The East Kent Hospitals Trust have announced that they will be applying for Foundation Trust Status in 2008. East Kent Hospitals Trust is one of the largest hospital Trusts in the country, providing services from five hospitals and several outpatient settings. There will be a public meeting in Folkestone to discuss the proposals on 25th February.
The inaugural Folkestone Triennial 'Tales of Time and Space' will take place from 14 June to 14 September at locations across Folkestone, and the festivals web site has been launched at www.folkestonetriennial.org.uk
Nepali sculptor, professor and writer Dr Laya Mainali will be holding a sculpture and painting exhibition of his own works at the Gurkha Community Centre, Mackenzie Drive, Cheriton on Saturday February 16th from 2-6pm.
A report to Shepway Council has confirmed that Shepway Council are planning an inflation busting 4.7% increase in Council tax this year. Band D Council Tax excluding other precepts will rise from £217.94 to £228.18. Taken alongside the introduction of the new Garden Tax for collection of Brown-top bins, a household retaining their bin will see their Shepway tax rise to £263.18 - a MASSIVE 21% increase.
Tory Councillors for Hythe West John and Linda Oliver have STILL not resigned their council seats - despite having moved to Bath over SIX weeks ago! In November Shepway Conservatives said the Olivers would resign in the "New Year". The Olivers sold their Hythe home before Christmas.
This Saturday, 16th February, Shepway Lib Dems invite members and supporters to an evening of sleuthing and pasta!
![Vince Cable [Photo: LDD Pics]](/fileadmin/_processed_/5/5/csm_vince-cable-photo-ldd-pics_a8e3e3f3df.png)
Saturday, 1st March 2008 - 7.00 for 7.30pm at Tyler Hill Memorial Hall, Summer Lane, Tyler Hill, Canterbury CT2 9NJ. Guest speaker is Vince Cable, MP, Deputy Leader, Shadow Chancellor and scourge of Gordon Brown.
Brian Paddick's autobiography Line of Fire is due out on 25th March, and can now be pre-ordered from the Shepway Lib Dems shop at www.shepwaylibdems.org.uk/amazonshop
Kent Trading Standards, Community Wardens and Kent Libraries are working with the Office of Fair Trading on their 'Scamnesty' campaign. Members of the public are being asked to collect any scam mailings they have recently received in their junk mail, and drop them into designated 'Scamnesty' bags. The bags will be at all libraries across the county until 27th February. Kent residents are asked to 'drop in' and 'drop the scammers in it'.
Thousands of Garden Tax demands for the £35 Charge for Brown-top bins have been hitting households across Shepway - including thousands of households without a brown-top bin. The huge billing exercise will cost many thousands of pounds, is expected to have a low return level and could lead to reduced recycling levels in Shepway.
The Tory Cabinet on Shepway District Council clearly does not have the best interests of pensioners at heart. Without the decision going to a vote of Council, Shepway's Cabinet has imposed a time alteration for holders of a free Bus Pass. From April the earliest a Bus Pass holder can travel free of charge will be changed from 9.00am to 9.30am.
The Liberal Democrats have released figures showing that up to 2,500 English Primary Schools are at risk from Government policies which oblige local authorities to close schools with surplus places - often in rural areas. Kent is one of the worst hit areas in the country, with 87 schools at risk.
