Winter 2011 District Life - Issue 42 Float away into a magical world
Winter 2011 District Life - Issue 42 Float away into a magical world
Winter 2011 District Life - Issue 42 Float away into a magical world
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<strong>Float</strong> <strong>away</strong> <strong>into</strong><br />
a <strong>magical</strong> <strong>world</strong><br />
this Christmas<br />
<strong>Issue</strong> <strong>42</strong><br />
<strong>Winter</strong> <strong>2011</strong>
Cover story<br />
The Fairy Godmother is ready to<br />
welcome you to the new Marlowe<br />
Theatre this winter. Photo by Tim<br />
Stubbings.<br />
<strong>Float</strong> <strong>away</strong> <strong>into</strong><br />
a <strong>magical</strong> <strong>world</strong><br />
this Christmas<br />
<strong>Issue</strong> <strong>42</strong><br />
<strong>Winter</strong> <strong>2011</strong><br />
Back issues<br />
Can be viewed online at<br />
www.districtlife.co.uk.<br />
Contacts<br />
Editor<br />
Rob Davies<br />
Phone 01227 862 050<br />
Email robert.davies@<br />
canterbury.gov.uk<br />
Additional editorial<br />
Steve James<br />
Phone 01227 862 060<br />
Email steve.james@<br />
canterbury.gov.uk<br />
Advertising<br />
Sarah Cooper<br />
Phone 01227 862 <strong>42</strong>3<br />
Email sarah.cooper@<br />
canterbury.gov.uk<br />
Design<br />
Anne Vickery<br />
Phone 01227 862 282<br />
Email anne.vickery@<br />
canterbury.gov.uk<br />
Printed on environmentally<br />
friendly paper. Please<br />
recycle once you have finished<br />
with this publication.<br />
Find us on Facebook<br />
<strong>District</strong> <strong>Life</strong> is the quarterly news magazine for residents and businesses in the Canterbury district. Published<br />
by Canterbury City Council with the support of paid advertising. Print by Polestar Colchester. <strong>District</strong> <strong>Life</strong> and<br />
Canterbury City Council accept no responsibility for loss or damage, however caused, to any material<br />
submitted for publication. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without prior<br />
permission of the publishers.<br />
Published in November <strong>2011</strong><br />
Canterbury City<br />
Council supports<br />
Fairtrade and<br />
local produce<br />
P5 P9 P13<br />
Welcome<br />
from the Editor<br />
It’s been a bit like London buses at the council recently – no sooner<br />
do you finish one major scheme than another one reaches<br />
completion straight after!<br />
Two of our biggest projects – the Marlowe Theatre and sports<br />
facilities in Herne Bay – have both come to a conclusion in the last<br />
couple of months.<br />
And with a third one – the new Beaney – making good progress<br />
towards an opening next summer, there’s plenty of good news<br />
around at the moment.<br />
You can find out more about all of these projects in this edition.<br />
Although budget savings mean we only produce <strong>District</strong> <strong>Life</strong><br />
twice a year now, it’s important to us that we keep communicating<br />
with local people.<br />
That’s why you can now find us on Facebook at www.facebook.<br />
com/canterburycitycouncil, and sign up for our monthly<br />
e-newsletter, which we send straight to your inbox, on our website.<br />
Rob Davies<br />
Editor<br />
Featured articles<br />
Page<br />
Cinderella returns to the<br />
Marlowe 9<br />
A safe night out in<br />
Canterbury 10<br />
Olympic torch to visit the<br />
district 11<br />
Herne Bay is blooming<br />
brilliant 13<br />
Baptism of fire for new<br />
councillors 24 and 25<br />
Regular features<br />
News round-up starts 4<br />
Museum events 7<br />
Competition for Marlowe<br />
Theatre tickets 9<br />
You can also get this publication on CD, in Braille or in large print. Please phone<br />
Rob Davies on 01227 862 050 or email robert.davies@canterbury.gov.uk.<br />
P29<br />
3
Public views on the council’s draft budget<br />
for 2012/13 can be made between now<br />
and Thursday 22 December.<br />
The plans were published in November and<br />
set out proposed savings and a strategy for<br />
balancing the books over the next four years.<br />
The budget is set against a backdrop of a<br />
cut in central government funding of around<br />
28 per cent over four years, with the majority<br />
coming in the first two years.<br />
4<br />
Leader’s column<br />
It is that time<br />
of year again<br />
when my<br />
administration<br />
publishes<br />
its budget<br />
proposals for<br />
the forthcoming<br />
financial year.<br />
We have been saying this for the last<br />
few years now, but once again the figures<br />
are looking very tight as local government<br />
continues to make a significant contribution<br />
to addressing the nation’s financial<br />
problems.<br />
However, I’m very pleased to be able to<br />
put forward a draft budget that protects<br />
vital local services. This is as a direct result of<br />
good money management in previous years,<br />
as well as some tough decisions already<br />
taken, and means we find ourselves in a<br />
better position than many other councils.<br />
There are some proposed increases in<br />
Council publishes draft budget<br />
Car park charges are proposed to rise<br />
charges, such as for car parking and other<br />
services, and I know that these may not be<br />
popular.<br />
But my administration feels now is the<br />
right time to be moving towards ‘user pays’,<br />
where we charge more for services that are<br />
only used by a small proportion of residents<br />
so that the cost doesn’t fall mainly on the<br />
general taxpayer.<br />
During our Corporate Plan consultation<br />
earlier in the year, this approach was<br />
endorsed by residents. I believe it is only<br />
right that people who use a service should<br />
be the ones who predominantly pay for it.<br />
The draft proposals also include a<br />
council tax increase of 2.5 per cent, but the<br />
government is offering us a grant to cover<br />
the amount this would raise in return for no<br />
rise in council tax. We are currently looking<br />
at this option.<br />
There is plenty of good news too,<br />
because my administration is continuing<br />
with its ambitious programme of major<br />
improvement projects.<br />
Priorities for the council have been to focus<br />
on the ambitions set out in its Corporate Plan,<br />
protect the services it is legally required to<br />
provide, and review all its services with a view<br />
to delivering a good quality of service for the<br />
customer at 20 per cent less cost.<br />
Its approach also involves moving to more<br />
of a ‘user pays’ approach to funding services,<br />
and to gradually reduce the number of<br />
buildings it delivers services from.<br />
With the new Marlowe and Herne Bay’s<br />
sports facilities now complete, we turn<br />
our attention to the redevelopment of<br />
the whole Kingsmead site, the Herne Bay<br />
Central Development Area and the Beaney.<br />
We also remain committed to finding a<br />
new home for Canterbury City Football<br />
Club.<br />
And we recently received the news that<br />
we are likely to get back all of the £2 million<br />
we had invested in one of the failed Icelandic<br />
banks, following an Icelandic Supreme<br />
Court ruling. Local councils worked together<br />
to achieve this outcome, which is very<br />
welcome.<br />
As usual, the views of residents will play<br />
an important role as we go through the<br />
budget setting process before making a<br />
final decision in February, so please take the<br />
time to visit our website and tell us what you<br />
think.<br />
Cllr John Gilbey, Leader,<br />
Canterbury City Council<br />
Parking charges are proposed to rise by<br />
around 10 per cent, with a 10 pence per hour<br />
increase in Canterbury’s central premium,<br />
central and outer car parks and rises in prices<br />
in the coastal towns. Park and ride is staying<br />
at £2.50 to encourage more use of the 1,800<br />
spaces available.<br />
The visitor information service in<br />
Canterbury could move from its current<br />
home in Sun Street to the new Beaney Art<br />
Museum and Library in the High Street once<br />
development work is complete.<br />
And the council subsidy for the Marlowe<br />
Theatre will reduce from around £400,000 at<br />
the moment to zero by 2014/15.<br />
Further savings are being found by sharing<br />
services such as revenues and benefits, ICT<br />
and customer services with other east Kent<br />
councils, and significant underspends from<br />
the last two financial years are being used to<br />
help balance next year’s budget.<br />
The draft budget can be viewed on the<br />
council’s website at www.canterbury.gov.<br />
uk. Comments can be made by emailing<br />
policy@canterbury.gov.uk or writing to<br />
Policy and Improvement, Canterbury City<br />
Council, Military Road, Canterbury, Kent,<br />
CT1 1YW.
