Latest news with #MedwayCouncil
BBC News
12 hours ago
- General
- BBC News
Medway Council cabinet to take public questions for first time
Medway Council will begin offering members of the public an opportunity to question councillors during cabinet local authority will allocate 20 minutes for public questions on every cabinet agenda in a six-month pilot project to offer more interactions with residents, starting with Tuesday's the public could only ask questions at full council council can reject questions that are frivolous, defamatory, offensive, or not related to a matter for which it has responsibility, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service. The council administration will answer as many questions as it can within the allotted time and any left unanswered will receive a written must submit questions via the council's website at least three working days before a meeting.
BBC News
a day ago
- General
- BBC News
Staff turnover fears despite improved Medway Council child service
A council's children services have been praised for improvements, but inspectorate Ofsted has warned staff turnover has "hindered progress".Medway Council has made changes since being rated "good" in 2023, the education watchdog said after a recent reinspection, but added that they still needed time to were raised that the positive steps made were on shaky ground because of ever-increasing demands for the service and the high turnover of staff and retention Price, Medway Council's portfolio holder for children's services, said the service had been on a "significant improvement journey in recent years". The visit, conducted in April, was to look specifically at the authority's performance in relation to children in need or the subject of a child protection plan, according to the Local Democracy Reporting inspectors said improvements had been made to the support given to children, particularly to 16 or 17 year olds at risk of homelessness, and there was a focus on developing the response to disabled children and teenagers at risk of of the service was also raised as an issue, with inspectors saying quality and impact of assessments, plans, interventions, management oversight and supervision could vary widely.A letter from the inspectorate to the council read: "Recent turnover of staff threatens to undermine the tenuous progress made."The stability and experience of the workforce continue to be the most significant and stubborn challenges and barriers to progress."Ofsted also recognised the leaders of the service understood the issues it was facing and the key areas for service was previously rated "inadequate" in Joy, shadow cabinet member for children's services, also welcomed the progress but said it remained "fragile given the continued challenges around permanence within the service".
BBC News
a day ago
- General
- BBC News
Fees start for extra garden waste collections in Medway
Medway Council has introduced new charges for additional garden waste collections from waste collections now require a £40 per year subscription, which buys a permit to be fixed to an additional brown local authority says it will continue its standard weekly garden waste collections and residents can continue taking their extra waste to its three tips for Curry, cabinet member for climate change, said the council is "proud" of its service and Medway is "one of the few places in the country that still offer a free garden waste collection service". The councillor added: "This change won't impact most residents, however, those that do produce more garden waste than average will be able to sign up." Household that requires an additional brown bin will receive it within three weeks of signing up for the service, according to Medway local authority's cabinet agreed in 2024 to implement the scheme.
The Sun
2 days ago
- General
- The Sun
Unique Victorian lido with outdoor lazy river to reopen with new £250k splash zone
THE only remaining riverside tidal lido in the UK is reopening soon with a new 'splash' feature following a £250,000 refurbishment. The Strand Lido and Leisure Park in Gillingham, in Kent, has reopened with a new splash pad. 5 5 5 The lido's new splash pad is designed for children between three and 11-years-old. The new water feature has 30 sensor-activated waterjets in a beach-themed play area, as well as new bins and railings. The existing paddling pool has reopened, too. Overall, the leisure complex includes an outdoor leisure pool, six 25-metre lanes for swimming, a 300-metre lazy river, a café and play areas. There is also a pool inflatable shop on site, a poolside cafe, changing areas and toilets. The Strand Park, more widely, is home to a miniature train ride, four newly refurbished tennis courts, an outdoor gym, riverside walks, a picnic area and access to the pebbled beach area. The Strand originally opened in 1896 and is now the only remaining riverside tidal saltwater pool in the country. Last year it was officially recognised as being 'historically significant' after gaining membership to Historic Pools of Britain. Speaking previously, Councillor Nina Gurung, Medway Council's portfolio holder for heritage, culture and leisure, said: "We are proud to have invested in this exciting project to improve the already great offering and add a brand-new fun feature for our children and families to enjoy both this summer and for years to come." To access the pools, sessions need to be booked online. Historic 'on-of-a-kind' lido has three heated swimming pools Adult admission costs £7.20, whilst it costs £4.75 for juniors and seniors. According to Clare Short, from Historic Pools of Britain, The Strand Lido is a "pool that epitomises the spirit of lidos as a place for fun and wellbeing, which it has been providing to its community and visitors for over 120 years, and that is historically significant as the only remaining riverside tidal saltwater pool in the country." In addition, the pool is Medway's only open air swimming pool or lido. After heading to the lido last year, one visitor said: "[Strand Lido] felt a bit like being on holiday and the kids loved it. "We played in the lovely park after and done the little train ride - kids enjoyed that. 5 "The fair was on too. [It] was as a nice little day out and local too." Another added: "Just loved this place so much to entertain our two-year-old. [A] sand pit, train, swings, slides, paddling pool, pebbles, water … everything a little person could want." A seafront English lido named one of the best in Europe has also reopened with £4.5million revamp to be unveiled in weeks. Plus, the European 'pleasure island' with lido, flumes and wave pool gets new TUI flights from the UK. 5
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Consultation expected on draft plan for Medway
The latest draft of a document outlining how Medway will develop in the coming years could soon be unveiled. Medway Council's cabinet is expected to approve the required six-week consultation period for the published plan - a major document designating what land will be used for and assessing infrastructure needs - on 3 June. Local plans typically last 15 years, but the last time the council approved one was 2003, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service. Previous attempts to approve a local plan failed and the current council administration says it is a priority to put a new one in place before 2027. The latest version of the document follows feedback from Medway residents and businesses in a previous consultation. If councillors vote to proceed with the process, the plan will be published on 26 June and six-week consultation will commence before it is submitted to the government for adoption. If approved by the secretary of state on schedule, the local plan will be in place until 2041. Without a local plan, councillors have less power to reject planning applications. Councillors voted down a motion in April about the future of Chatham Docks, which is covered by the plan, after suggestions it could collapse Medway Council's local plan process. Controversy over proposals for the docks have caused issued for previous attempts to get a local plan approved. Follow BBC Kent on Facebook, on X, and on Instagram. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@ or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250. Dockyard motion thrown out over local plan fears Council to unveil preferred future housing plan Early plans submitted for dockyard redevelopment Local Democracy Reporting Service Medway Council
