Latest news with #VinceMaple
Yahoo
a day ago
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Council approves flats at former Go Outdoors site
Planning consent has been granted by councillors for 319 new apartments in Chatham, Kent. Developer Arpenteur Nightingale applied for permission in December to construct the flats at the former Go Outdoors site in The Brook. Workers began demolition of the existing disused building in March. Medway Council's planning committee unanimously approved the proposal at a meeting on Wednesday, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service. Council officers had recommended the plans were approved, saying while aspects of the scheme do not comply with the Arches Chatham Neighbourhood Plan, the proposal is significantly adapted to align as much as possible. Council leader Vince Maple told the meeting the plans were now "a much better application than where it started from". "Nobody wants an empty supermarket in their ward, which is effectively what we've had for some time," Mr Maple, who is also the local ward councillor, said. The former Go Outdoors building has sat empty since the shop permanently closed in 2020. Tesco occupied the site from the 1970s until 2015. Committee member Adrian Gulvin said the scheme would "make a substantial contribution towards our housing numbers". "If we turn this down or try to get some alterations, we won't get anything at all, and this end of Chatham certainly needs a shot in the arm," he added. The proposals consist of five apartment blocks of between five and seven storeys. Follow BBC Kent on Facebook, on X, and on Instagram. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@ or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250. Former Go Outdoors building demolished for flats Consultation expected on draft plan for Medway Local Democracy Reporting Service Medway Council
BBC News
a day ago
- Business
- BBC News
Council approves flats at former Go Outdoors site in Chatham
Planning consent has been granted by councillors for 319 new apartments in Chatham, Arpenteur Nightingale applied for permission in December to construct the flats at the former Go Outdoors site in The began demolition of the existing disused building in Council's planning committee unanimously approved the proposal at a meeting on Wednesday, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service. Council officers had recommended the plans were approved, saying while aspects of the scheme do not comply with the Arches Chatham Neighbourhood Plan, the proposal is significantly adapted to align as much as leader Vince Maple told the meeting the plans were now "a much better application than where it started from". "Nobody wants an empty supermarket in their ward, which is effectively what we've had for some time," Mr Maple, who is also the local ward councillor, former Go Outdoors building has sat empty since the shop permanently closed in 2020. Tesco occupied the site from the 1970s until member Adrian Gulvin said the scheme would "make a substantial contribution towards our housing numbers"."If we turn this down or try to get some alterations, we won't get anything at all, and this end of Chatham certainly needs a shot in the arm," he proposals consist of five apartment blocks of between five and seven storeys.
BBC News
14-04-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Households struggling in Medway can claim share of £4m fund
Households in Medway struggling to meet the cost of living can claim a share of £ cash is from the Household Support Fund, introduced in October 2021, which the government has decided to extend for another money is shared out to local authorities to allocate, with Medway having £3,987,524 for the coming financial Council also said it would be giving free school meal vouchers to eligible families throughout the summer holidays. Council leader Vince Maple said: "The Household Support Fund provides support to some of Medway's most vulnerable residents."We know there are more than 12,500 children in Medway who are eligible for free school meals and being able to ensure that they and their families continue to receive that support is incredibly important to us as a council."Anyone who may be eligible can find out more and apply here.
Yahoo
28-02-2025
- Business
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Medway approves budget after £11m extra support
Medway Council has approved its budget for 2025/26 after it was given £11m in exceptional financial support from the government for a second year. The council said that the extra money was the only way to achieve a balanced budget, with nearly three-quarters of the budget used to "meet the growing cost of providing support for Medway's most vulnerable children and adults". It added it can now borrow more than £18m to spread revenue costs over more than one year. Medway was one of 30 councils awarded extra government support this year. On Thursday, the annual budget was approved at a full council meeting. It was also agreed to increase council tax by 4.99%. This equates to an increase of £1.68 per week for a Band D property, to a total of £1,842.32 per year. The council said that, amidst ongoing pressures, its budget was focused on "services which protect children and adults through social care, support those who are at risk of homelessness and provide services for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND)". It added these three areas alone cost the council more than £1.1m every day. The council agreed to invest an extra £40m in its children and adult social care and education services, including £17.5m extra funding for schools. Councillors also agreed to invest almost £6.8m more directly into adult social care, another £4.6m into children's social care, £2m more on SEND and a further £1.7m to provide temporary accommodation for those at risk of homelessness in the next financial year. Medway Council leader Vince Maple said: "The pressures that local authorities across the country are under is no secret. "More and more people need help, and the complexity of the help they require also continues to increase. "Although we received a more generous settlement from government for this year, anyone who reads through the papers will see that our services remain extremely stretched." He added the council had a "moral duty" to "help and support our most vulnerable residents". Follow BBC Kent on Facebook, on X and on Instagram. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@ or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250. Council to ask for exceptional financial support Medway Council
Yahoo
07-02-2025
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Costs set to rise as council plugs budget hole
People are set to pay more for services as a Kent local authority seeks to plug a multi-million-pound budget shortfall. Medway Council plans to increase council tax and a range of charges from April, including parking and sports centre memberships. Council leader Vince Maple said the local authority "had to deal with a really challenging financial set of circumstances". "These are difficult choices, not ones we take lightly," he added. "But I've got a responsibility to deliver a balanced budget and to deliver the very best services that we can within a financially responsible approach." The local authority has ruled out making further cuts to services, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service. Council tax will be hiked by 4.99% - the maximum amount without requiring a referendum. Medway Council had asked the government for another 5% increase to council tax on top, though this request was rejected. Parking costs across Medway are due to go up by 60p, both for on-street and off-street. That means a one to two-hour stay will cost £2.90 rather than £2.30, for example. Sports centre memberships will also increase, with a premier-plus monthly fee for Cozenton Park in Rainham rising from £55.95 to £60.40. The family premier-plus monthly membership will increase from £115 to £124.20. The council initially believed it would require £26.2m in exceptional financial support (EFS) from the government to make up for it budget shortfall in the next financial year. However, this figure has been revised down to £18.5m. Medway Council said it intends to save money by using AI to reduce time-consuming assessment work for social care and other services to speed up processing and administration. Whether council buildings can be better utilised or sold will also be investigated, it added. Follow BBC Kent on Facebook, on X, and on Instagram. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@ or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250. Medway Council faces predicted £11m overspend Medway Council makes fifth bid for city status Council may sell assets to tackle £114m shortfall Local Democracy Reporting Service Medway Council