Top notch sports facilities for Herne Bay<br />
Herne Bay now has some of the best<br />
sports facilities anywhere in the<br />
county following the formal opening<br />
of a new arena at Herne Bay High<br />
School and an extension to Herons<br />
Leisure Centre.<br />
The state-of-the-art facilities have<br />
replaced those at the Pier Pavilion,<br />
which in turn is in the process of being<br />
demolished to give a new lease of life<br />
to the pier.<br />
The Bay Sports Arena is part of a<br />
wider development of the sports<br />
facilities at Herne Bay High School,<br />
which also includes a new four court<br />
sports hall and a gymnastics hall.<br />
The arena is suitable for international<br />
roller hockey, football, badm<strong>into</strong>n,<br />
basketball, volleyball, bowls, public<br />
roller skating and a host of other sports.<br />
An adjacent area houses retractable<br />
tiered seating, skate hire and skate<br />
shop, new changing rooms and<br />
refreshment provision.<br />
Canterbury City Council, Kent County<br />
Council and Herne Bay High School<br />
worked in partnership to develop the<br />
venue, which is run by Active <strong>Life</strong>. The<br />
Indoor Bowling Club has use of the<br />
arena during the mornings for most of<br />
the year, and it is open to the wider<br />
public out of school hours. The arena<br />
has been built so that public access is<br />
separate from the school’s access.<br />
At Herons Leisure Centre, the<br />
building has been extended to<br />
accommodate a new modern gym<br />
packed with the latest equipment,<br />
together with two studios – one for<br />
mind and body and the other as a<br />
fitness and dance studio. These sit<br />
alongside the existing swimming pool.<br />
The two projects represent a total<br />
investment in Herne Bay’s sports<br />
facilities of more than £4 million.<br />
Building work at the arena was carried<br />
out by Provian, and the extension at<br />
Herons was built by Cosmur.<br />
Olympic rower and former Herne Bay<br />
High School pupil Dan Ritchie was<br />
there to support the opening of both<br />
the arena and the extended Herons,<br />
where he performed a rowing<br />
demonstration.<br />
Meanwhile, the demolition of the Pier<br />
Pavilion is underway.<br />
Specialist contractors are on site to<br />
remove asbestos in the building, and<br />
this work is expected to last <strong>into</strong> the<br />
new year.<br />
5
Famous artists, writers’<br />
rooms and a real<br />
Roman Christmas!<br />
Visit your local museums in<br />
Canterbury, Herne Bay and<br />
Whitstable this winter for an<br />
exciting programme of great<br />
value exhibitions, talks and<br />
creative activities. There’s<br />
something for everyone…<br />
Writers’ rooms: exhibition<br />
of photographs by<br />
Eamonn McCabe<br />
Until spring 2012<br />
Herne Bay Museum and Gallery<br />
Intimate portraits of the rooms<br />
that famous writers work in, by<br />
the award-winning Guardian<br />
photographer and former picture<br />
editor. Included in museum<br />
entry charge. All ages.<br />
Strangely familiar<br />
exhibition<br />
Until spring 2012<br />
Whitstable Museum and<br />
Gallery<br />
See Philip Cox’s brilliant creations<br />
– famous artists, life-sized in<br />
papier mâché with a twist!<br />
Included in museum entry<br />
charge. All ages.<br />
Bagpuss at the<br />
Gulbenkian<br />
6 to 20 December<br />
Christmas show and<br />
finger puppet workshops<br />
See Canterbury’s favourite cat,<br />
the loveable furry Bagpuss, on<br />
stage in a beautiful Christmas<br />
show at the Gulbenkian Theatre.<br />
With Bagpuss mouse finger<br />
puppet activities between shows<br />
on Saturday 10 and 17 and<br />
Sunday 18 December. Visit<br />
www.thegulbenkian.co.uk.<br />
Saturnalia – the Roman<br />
version of Christmas<br />
Family trail and hands-on<br />
activities<br />
17 December <strong>2011</strong> to 2 January<br />
2012, 10am to 5pm<br />
Canterbury Roman Museum<br />
Sacrifices, presents, games and a<br />
big banquet formed the basis of<br />
the popular Roman festival of<br />
Saturnalia. Take part in fun,<br />
hands-on activities, try on<br />
colourful costumes and make a<br />
pileus or freedman’s hat.<br />
Included in standard museum<br />
entry price. All children go free.<br />
All ages.<br />
Bagpuss’ birthday party<br />
Family activity day<br />
Saturday 18 February 2012,<br />
1pm to 4pm<br />
Canterbury Heritage Museum<br />
Meet Bagpuss, Britain’s best-loved<br />
cat, and celebrate his birthday<br />
with fun activities including<br />
storytelling, animation and craft<br />
activities. With a special guest<br />
appearances by co-creator Peter<br />
Firmin. Included in standard<br />
museum entry price. Special<br />
entry price for Canterbury<br />
<strong>District</strong> Residents Card holders –<br />
£3 adults, £2 concessions. All<br />
children go free. All ages.<br />
www.canterbury-museums.co.uk for details of opening<br />
times, locations and telephone numbers.<br />
Wheelchair access available. All children must be accompanied by an adult. Information is correct at time of printing but may change. Please check before making a special visit.<br />
Mini museum explorers<br />
For under fives and their carers<br />
Enjoy songs and stories, investigate amazing objects and get creative<br />
with a fun art activity. £3 per child, accompanying adults free. All<br />
sessions run 10.30am to 11.30am. Materials and refreshments<br />
provided.<br />
Canterbury Heritage Museum<br />
Thursday 8 December Exploring Texture<br />
Thursday 12 January Fossils and Dinosaurs<br />
Thursday 9 February Amazing Animals<br />
Advance booking 01227 475 202<br />
Herne Bay Museum<br />
Tuesday 20 December Rupert and the Reindeer<br />
Tuesday 14 February We love Bagpuss<br />
Advance booking 01227 367 368<br />
Whitstable Museum<br />
Wednesday 21 December Rupert and Santa<br />
Wednesday 15 February Fossils and Dinosaurs<br />
Advance booking 01227 276 998<br />
Museum parties<br />
Looking for something<br />
different this year for your<br />
child’s birthday?<br />
Canterbury Heritage Museum<br />
offers a wide range of fun and<br />
educational party themes for you<br />
to choose from.<br />
The price is £15 per head or<br />
minimum £150 including party<br />
games, an interactive museum<br />
session and a locally sourced<br />
lunch.<br />
The maximum number of<br />
children is 20 and the party lasts<br />
for two hours.<br />
To find out more call Katie<br />
Ginger on 01227 378 122 or<br />
email her on katie.ginger@<br />
canterbury.gov.uk.<br />
Canterbury Roman<br />
Museum<br />
Butchery Lane, CT1 2JR<br />
Phone 01227 785 575<br />
Daily 10am to 5pm<br />
Herne Bay Museum<br />
and Gallery<br />
William Street, CT6 5EJ<br />
Phone 01227 367 368<br />
Daily 10am to 4pm<br />
Canterbury Heritage<br />
Museum<br />
Stour Street, CT1 2NR<br />
Phone 01227 475 202<br />
Daily 10am to 5pm<br />
Whitstable Museum<br />
and Gallery<br />
Oxford Street, CT5 1DB<br />
Phone 01227 276 998<br />
Daily 10am to 4pm<br />
Free entry (except for some special<br />
events) for Canterbury City Council<br />
Residents Card holders. If you don’t<br />
have a Residents Card, come in and<br />
sign up to receive free entry today!<br />
7
Pantomime and so much more!<br />
A spectacular new theatre means a spectacular new pantomime – and Canterbury has both this year!<br />
The Marlowe Theatre opened in October<br />
following a £25.6 million redevelopment and<br />
is already attracting an exciting mixture of<br />
musicals, drama, concerts, dance and opera –<br />
and, of course, pantomime!<br />
Knowing that the Marlowe opening was<br />
imminent, production company Evolution has<br />
been saving the story of Cinderella for a few<br />
years.<br />
Producer Paul Hendy said: “It is the best<br />
pantomime of them all so it is fitting that it is the<br />
first in the new theatre. At the Marlowe, we have<br />
built a reputation for producing incredibly<br />
spectacular pantomimes and this year we are also<br />
planning a few extra treats. There will be a brand<br />
new, stunning snowy set and a whole host of<br />
special effects.”<br />
Three of television’s biggest, brightest and<br />
most talented stars will be appearing in<br />
Cinderella: John Partridge (Christian in<br />
EastEnders), Stephen Mulhern (entertainer and<br />
presenter of Magic Numbers and Britain’s Got<br />
More Talent), and comedy actress Sue Devaney<br />
(dinnerladies, Casualty).<br />
John will be taking on the role of Prince<br />
Charming, Stephen – who was hugely popular<br />
when he appeared in two pantomimes at the old<br />
Marlowe – will be playing Buttons, and Sue is the<br />
Fairy Godmother.<br />
Ben Roddy, who made such an impression as<br />
Smee in Peter Pan, is Dandini, and Cinderella will<br />
be played by Kate Quinnell. Sion Tudor Owen is<br />
Baron Hardup.<br />
Cinderella is at The Marlowe Theatre from now<br />
until Sunday 22 January 2012.<br />
Highlights in the following months include the<br />
Russian Ice Stars’ Peter Pan on Ice, a spectacular<br />
ice-dance production of JM Barrie’s timeless tale<br />
about the boy who never grew up (Tuesday 31<br />
January to Sunday 5 February 2012).<br />
The <strong>world</strong> premiere of a new work by one of<br />
Competition!<br />
Above: this year’s panto cast, below: Peter Pan on ice, bottom: Richard Alston’s A Ceremony of Carols.<br />
this country’s most influential choreographers is<br />
on Wednesday 8 and Thursday 9 February 2012.<br />
Richard Alston’s A Ceremony of Carols is<br />
choreographed to Benjamin Britten’s masterpiece<br />
for boys’ voices and harp. The music will be sung<br />
