A message from your County Councillor - August 2017

Autumn seems to be upon us – misty mornings, heavy showers and a distinct nip in the air. I am hoping for an ‘Indian summer’ but who knows.

I reread my report written at the end of August last year and could really cheat and just reissue. A quieter month than most for meetings but a very large number of Home to School Transport Appeals.

Although we have not been away in August this year we have taken the opportunity to have days out with the grandchildren and other family members. Bedgebury Pinetum, Emmetts Garden and Leeds Castle to name a few destinations. I also spent one day with my eldest Grandson at Canterbury watching England’s under 19’s take on the Indian equivalents at Cricket.

The lesser number of Borough Council meetings has allowed me to visit more Parish Councils although not all meet in August. I have attended Selling, Tunstall, Newnham, Bredgar, Dunkirk and Hernhill. I was especially pleased to be able to get to Tunstall and Bredgar as these two Parishes are in the ‘new’ part of my County Division which I inherited this year due to the Boundary changes.

For the second year running I was at all three days of the New Day Festival at Mount Ephraim, Hernhill. I felt this year the organisation was better and I was pleased to hear only good reports at Hernhill Parish Council a few days later.

On the last day of August I had a very productive meeting with Kent’s Chief Constable and some of his senior team. We discussed at length his Kent Police Change programme – Project New Horizon. Despite declining funds and increasing population Mr Pughsley is determined to maintain visible local policing. Modern technology such as body worn cameras are an essential element in keeping Officers on the beat rather than in the Office.

After the meeting above I attended a site meeting in Teynham with Kent County Council Cabinet Member for Highways Matthew Balfour together with Teynham & Lynsted Borough Councillors Lloyd Bowen and Mike Whiting. I believe we have made great progress in getting County to see the seriousness of the highway issues in these two villages. We must now await the proposals Officers bring forward and then seek to secure funding.

Andrew Bowles