Bid that is being considered currently. Work has been undertaken to allow a mobile unit in the park to keep the public updated on progress and also work to install toilets for the events being held on a regular basis in the park.

OTHER PROJECTS 

We are also supporting the Maritime Museum through the Steam Museum Trust, Project Motorhouse and Margate Caves Educational Trust who each have some very positive long-term plans.

THE SUCCESS PROGRAMME

Last but far from least: The South-East Urban Coast Creative Enterprise Support Scheme (SUCCESS) provides grants for new or expanding creative businesses that are creating jobs in the Hastings, Thanet and Tendring local authority areas.

It aims to help creative businesses to grow and flourish, and create new jobs.

I attended a governance meeting in Hastings on Thursday and I’m pleased to report that Thanet projects look to be the first to be successful through SUCCESS”.

Published by Thanet Labour Group Press Office – 44 Northdown Road, Margate, Kent CT9 2RW.

.

CALL FOR ENTERPRISE ZONE STATUS FOR MANSTON

Government is now officially being asked to consider extending the current enterprise zone at Discovery Park in Sandwich to also cover Thanet.

The final draft of the Kent and Medway Growth Deal document, delivered to Government this week, features as a chapter in the South East LEP'S Strategic Economic Plan. 

The strategic plan for Kent and Medway will take forward a coordinated approach to the development of Discovery Park and Manston.

It calls for Government to consider extending Enterprise Zone designation to Manston Business Park, Manston Airport and the Richborough Corridor.

It asks Government to permit Thanet District Council to retain 100% of business rate receipts within the Zone with no impact on their baseline, in order that discounts can be fully funded by receipts above the discount level.

It proposes to allocate £3.5 million in Local Growth Fund finance to support commercial development at Manston and Discovery Park.

It also proposes to support SEFUND investment in commercial and residential development.

Leader of Thanet District Council and Cabinet Member for Economic Development Cllr Clive Hart proposed an emergency motion on Thursday 20 March to crucial regional meetings concerning exploring the extension of the enterprise zone. This was discussed at the Kent Leader’s meeting and at the Thanet Regeneration Board.

Thanet District Council Leader, Cllr Clive Hart, said: "The recent news of the proposal to consult on possible closure of the airport has been devastating. However, whether or not the site remains as an airport, the proposals to Government in the Kent and Medway Growth Plan for enterprise zone status will give us the very best chance to turn the current situation into a long-term success. I'd like to publicly thank leaders and officers from across Kent and Medway for their sterling support".

TDC

MANSTON

The council has suggested exploring the extension of the Discovery Park Enterprise Zone to cover Manston Airport as well as the Manston Business Park and Richborough Corridor.

Leader of Thanet District Council and Cabinet Member for Economic Development Cllr Clive Hart proposed an emergency motion on Thursday 20 March to crucial regional meetings concerning exploring the extension of the enterprise zone. This was discussed at the Kent Leader’s meeting and at the Thanet Regeneration Board.

Cllr Hart said, ‘I put forward this emergency motion so that we could explore the possibility of extending the Enterprise Zone from Discovery Park at Richborough. I’ve suggesting discussing extending this to cover the Richborough corridor, which is a former power station site, Manston Business Park and Manston Airport itself. The council has been clear that it has supported the airport and this could help us find the best opportunity to either save the airport in its current form or find the best possible future for the site, whichever scenario plays out. This proposal was well-received and it is reassuring that this has been discussed.’

This comes after the operators of Manston Airport confirmed that they have commenced a process of consultation over the possible closure of the airport.

TDC

MANSTON AIRPORT PROPOSAL

Cllr Clive Hart - TDC Leader

The consultation on the proposed closure of Manston Airport is potentially a devastating blow to the local economy with the potential loss of direct and indirect employment in Thanet.

The council has been clear that it has supported the future development of the airport. We have worked with operators to ensure that the economic benefits to the district could be maximised including the council’s direct port of entry service and therefore this is very disappointing news.

THANET DISTRICT COUNCIL PEER REVIEW

Thanet District Council has taken part in a voluntary Peer Review this week (11 – 13 March) as part of its commitment to improve.

A team of peers from other local authorities and the Local Government Association were invited by the council to review how it operates and to provide suggestions for ways to improve.

As part of the review there was a particular focus on Economic Development and the council’s customer services approach, as these are priority areas for the council.

More than 100 Councillors, council staff and external stakeholders, which included community groups, private companies, partner organisations and local press, took part in focus group sessions with the review team.

The council received a verbal summary of the initial findings at a short presentation today (Thursday 13 March) and will receive a detailed report from the review team within the next month. The report will be published on the council’s website.

Council Leader, Cllr Clive Hart, said: “We welcome the initial findings of the review which highlight that the council is heading in the right direction, with improvement achieved in a number of areas.

“We recognise that there is more improvement to be made and will be actively responding to the feedback we receive.

“I would like to thank the Peer Review Team for their time this week and for their insight and suggestions and to everyone who contributed to this process".

The Peer Review team for Thanet included:

• Pete Rentell, Programme Manager – Local Government Support,  LGA
• Matt Nicholls, Head of News and Internal Comms, LGA
• Cllr Helen Holland, Leader of the Labour Group, Bristol City Council
• Cllr Terry Hone, Deputy Leader and Finance Portfolio Holder, North Herts District Council and Deputy Executive Member for Resources and Economic Wellbeing at Herts County Council
• Andrew Muter, Chief Executive, Newark and Sherwood District Council
• Graham Cook, Deputy Chief Executive, Reigate and Banstead Borough Council

Since 2011, nearly a third of local authorities (105) have undergone a Peer Review. This is expected to rise to more than 180 councils by the end of 2014.

ENDS 

THANET DISTRICT COUNCIL