live by Canterbury Cathedral Choir, conducted by<br />
David Flood.<br />
One-nighters include the Classical Opera<br />
Company’s Bella Mia Fiamma: A Mozart Birthday<br />
Concert (Thursday 26 January 2012), children’s<br />
favourite Bob The Builder (Saturday 28 January<br />
2012), and The Kings of Swing, with tributes to<br />
Swing greats including Frank Sinatra and Tony<br />
Bennett (Friday 10 February 2012).<br />
To book tickets, call 01227 787 787 or go to<br />
www.marlowetheatre.com.<br />
• Turn to pages 16 and 17 to read about the<br />
reopening of the Marlowe Theatre.<br />
<strong>District</strong> <strong>Life</strong> is offering one lucky reader and three guests the chance to see Cinderella at the<br />
Marlowe Theatre.<br />
The tickets are for the 7pm performance on Friday 13 January 2012. To enter, simply answer the<br />
following question:<br />
Cinderella is Stephen Mulhern’s third panto at the Marlowe. Name one of the other two<br />
he has starred in.<br />
Send your answer to <strong>District</strong> <strong>Life</strong> competition, Communications, Canterbury City Council,<br />
Military Road, Canterbury, CT1 1YW by Thursday 15 December, including your name, address<br />
and telephone number.<br />
9
10<br />
Purple Flag for city centre<br />
Canterbury city centre has<br />
been awarded the prestigious<br />
‘Purple Flag’ in recognition of<br />
the management of its night<br />
time economy.<br />
The national accreditation<br />
has been given by the<br />
Association of Town Centre<br />
Management (ATCM), working<br />
alongside the Purple Flag<br />
Advisory Committee.<br />
Canterbury’s Purple Flag<br />
recognition followed the work<br />
carried out by a partnership<br />
team comprising the city<br />
council, Canterbury City<br />
Partnership and other city<br />
groups and businesses.<br />
Purple Flag aims to raise<br />
standards and improve the<br />
quality of the UK’s towns and<br />
cities at night. Entertainment<br />
areas that receive a Purple Flag<br />
are those that offer a better<br />
evening experience for visitors.<br />
Just as Blue Flag is an<br />
indicator of a good beach,<br />
Purple Flag is set to be the<br />
indicator of where to go for a<br />
good night out, and will bring<br />
positive publicity for successful<br />
town and city centres.<br />
Canterbury was assessed on<br />
a range of criteria including<br />
appeal, attractiveness,<br />
cleanliness, personal safety and<br />
culture, and was particularly<br />
praised for the effectiveness of<br />
partnership working in<br />
delivering a successful night<br />
time economy.<br />
Chief Executive of the ATCM,<br />
Martin Blackwell, said: “It’s a<br />
real pleasure to be awarding<br />
Purple Flag status to<br />
Canterbury. The partnership<br />
has worked extremely hard to<br />
develop and improve the<br />
evening economy and has<br />
been justly rewarded.<br />
“It demonstrates that our<br />
towns and cities at night can be<br />
places that are clean and safe,<br />
with great public spaces,<br />
cultural attractions and unique<br />
identities.”<br />
Get your tickets for the<br />
Lord Mayor’s Ball<br />
The Lord Mayor of Canterbury’s Annual Ball takes place at the<br />
new reception venue at Canterbury College on Saturday 25<br />
February 2012 from 6.45pm.<br />
Tickets cost £50 and include a glass of bubbly, kindly provided<br />
by Shepherd Neame, during the reception and half a bottle of fine<br />
wine per person for the three course dinner.<br />
The renowned Corps of Drums of the Prince of Wales’s Royal<br />
Regiment will be performing their fantastic ‘stick beating display’,<br />
while popular local band Maize will also play.<br />
It’s a black tie event with carriages at 11.30pm. Free parking will<br />
be available on site.<br />
For more information or to book tickets, contact Marsha<br />
Whiteway or Fiona Balchin on 01227 862 080 or email marsha.<br />
whiteway@canterbury.gov.uk or fiona.balchin@canterbury.gov.uk.<br />
Tickets are also available for the annual Sheriff’s Shrievalty<br />
Association Charity Dinner in aid of Catching Lives and the Children’s<br />
Society garden project.<br />
It takes place at the Marine Hotel in Tankerton on Friday 17 February<br />
2012. Tickets cost £25 and include a three course dinner with menu<br />
choices, wine and coffee.<br />
To book, contact Cllr Charlotte MacCaul on 01227 764 714 or Cllr<br />
Gillian Reuby on 01227 366 081.<br />
Join our e-panel and give us your views<br />
The council is on the lookout for residents to join its new community<br />
e-panel of local people it can consult on services and policies.<br />
E-panel members will be consulted with by email only as a way of saving<br />
the council money. This will complement the council’s existing<br />
Community Panel, which this year celebrates its 10th birthday and has<br />
more than 2,300 members.<br />
The Community Panel and e-panel are used to help the council<br />
understand the needs and views of local people. The results of surveys<br />
are used to make decisions and improve the quality of council services.<br />
The council is always looking for new volunteers to join so that it can<br />
hear a variety of dierent opinions. Younger people would be particularly<br />
welcomed as they are less represented on the panel than other age<br />
groups. The only requirement is that they live in the Canterbury district.<br />
To join the new e-panel or Community Panel, go to the council’s website<br />
at www.canterbury.gov.uk/communitypanel. If you have any queries,<br />
email community.panel@canterbury.gov.uk.
Olympic Flame is heading for Canterbury<br />
Canterbury is to play an exciting role in<br />
the build up to the London 2012 Olympics.<br />
It was announced last month that the<br />
city has been included on the route that the<br />
Olympic Flame will take on its 70-day journey<br />
around the UK.<br />
The Flame will be in the district on the<br />
afternoon of Thursday 19 July 2012, just eight<br />
days before the opening ceremony of the<br />
London Olympics.<br />
Torchbearers will carry it through local<br />
communities including Upstreet, Sturry,<br />
Canterbury, Wincheap and Thanington. The<br />
Flame will also stop in the Cathedral Precincts<br />
for 10 minutes for a photo opportunity.<br />
The route has been chosen by the London<br />
Organising Committee of the Olympic Games<br />
and the exact streets will be confirmed nearer<br />
the time.<br />
Housing advice<br />
for young people<br />
A new service is providing<br />
advice for young people with<br />
housing problems.<br />
Every Wednesday afternoon<br />
between 1pm and 4.30pm at the<br />
council offices in Military Road,<br />
Canterbury, a housing officer is<br />
available to help 16 to 21-year<br />
olds specifically.<br />
Topics covered include where<br />
to find rented accommodation,<br />
how to claim benefits and how<br />
to manage a budget.<br />
The service is run by the city<br />
council in partnership with<br />
The council’s Head of Culture and<br />
Enterprise, Janice McGuinness, said she<br />
expected lots of people to come out and<br />
welcome the Olympic Flame.<br />
She added: “We saw it with the Tour de<br />
France, when thousands of<br />
residents and visitors flocked<br />
to Canterbury, and I think it will<br />
happen again with the Olympic<br />
Flame. It’s the only chance most<br />
people will get to see the Flame so<br />
close-up.<br />
“The council will be working<br />
with other organisations to try<br />
and make the most of the big day<br />
and show off our sporting and<br />
cultural offer.”<br />
The Flame isn’t the only exciting<br />
piece of local news regarding the<br />
Stepahead Support. No<br />
appointments are required and<br />
all matters discussed are<br />
confidential.<br />
The council’s Head of Housing,<br />
Community Safety and<br />
Environment Services, Larissa<br />
Laing, said: “If young people are<br />
leaving home, there are lots of<br />
things to think about and it can<br />
be quite confusing.<br />
“This new service gives local<br />
young people the help they<br />
need in a confidential and<br />
relaxed setting.”<br />
Some form of election – be it<br />
for your MP, MEP or local<br />
councillor – takes place most<br />
years.<br />
But to be able to vote, your<br />
name has to be included on the<br />
Register of Electors. The register<br />
is compiled from voter<br />
registration forms that were<br />
sent to all householders in the<br />
autumn. All British, Irish,<br />
European Union or qualifying<br />
Commonwealth citizens over<br />
the age of 16 resident at each<br />
address are able to be included<br />
on the register.<br />
If you have moved recently,<br />
Olympics, because seven local sports stars are<br />
hopeful of success at London 2012.<br />
Find out who they are and how you can<br />
give them your backing on page 21.<br />
Make sure you<br />
are able to vote<br />
changed your name, just had<br />
your 18th birthday or don’t<br />
recall completing a voter<br />
registration form, contact<br />
Electoral Services straight <strong>away</strong><br />
so that we can check if you are<br />
correctly registered to vote.<br />
If you need any further<br />
advice on registering to vote,<br />
voting by post or proxy, or have<br />
any general voting questions,<br />
call the council’s Electoral<br />
Services team on 01227 862<br />
007, email electoral.services@<br />
canterbury.gov.uk or call <strong>into</strong><br />
the council offices in Military<br />
Road, Canterbury.<br />
Keep in touch with what we’re up to!<br />
All the latest council news is now available in two new<br />
ways – on Facebook and in an e-newsletter.<br />
The council’s Facebook page can be found at www.<br />
facebook.com/canterburycitycouncil. Simply log on to<br />
the page and click ‘like’ to start receiving updates.<br />
Information on council activities and events is added each<br />
day, so it’s a great way to find out what’s happening locally.<br />
And a monthly e-newsletter was launched in November.<br />
This is sent directly to people’s inboxes by email and<br />
contains a round-up of council news and a look forward to<br />
the month ahead.<br />
To register to receive the e-newsletter, go to<br />
www.canterbury.gov.uk and click on the link in the ‘latest<br />
news’ section.<br />
11
Beaney restoration work reaches a conclusion<br />
The results of months of sensitive<br />
restoration work to the façade of<br />
Canterbury’s Beaney Art Museum and<br />
Library are set to be unveiled.<br />
The netting covering the front of the<br />
building in the High Street is due to<br />
come down imminently, and will reveal<br />
a dramatic change and a clear contrast<br />
between the old and the new.<br />
Extensive work by the contractor on<br />
the project, Wates Construction, followed<br />
discovery of significant issues with the old<br />
façade.<br />
Wates’ Heritage Director Den Daley<br />
says: “At first glance, the façade looked<br />
very sound. It was only when we got<br />
close up and began carrying out a full<br />
investigation that the problems became<br />
apparent.<br />
“The timber had opened up and water<br />
had got in behind, creating a fungal<br />
decay known as wet rot. This created ideal<br />
conditions for the death watch beetle to<br />
thrive in and it had caused substantial<br />
damage to the wood.”<br />
One area of the façade particularly<br />
ravaged by the beetle was one of the two<br />
griffins – a legendary creature with the<br />
body of a lion and the head and wings of<br />
an eagle.<br />
While the unaffected one remained<br />
proudly in position throughout, the other<br />
one was removed. An identical griffin was<br />
then hand-carved from scratch and has<br />
now been installed in its place.<br />
And while the difference between the<br />
12<br />
two is marked, Den points out that this is<br />
now the way of modern restoration.<br />
He says: “We don’t disguise the fact that<br />
restoration has taken place any more.<br />
Instead we make it clear where it has<br />
happened. There’s no artificial ageing, but<br />
of course we make sure that the work is<br />
done as sympathetically as possible.<br />
“It can look dramatic and not<br />
everybody understands the reasoning<br />
behind it, but the new parts will age over<br />
time. We use existing materials wherever<br />
possible to make sure we achieve what<br />
we call an ‘honest repair’.”<br />
The Beaney, which is home to the city<br />
council’s museum and art gallery and the<br />
county council’s library, is in the middle of<br />
a major redevelopment which will see the<br />
building double in size.<br />
Construction of the extension on part<br />
of the former Orange Street car park is<br />
progressing well and will help to provide<br />
much more space for museum displays,<br />
exhibitions and library services. The<br />
Beaney is expected to open in summer<br />
2012.<br />
The project is costing around £13<br />
million, of which £6.5 million is covered<br />
by a grant from the Heritage Lottery<br />
Fund (HLF). The HLF then contributed a<br />
further £500,000 for the restoration of the<br />
façade.<br />
The city and county councils and the<br />
former South East England Development<br />
Agency are jointly funding the remainder<br />
of the cost.<br />
Griffins at the front of the Beaney<br />
Conservation work has been painstaking The old meets the new<br />
Photos by Tim Stubbings
Herne Bay strikes gold in Bloom competition<br />
It was success all round for Herne Bay in<br />
this year’s South and South East in Bloom<br />
competition.<br />
The town swept all before it, taking a gold<br />
award and best in category in the large coastal<br />
town section, as well as winning the Kent <strong>Life</strong><br />
award for the highest scoring entry in Kent.<br />
And as if that wasn’t enough, Eddington<br />
allotments won best allotment site in the<br />
region, Herne School got gold in the Blooming<br />
Schools competition and the Memorial Park<br />
achieved a bronze award for best park, in the<br />
first year it has been entered.<br />
All in all then, not a bad crop of prizes, and<br />
the Herne Bay in Bloom committee, made up<br />
of local volunteers with support from the city<br />
council and its environment contractor Serco,<br />
was delighted with the success.<br />
Town resident and business owner Colleen<br />
Ashwin-Kean has coordinated the campaign<br />
since 2005.<br />
She said: “A lot of hard work and dedication<br />
goes <strong>into</strong> the bid each year and it has become<br />
a year round project for us now. We’re getting<br />
increasing support from businesses, not only<br />
through sponsorship but also by adopting<br />
planters and watering and caring for them.”<br />
Education also plays an important role.<br />
Many local schools enter their own<br />
competition and each year one lucky pupil<br />
sees their design turned <strong>into</strong> a flower bed on<br />
the seafront.<br />
It was smiles all the way when<br />
14-year-old Hilary Roberts from<br />
Chestfield spent the day being the<br />
Lord Mayor of Canterbury.<br />
Hilary, who attends Whitstable<br />
Community College, won the<br />
council’s annual competition to find<br />
a young person to take up the civic<br />
reins and attended functions across<br />
the district.<br />
As well as opening the Autumn<br />
Scarecrow Festival at Whitstable<br />
Castle, she took delivery on behalf<br />
of the council of a bench donated<br />
But the committee won’t be resting on its<br />
laurels after such a good year. There are plans<br />
to form a Friends of Herne Bay in Bloom group<br />
and to work more closely with existing<br />
community groups such as the Friends of the<br />
Memorial Park. The town has also been<br />
nominated to participate in Britain in Bloom<br />
next year.<br />
The Herne Bay in Bloom committee with their certificates<br />
by Herne Bay Model Boat Club and<br />
went behind the scenes at the Dogs<br />
Trust in Chestfield.<br />
And then to round the day off,<br />
Hilary got to try on the Lord Mayor’s<br />
robes and enjoy tea and cake at<br />
Tower House.<br />
To win the competition, Hilary<br />
had to say what she would do if she<br />
was Lord Mayor for the day.<br />
In her entry, she said she would:<br />
“Give charities £100 each, help the<br />
homeless, help people that are on<br />
drugs and put villains in prison.”<br />
Colleen added: “We always welcome new<br />
ideas and supporters and you do not<br />
necessarily have to be a gardener to help us –<br />
plenty of enthusiasm, passion and<br />
commitment is just as useful!”<br />
If you can volunteer your time and skills,<br />
contact Colleen on 01227 365 014 or email<br />
herne_bayinbloom@live.co.uk.<br />
Meet the new Lord Mayor!<br />
13
16<br />
After two years of<br />
closure, Canterbury’s<br />
fabulous new Marlowe<br />
Theatre reopened in<br />
October to widespread<br />
acclaim and extensive<br />
local and national<br />
publicity.<br />
It’s curtain up on the<br />
new Marlowe!<br />
A Royal Gala Night<br />
attended by TRH The Earl and<br />
Countess of Wessex was<br />
followed by a fun packed<br />
family weekend with music,<br />
dance and street theatre,<br />
along with tours of the new<br />
theatre.<br />
The opening gala featured<br />
a concert by the theatre’s<br />
resident Philharmonia<br />
Orchestra, conducted by<br />
David Parry, with a selection<br />
of orchestral and operatic<br />
masterpieces performed by<br />
Sir John Tomlinson (bass) and<br />
Carmen Giannattasio<br />
(soprano).<br />
The Earl of Wessex, who is<br />
the Royal Patron of the New<br />
Marlowe Theatre<br />
Development Trust, was<br />
joined by an invited audience<br />
and Marlowe Friends who<br />
had won their tickets by<br />
ballot, packing the<br />
1200-seater auditorium.<br />
The Earl told the audience:<br />
“It has been an absolute<br />
pleasure and delight to have<br />
served as a Patron on this<br />
appeal and it has been a<br />
fantastic journey. I just want<br />
to thank everyone who<br />
supported it. You’ve now got<br />
this fantastic theatre and I<br />
hope you will use it and<br />
come back and support it<br />
time and time again.”<br />
For Theatre Director Mark<br />
Everett, it was the<br />
culmination of years of hard<br />
work and planning, and he<br />
was understandably<br />
delighted.<br />
He said: “The opening gala<br />
was a huge success and was<br />
one of the smoothest run<br />
events I have ever<br />
experienced in a theatre.<br />
Above all, it was great to see<br />
1,200 happy and smiling<br />
people enjoying the Earl and<br />
Countess of Wessex’s
presence in our new theatre.<br />
What a fantastic way to<br />
launch a new and exciting<br />
theatrical journey for<br />
Canterbury.”<br />
And no sooner had the<br />
dust settled on a memorable<br />
opening night, than Mark and<br />
his team were preparing for<br />
three days of events and<br />
activities at the family<br />
weekend.<br />
Children flocked to see one<br />
of their heroes, Rastamouse,<br />
performing on stage with his<br />
friends, and there were arts<br />
and acting workshops from a<br />
number of organisations<br />
including the Performing Arts<br />
Network Kent, Wide Eyed<br />
Theatre Company and the<br />
Marlowe Youth Theatre.<br />
Music came from bands<br />
including The Coal Porters<br />
and The Dualers, and there<br />
was also a Grease ‘flashmob’<br />
and a question and answer<br />
session with Marlowe staff.<br />
And on the same weekend,<br />
Stephen Merchant and Pam<br />
Ayres were the stars giving<br />
the first public performances<br />
in the main auditorium.<br />
After seven years of<br />
planning, dating back to<br />
Canterbury’s European<br />
Capital of Culture bid, work<br />
started in spring 2009 when<br />
the old theatre was<br />
demolished. Gradually, the<br />
new Marlowe took shape on<br />
an extended site including<br />
the former Friars Motors<br />
garage.<br />
The finished article features<br />
a stunning main auditorium<br />
set over three levels with an<br />
orchestra pit that can<br />
accommodate up to 80<br />
musicians, enabling the<br />
Marlowe to stage <strong>world</strong>-class<br />
music, theatre and dance. A<br />
second space, the Marlowe<br />
Studio, is perfect for smaller<br />
Photos by Tim Stubbings and Ian Pollen<br />
performances and theatre<br />
productions.<br />
The £25.6 million new<br />
theatre was made possible<br />
through a mix of public and<br />
private funding, with £17<br />
million from Canterbury City<br />
Council and further support<br />
from Kent County Council<br />
and the former South East<br />
England Development<br />
Agency.<br />
A major fundraising<br />
campaign was set up by The<br />
New Marlowe Theatre<br />
Development Trust and raised<br />
£4.2 million towards the total<br />
cost of the project.<br />
17
Overview and Scrutiny<br />
looks forward to a busy 2012<br />
What are Overview<br />
and Scrutiny?<br />
The roles of Overview and Scrutiny are to<br />
inform and challenge the Executive to<br />
make sure the council is run in an<br />
effective and efficient way and that the<br />
decisions it takes are the right ones.<br />
18<br />
Scrutiny reviews<br />
Part of the Scrutiny Committee’s role is to<br />
commission a varied programme of scrutiny<br />
reviews each year. We always welcome your<br />
views and ideas on the topics we are<br />
reviewing now or what you think scrutiny<br />
should look at in the near future. If you have<br />
an idea, please let us know what it is. Our<br />
contact details are on the opposite page.<br />
New and current scrutiny reviews<br />
The impact of High Speed 1<br />
You have asked us to investigate the impact of the High Speed 1 rail service<br />
since its introduction in 2009. The review is looking at the effects of the<br />
High Speed service on the ‘classic’ service to the coastal towns. The panel<br />
will also assess the wider economic impact of High Speed 1 on the area<br />
around Canterbury West railway station, including parking and road users.<br />
New council, new Overview and Scrutiny<br />
Following the local elections in May we have many new councillors involved in Overview<br />
and Scrutiny. One of the councillors’ first tasks was to review and simplify how we carry<br />
out the function. As a result we now have two main committees:<br />
The Overview Committee is chaired by Councillor Harry Cragg. This committee looks at<br />
upcoming decisions which could be enhanced by member oversight.<br />
The Scrutiny Committee, pictured below, is chaired by Councillor Alex Perkins. This committee<br />
is primarily responsible for managing the scrutiny review programme. It can also investigate<br />
crime and disorder and health matters and Executive decisions once they have been taken.<br />
Homelessness<br />
The panel’s task is to make sure that Canterbury district’s priorities<br />
for reducing and preventing homelessness are clearly identified.<br />
The panel will consider how emerging local and national issues<br />
such as the housing market in Canterbury and changes to the<br />
housing benefit system could impact on homelessness.
Reviews from the past year<br />
Litter and fly-tipping<br />
Residents asked us to look at<br />
how the council could improve<br />
its approach towards the serious<br />
problems of litter and fly-tipping<br />
which are of great expense to the<br />
tax payer.<br />
Role and provision of councilowned<br />
local leisure facilities<br />
This review was tasked with<br />
analysing the leisure facilities<br />
owned by the council to establish<br />
the most appropriate governance<br />
and financial arrangements to<br />
meet our leisure objectives.<br />
The panel assessed the<br />
council’s role in delivering leisure<br />
and how it complements private<br />
East Kent maternity<br />
services<br />
The NHS is carrying out a review<br />
of maternity services in east Kent.<br />
A formal consultation document<br />
setting out the options available<br />
for the maternity services has<br />
been published. A health scrutiny<br />
panel will respond to this<br />
consultation on behalf of the<br />
council.<br />
The panel made a number of<br />
recommendations including the<br />
trial of communal waste areas for<br />
housing with limited storage<br />
space for bins. This trial is about<br />
to get underway.<br />
sector provision across the<br />
district.<br />
The panel recommended that<br />
the council should continue to<br />
support indoor leisure provision<br />
locally.<br />
It also set out a way forward to<br />
develop a leisure model over the<br />
next few years.<br />
Scrutiny<br />
online<br />
If you want to find out more<br />
about overview and scrutiny<br />
and how to get involved<br />
please visit our website:<br />
www.scrutiny.canterbury.<br />
gov.uk.<br />
The website has all the<br />
latest information about what<br />
is being reviewed and when.<br />
You can suggest a review and<br />
access all our past reviews.<br />
How to get involved<br />
Scrutiny councillors want to make sure the issues they look at<br />
matter to you! The Scrutiny Committee commissions review panels<br />
to take either a short or in-depth look at issues to see if the council<br />
can do anything about them. Please let us know what your<br />
concerns are.<br />
We will assess all suggestions using the following criteria:<br />
• It affects a group of people living within the Canterbury<br />
district<br />
• It relates to a council service or partner that the council has<br />
the power to scrutinise, such as Kent County Council or<br />
Kent Police<br />
• It is not an individual complaint<br />
• It has not been subject to a scrutiny review in the last three<br />
years.<br />
If you have a suggestion, please complete this form and send it<br />
to Policy and Improvement Division, Canterbury City Council,<br />
Freepost 41, Military Road, Canterbury, CT1 1BR. You can also<br />
complete the form online by visiting our website<br />
www.scrutiny.canterbury.gov.uk.<br />
If you have any questions, contact Scrutiny and Improvement<br />
Officer Charlotte Hammersley on 01227 862 332 or<br />
email charlotte.hammersley@canterbury.gov.uk.<br />
A Scrutiny Panel should look at:<br />
Because:<br />
Contact details (not compulsory but it will help us keep you<br />
updated on the progress of your suggestion)<br />
19
Take the Gold<br />
Challenge in 2012 Sports stars are<br />
As we all know, next year is an Olympics year. If ever there was a<br />
time to be inspired to get active, it must surely be the event<br />
dubbed the greatest show on earth.<br />
And now there’s an opportunity to try an Olympic or Paralympic<br />
sport while raising money for charity at the same time.<br />
It’s called the Gold Challenge, and you can join thousands of people<br />
across the country in making a difference while having lots of fun.<br />
There are three challenges to have a go at and you can do them as a<br />
team, on your own or with friends or family – in fact, any way you like!<br />
For more information, log on to www.goldchallenge.org.<br />
Sports events in 2012<br />
Two big sports events return to<br />
the district in the early part of<br />
next year.<br />
The Sport Relief Mile takes<br />
place at the University of Kent on<br />
Sunday 25 March 2012. You can<br />
run a one, three or six mile route<br />
and raise money at the same<br />
time. Sign up is at www.<br />
sportrelief.com.<br />
And if you want to get<br />
prepared, a new beginners’<br />
running course has been set up<br />
by local club Jelly Legs in<br />
Canterbury, starting on 7 and 9<br />
February. Visit www.jelly-legs.<br />
co.uk for more details.<br />
Then in April it’s time for the<br />
Big Splash, taking place at all the<br />
council-owned swimming pools<br />
in the district. Swimmers will be<br />
provided with a personal<br />
challenge, a goal to train for and<br />
great causes to support.<br />
Organisers hope it will be the<br />
biggest swimathon weekend ever<br />
staged and you can get involved<br />
by signing up at http://rfi.<br />
swimathon.org. Big Splash runs<br />
between 27 and 29 April 2012.<br />
And don’t forget you can get<br />
more information on all local<br />
sporting events and clubs by<br />
logging onto the Active<br />
Canterbury website at<br />
www.activecanterbury.org.<br />
Clockwise, from top left: Dan Ritchie, Harriett Yea, Nathan Milgate, Keziah Gore, Jen Wilson,<br />
Helen Sole and Susannah Townsend<br />
going for gold<br />
An amazing seven athletes from<br />
the district could be in line for<br />
glory at the London 2012<br />
Olympics and Paralympics.<br />
And to mark this potential<br />
success, the council has launched a<br />
campaign to raise the athletes’<br />
profiles and help them achieve<br />
sponsorship, and encourage more<br />
local people to get active.<br />
The Olympic hopefuls are<br />
Harriett Yea (basketball), Dan<br />
Ritchie (rowing), Keziah Gore<br />
(rhythmic gymnastics) and<br />
Susannah Townsend and Jen<br />
Wilson (both hockey), and the<br />
Paralympic hopefuls are Helen Sole<br />
(sitting volleyball) and Nathan<br />
Milgate (target shooting).<br />
They were either born in or train<br />
and compete in the Canterbury<br />
district and are in line to take part<br />
in the Games next year.<br />
A1 size images of each athlete<br />
pictured against the backdrop of<br />
one of the district’s iconic<br />
locations, such as Canterbury<br />
Cathedral, St Augustine’s Abbey<br />
and Reculver Towers, are being<br />
placed at high profile sites in the<br />
city and town centres for several<br />
weeks at a time up until next<br />
summer.<br />
So far, one athlete has received<br />
sponsorship from a local<br />
organisation and others are<br />
believed to be in discussions.<br />
The council’s Sports<br />
Development Officer, Giles Seaford,<br />
said: “Some entire counties have<br />
fewer athletes in the running for<br />
the Olympic and Paralympic<br />
Games than we do in just our<br />
district, so it’s a great achievement.<br />
“By promoting them and raising<br />
their profile, we hope young<br />
people will be inspired to follow in<br />
their footsteps, because they are<br />
excellent role models. And if we<br />
can get our stars some sponsorship<br />
as well, that would be a real bonus.”<br />
Profiles of the athletes are online<br />
at www.activecanterbury.org. If<br />
you would like to sponsor one of<br />
our Olympic and Paralympic<br />
hopefuls, call Giles on 01227 862<br />
524 or email giles.seaford@<br />
canterbury.gov.uk.<br />
21
Summary of accounts<br />
Canterbury City Council:<br />
Summary of accounts for year<br />
ending 31 March <strong>2011</strong><br />
Our accounts show you how we are managing<br />
the money we receive to provide services to<br />
residents and visitors and to look after our<br />
environment.<br />
The full and audited Statement of Accounts<br />
is prepared using proper accounting practice.<br />
The style and content can be difficult to follow<br />
if you are not an accountant. This summary<br />
gives the key information in a simpler and more<br />
meaningful way and some modifications have<br />
been made in order to do this.<br />
Income and expenditure<br />
Our Revenue account shows the cost of services<br />
for the year and where the money came from to<br />
pay for them.<br />
22<br />
** Revenue Support grant<br />
£1,678,000, contribution from the<br />
Non-domestic Rate pool £11,553,000,<br />
area based grant £79,000<br />
What we spent<br />
Pie chart 1 shows the net expenditure<br />
for each of the main service areas (see<br />
number 1 in table 1) as a percentage of<br />
the council’s total expenditure.<br />
Where the money came from<br />
Pie chart 2 shows the income from<br />
grants and Council Tax as a percentage<br />
of the total (see number 2 in table 1).<br />
The Revenue Support Grant (RSG) is<br />
money paid directly to us from central<br />
government.<br />
Non-domestic Rates (NDR) are paid by<br />
businesses in the Canterbury district.<br />
These are paid <strong>into</strong> a central<br />
government pool and redistributed to<br />
local authorities. The £11,553,000 is our<br />
share of the pool this year.<br />
Table 1 Gross expenditure Gross income Net expenditure (1)<br />
£’000 £’000 £’000<br />
Culture and heritage 2,994 -1,119 1,875<br />
Sport and recreation 5,486 -760 4,726<br />
Tourism 829 -339 490<br />
Coast protection 1,911 -849 1,062<br />
Waste collection 3,335 -443 2,892<br />
Other environmental services 5,270 -6<strong>42</strong> 4,628<br />
Planning and development 6,958 -3,174 3,784<br />
Highways and parking and transport 8,253 -8,737 -484<br />
Housing 26,769 -23,149 3,620<br />
Housing impairment exceptional item 61,179 0 61,179<br />
Housing benefits 41,023 -41,159 -136<br />
Central services 18,098 -15,950 2,148<br />
Totals 182,105 -96,321 85,784<br />
Corporate income and expenditure -8,521<br />
Leaving, to be funded from government grants and taxation 77,263<br />
Capital grants and contributions -7,375<br />
Council Tax -9,847<br />
Government grants** -13,310<br />
Total (2) -30,532<br />
Income and expenditure deficit for year 46,731<br />
Statutory accounting adjustments -45,740<br />
Increase in general fund balance for the year 991<br />
General fund balance at 1 April 2010 2,509<br />
General fund balance at 31 March <strong>2011</strong> 3,500<br />
Pie chart 1<br />
£’000<br />
The Council Tax income is the<br />
proportion we keep from the total<br />
we collect.<br />
Central services, £2,148, 9%<br />
Housing services, £3,484, 14%<br />
Planning and parking, £3,300, 13%<br />
Other environmental services, £4,628, 19%<br />
Coast protection, £1,062, 4%<br />
Waste collection and disposal, £2,892, 12%<br />
Tourism, £490, 2%<br />
Recreation and sport, £4,726, 19%<br />
Culture and heritage, £1,875, 8%<br />
NDR Pool, £11,553, 49.89%<br />
Area based grant, £79, 0.34%<br />
Council Tax, £9,847, <strong>42</strong>.52%<br />
RSG, £1,678, 7.25%<br />
Pie chart 2<br />
£’000
Where does the rest of<br />
your Council Tax go?<br />
We hold the Council Tax in a separate fund because it is<br />
collected on behalf of Kent County Council, the police<br />
and the fire service as well as to help pay for our own<br />
services. Pie chart 3 shows how it is distributed. We only<br />
keep 13% per year of what you pay to us.<br />
Pie chart 3<br />
The cost of housing services<br />
Kent County Council 72%<br />
Police Services 10%<br />
Fire Services 5%<br />
Canterbury City Council 13%<br />
The Housing Revenue Account (HRA) is also a separately<br />
maintained account showing the cost of running the council’s<br />
housing stock, used to accommodate council tenants. It is<br />
separately financed by rents and service charges. We currently<br />
have 5,215 properties in the Canterbury district.<br />
Table 2<br />
Income £’000<br />
Rents from homes 19,052<br />
Rents for garages 436<br />
Charges for services and facilities 1,572<br />
Total income 21,060<br />
Expenditure<br />
Repairs and maintenance 4,417<br />
Supervision and management 5,177<br />
Subsidy paid to government 5,505<br />
Depreciation 2,618<br />
Reduction in value of houses (impairment losses) 67,086<br />
Insurance and rents 237<br />
Total expenditure 85,040<br />
Net cost 63,980<br />
Plus corporate costs 121<br />
Plus investments, interest and borrowing 247<br />
Total deficit for the year 64,348<br />
Plus financing capital expenditure 1,855<br />
Plus other statutory amounts etc 1,615<br />
Less reversal of impairment losses -67,086<br />
Leaving a decrease in the HRA balance this year of 732<br />
HRA balance at 1 April 2010 -2,326<br />
HRA balance at 31 March <strong>2011</strong> -1,594<br />
Balance sheet<br />
What the council owns, what it owes and what it is owed.<br />
Table 3<br />
At 31 March <strong>2011</strong> £’000<br />
Value of buildings and land owned 376,169<br />
Investments and cash in bank 21,299<br />
Money owed to us 14,628<br />
412,096<br />
less<br />
Money owed by us -10,361<br />
Loans outstanding -<strong>42</strong>,471<br />
Other long-term liabilities -36,2<strong>42</strong><br />
-89,074<br />
Total assets less total liabilities 323,022<br />
Financed by<br />
General Fund balance (table 1) 3,500<br />
HRA balance (table 2) 1,594<br />
Reserves 15,218<br />
Capital financing reserves 302,710<br />
Total 323,022<br />
Capital spending<br />
This is the money spent on buying, upgrading and improving<br />
the council’s assets. It isn’t included in the other annual income<br />
and expenditure tables because we receive the benefit of this<br />
spending over many years, not just in the year we spend the<br />
money. The major areas of spending and how we paid for it are<br />
shown in the pie charts below.<br />
Whitstable castle , £987, 3%<br />
St George’s Street, £3,444, 11%<br />
Beaney Institute, £2,731, 9%<br />
Marlowe Theatre, £10,186, 32%<br />
Coast protection, £733, 2%<br />
Council dwellings, £6,218, 20%<br />
Environment, IT, property purchase<br />
and other, £7,176, 23%<br />
Audit approval<br />
£’000<br />
Borrowing, £14,000, 44%<br />
Revenue & reserves, £5,957, 19%<br />
Grants, £6,480, 21%<br />
Capital receipts, £5,039, 16%<br />
Our accounts are audited each year by the Audit Commission.<br />
This makes sure our financial statements show the council’s<br />
financial position and income and expenditure accurately and fairly.<br />
This audit hadn’t taken place when this summary was prepared.<br />
Would you like to?<br />
• See this document in large print, Braille audio tape or another<br />
language? Please call 01227 862 000<br />
• See the full statement of accounts? Go to<br />
www.canterbury.gov.uk/finance or call 01227 862 000<br />
• Comment on this summary… was it easy to read and<br />
understand? Was it helpful? Was there anything else you<br />
would like to see included? Please call 01227 862 000 or go<br />
to www.canterbury.gov.uk/comments<br />
23
New councillors make<br />
their mark on the district<br />
It was with some trepidation that 19 new city councillors dipped their toes <strong>into</strong> the <strong>world</strong> of local<br />
government following the elections in May. From committee meetings and formal training to setting up<br />
advice surgeries for residents, there was much to learn. <strong>District</strong> <strong>Life</strong> spoke to six of the new councillors<br />
about how the first few months have panned out…<br />
Cllr Alison O’Dea, Conservative, Gorrell ward Cllr Ashley Clark, Conservative, Gorrell ward<br />
Since May, I have not had any<br />
regrets, although it is not<br />
entirely what I expected.<br />
The number of committees/<br />
meetings we attend is far greater<br />
than I imagined it would be, and<br />
I am really lucky that a neighbour<br />
babysits for me, as with two<br />
young children, and a husband<br />
working in London, her services<br />
are often required.<br />
The decision to put myself<br />
forward for election was not<br />
taken lightly. I felt that I may not<br />
necessarily fit the typical profile<br />
of a councillor.<br />
Indeed, since taking up the<br />
position it is apparent that<br />
women, particularly in my age<br />
group, are under-represented,<br />
even though I believe that<br />
women in particular can very<br />
often possess the skills required<br />
for this role.<br />
I have really enjoyed dealing<br />
with some of our ward issues,<br />
24<br />
and recently resolved a housing<br />
problem for a young single<br />
mother on an estate, which was<br />
very satisfying. We are<br />
continually looking at and<br />
reporting potholes for residents,<br />
and I am also dealing with a<br />
parking issue for another.<br />
This is why I became a councillor<br />
– a genuine desire to help people<br />
in our local community. You can’t<br />
be successful every time, but the<br />
fact that you are trying is always<br />
appreciated.<br />
I hope that I can demonstrate<br />
that regardless of your political<br />
background, if you possess a<br />
genuine desire to become<br />
involved within your community,<br />
then contributing to local<br />
political issues can be a very<br />
rewarding experience.<br />
I’ve realised that most residents<br />
couldn’t care less what party you<br />
represent – all they want is<br />
someone fighting their corner.<br />
A ward councillor is certainly<br />
an odd job. To start comes the<br />
interview – not just the one<br />
like most jobs but hundreds<br />
conducted on the doorstep<br />
throughout the ward.<br />
Post-election there is the<br />
unfamiliarity of the council<br />
chamber, but I feel that previous<br />
life experience as a police officer<br />
with regular dealings with the<br />
press, familiarity with legislation<br />
and constant contact with the<br />
public gave me a huge advantage<br />
from day one.<br />
Certainly there was a lot to<br />
learn. It was here that I discovered<br />
that council officers are<br />
conscientious and supportive.<br />
For me the most important part<br />
of the job is being out in the ward<br />
and the town, talking to people<br />
and being active for good in the<br />
community.<br />
Much is about communication<br />
and explanation but sometimes<br />
living in the heart of the ward<br />
means one can get out and sort<br />
things straight <strong>away</strong>.<br />
One can get frustrated with the<br />
speed that things happen and the<br />
requirement for matters to pass<br />
through numerous committees.<br />
Planning can be frustrating as one<br />
has to decide on the evidence<br />
and in terms of planning law.<br />
The fact that decisions made<br />
by local councillors in the interest<br />
of their communities can be<br />
overturned on appeal by a distant<br />
and unelected planning inspector<br />
seems wrong to say the least.<br />
But the most important thing<br />
is to remain positive. I have been<br />
able to influence and get things<br />
changed both at district and ward<br />
levels.<br />
On the face of it individual<br />
councillors don’t have much<br />
power but they can do one thing.<br />
They are able to bring things from<br />
the bottom of someone’s in tray to<br />
the top.<br />
This can make a huge difference<br />
to people’s lives, and that is what<br />
the job is all about.
Cllr Graham Wood, Liberal Democrat, Westgate ward<br />
My first impression on being elected to Westgate ward is the variety of issues to<br />
consider.<br />
Litter, refuse collection, students, new developments, car parks, locking of parks and<br />
gardens, removal of hedges, resurfacing of roads, anti-social behaviour, abuse of<br />
licensing, trees and illegal parking are just some of the matters that have arisen over the<br />
last few months.<br />
Fortunately my fellow Liberal Democrat councillors, and indeed those of other parties,<br />
have been very helpful in showing me the ropes.<br />
I am delighted to have encountered so many of those living in the ward and, I hope,<br />
been able to assist with their problems.<br />
Cllr Rob Thomas, Conservative,<br />
Chartham and Stone Street ward<br />
Working with other<br />
councillors and council<br />
officers has been<br />
really enjoyable.<br />
To my surprise thus far<br />
it has been less political<br />
than I thought it would<br />
have been, although<br />
with the budget setting<br />
for 2012/13 on the<br />
horizon that may well be<br />
about to change!<br />
And some of the<br />
committees I sit on are<br />
more apolitical so this<br />
may bias my view a little.<br />
It’s been reassuring to<br />
learn how well things are<br />
organised at the council<br />
and how knowledgeable<br />
and hardworking<br />
everyone is.<br />
The balance between<br />
meetings and<br />
constituency work was<br />
different to what I had<br />
imagined (more of the<br />
former and less of the<br />
latter), but being in a<br />
rural ward with parish<br />
council meetings as well<br />
as the initial training<br />
sessions may have<br />
distorted my view a<br />
little.<br />
The most enjoyable<br />
part for me has been<br />
being on Development<br />
Management<br />
Committee as this has<br />
been the best<br />
opportunity to help<br />
shape the future of the<br />
district.<br />
Cllr Jeremy Bellamy,<br />
Conservative, Barton ward<br />
Since being elected as<br />
the youngest member<br />
of the council in May,<br />
there’s certainly been<br />
a lot to learn; whether<br />
it’s the complexities of<br />
planning and housing<br />
law or simply<br />
navigating the<br />
impenetrable warren<br />
of corridors at the<br />
Military Road offices.<br />
Getting to grips with<br />
the formalities and<br />
procedures of the<br />
council has been a<br />
learning curve for sure,<br />
but I expected as much<br />
and I have embraced<br />
each of the new<br />
challenges.<br />
Above all else I’ve<br />
enjoyed rolling up my<br />
Cllr Alan Baldock, Labour, Northgate ward<br />
sleeves and helping<br />
those members of the<br />
community who make a<br />
real difference. For me<br />
this process of going<br />
and finding out what<br />
really matters to people<br />
in my ward has been<br />
the most rewarding part<br />
of my time on the<br />
council so far.<br />
Where have these first few months of our new council gone?<br />
But what a privilege and honour to have been elected to represent Northgate ward,<br />
which is, and has always been, my home. That duty I hold hopefully keeps me focused<br />
and my feet firmly on the ground, but I am all too aware, every day, it is up to me to<br />
prove to the Northgate residents I am up to the job.<br />
Being in opposition can of course be frustrating but I am learning fast to challenge<br />
decisions that are bad for Northgate and fight hard for compromise. Sometimes I<br />
succeed, but not always.<br />
Being a councillor offers you the opportunity to serve on many committees, such as<br />
Development Management Committee and Canterbury Area Member Panel. Those your<br />
community invites you to join are very special to them and me.<br />
Rest assured there are an awful lot of committees. It surprised me just how many, and<br />
maybe that was a bit naive, but still I am a new councillor!<br />
Any regrets now? Absolutely none.<br />
25
The <strong>Life</strong>line service has been provided by<br />
Canterbury City Council to thousands of elderly,<br />
vulnerable and disabled people across the east Kent<br />
area. We have a specialist dedicated team working<br />
24 hours a day and they are trained to respond to<br />
your emergency.<br />
Over the last 15 years the service has built up a<br />
very good reputation for its quick response to<br />
emergencies as well as for the friendly, courteous,<br />
professional and reassuring manner with which we<br />
deal with people relying on the service.<br />
We are proud to be able to deliver a valuable<br />
service which assists people to maintain their<br />
independence.<br />
Knowing I’m safe when I say goodbye<br />
When others can’t be there – <strong>Life</strong>line can<br />
Here are some quotes<br />
from clients:<br />
Mr P from Bridge said:<br />
“I’ve been with Canterbury <strong>Life</strong>line<br />
since you started and I wouldn’t be<br />
without you. I’m often having falls and I<br />
always get a fast and friendly response<br />
– last time I called you the ambulance<br />
got here before I knew it.”<br />
Mrs R’s daughter from Canterbury said:<br />
“You’re always so quick and efficient in<br />
dealing with any situation. It’s such<br />
peace of mind for mum and I, knowing<br />
that she is in safe hands when I can’t be<br />
there.”<br />
Mrs B from Birchington said:<br />
“I feel so much more at ease knowing<br />
that I’ve got a <strong>Life</strong>line installed.”<br />
We have two coordinators,<br />
Jo Linnane and Marilyn Morgan,<br />
who will be happy to arrange a free<br />
demonstration of the service at your<br />
home, or your relative’s home if it is<br />
for someone else.<br />
01227 862 540<br />
www.canterbury.gov.uk/lifeline Please quote DLJ <strong>2011</strong>
Raising the roof at Littlebourne Barn<br />
A dramatic transformation is taking<br />
place at Littlebourne’s historic barn as<br />
the ancient building has its thatched roof<br />
replaced.<br />
Dating back to 1340, the barn is one of<br />
Littlebourne’s oldest – and most iconic<br />
– buildings. Sited on the northern fringe<br />
of the village, the barn is 172 feet long<br />
and more than 76 feet wide. And with its<br />
steeply pitched roof, it has all the typical<br />
characteristics of a Kentish aisle barn.<br />
Today, the popular building is used for an<br />
array of local activities, including wedding<br />
receptions, meetings and produce shows.<br />
However, despite its innate charm and<br />
longevity, the barn faced an uncertain future<br />
in the 1980s with doubts surrounding its use.<br />
But following a public enquiry, in 1991 the<br />
barn was purchased by the city council with<br />
assistance from English Heritage and Kent<br />
County Council.<br />
Since then the Grade I barn has undergone<br />
repairs, resulting in its thatched roof<br />
comprising water reed, instead of long straw,<br />
which is native to Kent.<br />
But earlier this year, a team of expert<br />
craftsmen contracted by the city council,<br />
started work on the complete re-thatching of<br />
the barn and have been replacing the rotting<br />
water reed with brand new long straw.<br />
The £131,000 project is now reaching<br />
completion, resulting in the beauty and<br />
structural integrity of the building being<br />
preserved.<br />
The council’s senior surveyor, Colin<br />
Pengelly, said: “Littlebourne Barn is one of the<br />
most fascinating and important<br />
buildings of its kind anywhere in the country.<br />
Apart from representing the area’s history,<br />
it’s also a much-loved building, held in great<br />
affection by many people from Littlebourne<br />
and beyond.<br />
“Before the end of the year, the roof of<br />
Littlebourne Barn will be fully restored with<br />
long straw, ensuring that its local character<br />
is preserved. By investing in the barn, the<br />
council has recognised the significance of the<br />
building and its importance to the people of<br />
Littlebourne.”<br />
Master Thatcher James Chambers at work<br />
Awards galore in gardening scheme<br />
It was another record breaking year for the Canterbury district in<br />
the annual Wild About Gardens scheme.<br />
Once again the district had the most applications in Kent, resulting in<br />
25 gold awards, 22 silver awards and six bronze awards.<br />
And the new Stream Walk Community Garden in Whitstable, created<br />
on an old allotment that was decommissioned 20 years ago, won the<br />
‘Best Community Garden’ in Kent award.<br />
It opened earlier this year following a joint project between the city<br />
council and Kent Enterprise Trust, who manage the space for people<br />
interested in gardening and home grown produce.<br />
Ten other gardens were also nominated for special awards, including<br />
Parkside and Herne schools, and there was a special mention for<br />
Maureen Matthews for her efforts to garden for reptiles such as slow<br />
worms and grass snakes.<br />
Wild About Gardens is run as a partnership between Kent Wildlife<br />
Trust and Kent’s local councils to encourage wildlife gardening and<br />
offer advice to gardeners.<br />
The scheme is free and is open to anyone who gardens in Kent.<br />
29
30<br />
Whether it’s organising a youth event,<br />
working with partner agencies, or tackling<br />
nuisance drivers at a seafront car park,<br />
there’s never a dull moment for Community<br />
Safety Officer Graham Simpson.<br />
Graham’s job is about getting to the<br />
root of crime and anti-social behaviour in<br />
local neighbourhoods and ensuring that<br />
organisations such as the police, the council,<br />
the fire service and many others are all<br />
working together. Graham said: “<strong>Issue</strong>s can<br />
rarely be solved by one agency working on<br />
its own. I arrange for organisations to work<br />
together, to share information and to develop<br />
an action plan.”<br />
10am: Working together<br />
Graham arranges for various local agencies<br />
to meet fortnightly at a Neighbourhood<br />
Tasking Group. These agencies include those<br />
who help the homeless or people who have<br />
drug or alcohol dependencies – as well as<br />
Kent County Council Community Wardens,<br />
and representatives from Kent Probation, the<br />
Kent Youth Service and others.<br />
A day in the life of a<br />
Community Safety Officer<br />
The Community Safety Officer sits within<br />
the Canterbury Community Safety Unit,<br />
which is based at Canterbury City Council.<br />
Graham said: “The Community Safety Unit<br />
works well as it brings staff from the council,<br />
Kent Police, Kent County Council and other<br />
organisations all together <strong>into</strong> the same office<br />
with the joint aim of dealing with local issues<br />
and concerns.”<br />
The day-to-day role involves responding<br />
to community issues, to drive forward<br />
community projects, talking with the public<br />
and enforcing anti-social behaviour law.<br />
Noon: Court papers are served<br />
at an illegal encampment<br />
After the Neighbourhood Tasking Group<br />
meeting Graham served court papers at an<br />
illegal encampment – where people were<br />
living on Canterbury City Council-owned<br />
land, without permission.<br />
2pm: Gathering evidence<br />
During the afternoon Graham spoke with<br />
local residents following reports of anti-<br />
social behaviour and street drinkers near the<br />
River Stour. Graham gathered evidence in<br />
order to share the information with partner<br />
organisations who will work together to<br />
tackle and solve the problem.<br />
Other days could involve helping<br />
communities to set up residents’ associations<br />
or Neighbourhood Watch schemes, working<br />
closely with the Foreshore department at<br />
Canterbury City Council, with Kent Police<br />
and owners of beach huts with the aim of<br />
preventing criminal damage and vandalism, or<br />
speaking with students about personal safety<br />
and being considerate to their neighbours.<br />
Graham said: “The main focus of my job is<br />
working with colleagues in partner agencies<br />
and finding solutions to problems that<br />
detrimentally affect the lives of residents. It’s<br />
a lovely area and I’m very happy to have a job<br />
which helps keep the Canterbury district a<br />
safe place to live and work.”<br />
To find out more about the Canterbury<br />
Community Safety Unit and the Canterbury<br />
Community Safety Partnership visit www.<br />
canterburycsp.org.uk.
Spotlight<br />
on student<br />
safety<br />
Students were given information about<br />
alcohol, drugs, domestic abuse and<br />
protecting their property – thanks to<br />
staff from the Canterbury Community<br />
Safety Unit.<br />
The unit set up stands at freshers’ fairs<br />
and other events at the beginning of the<br />
academic year visiting the University of<br />
Kent, Christ Church University, Canterbury<br />
College and the University for the<br />
Creative Arts.<br />
Students were also given leaflets about<br />
internet safety, personal safety, fire safety<br />
and lots more, as well as staff handing out<br />
pens, pencils, key rings and bags<br />
featuring safety messages and contact<br />
numbers. Students were also given details<br />
of a new website where they might find<br />
useful information – www.canterbury.<br />
gov.uk/students.<br />
Public information pillar has moved<br />
The Canterbury Community Safety<br />
Partnership pubic information pillar<br />
has been moved.<br />
The pillar arrived in the city in February<br />
and was near to the bus station and<br />
Fenwicks. In September it was moved to<br />
its new location at The Parade and close<br />
to Iron Bar Lane.<br />
Information on the pillar is changed<br />
seasonally.<br />
Canterbury City Council’s Community<br />
Safety Manager Doug Rattray said: “We<br />
are always looking at new and creative<br />
ways to communicate with residents and<br />
the best ways to get community safety<br />
messages across to the public.<br />
“This is in a central location with<br />
thousands of people walking by each<br />
day, so the pillar will be seen by many<br />
people as they do their shopping. The<br />
pillar is a great way to get people’s<br />
attention and give them information<br />
they need.”<br />
NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH<br />
COASTAL EY E<br />
An eye on the coast<br />
A scheme which aims to provide additional<br />
eyes and ears along the coastline was<br />
launched earlier this year.<br />
It is called Coastal Eye and is led by the<br />
Canterbury and <strong>District</strong> Neighbourhood Watch<br />
Association, with support from other members<br />
of the Canterbury Community Safety<br />
Partnership.<br />
The scheme is open to all those who have an<br />
interest in the coastline stretching from Seasalter<br />
to Reculver – individuals, organisations and<br />
businesses. Working together the organisations<br />
aim to prevent and detect crime and to reduce<br />
anti-social behaviour and criminal damage.<br />
Partnership website<br />
is a big success<br />
The Canterbury Community Safety<br />
Partnership website is now more than a year<br />
old.<br />
During its first year it had nearly 4,000 visits<br />
and almost 13,000 page views.<br />
The website now has a huge bank of news<br />
stories and a new mini site on domestic abuse.<br />
People can also visit to find out more about<br />
who the partners are, what the partnership<br />
does and what its priorities are – along with<br />
advice on staying safe and protecting property.<br />
Visit www.canterburycsp.org.uk.<br />
31