KCC Leader Paul Carter has paid tribute to the council’s staff who had helped produce the budget for the coming financial year, despite huge further cutbacks in monies from central government. After producing savings of £640 million over the past eight years, the council has risen to the challenge of finding another £73 million to…
A Dartford shopkeeper has been given a suspended prison term for selling illegal and counterfeit tobacco. Ali Anwari, the owner of East Hill Groceries, appeared for sentence at Maidstone Crown Court . KCC Trading Standards prosecuted Anwari for three offences of possessing for supply tobacco product which did not have the correct health warning labelling…
Two men caught selling counterfeit clothing at a Kent market have been given suspended prison sentences, following an investigation by KCC Trading Standards. Blaine Boon and Jagdish Naran were sentenced to six months, suspended for 18 months, plus a community service order of 140 hours unpaid work. A third man, Ricky Hirani, was sentenced to…
Kent residents have just under two more weeks to give their views on a draft three-year strategy for the county’s Libraries, Registration and Archives service. A 10-week public consultation opened on 21 November and ends on Tuesday, 29 January. So far, nearly 3,000 responses have been received. Mike Hill, KCC’s Cabinet Member for Community and Regulatory…
The sole boss of a concrete driveway company, who conned victims across Kent out of thousands of pounds, has been sentenced to more than three years in prison. Arif Choudry, 54, from Tonbridge, was the director of Wycombe Welding Limited, previously trading as ADriveForLife.com.ltd, registered in Kings Hill. He had previously pleaded guilty to 19…
KCC’s archives service has received recognition from the National Archives for the way it stores and preserves evidence of the county’s heritage and history. In a ceremony at the Kent History and Library Centre in Maidstone, the National Archives Operations Director Paul Davies presented a certificate of accreditation, the UK quality standard which recognises good…
The importance of volunteers across the county was emphasised at an event where the efforts of KCC’s Early Help and Preventative Services (EHPS) were praised. The service has been presented with the prestigious REVAMP (Recognition of Excellence in Volunteering and Management Practice) certificate by the Stronger Kent Communities consortium at a ceremony held at a…
A fraudster who conned thousands of pounds out of nearly 20 victims across Kent through the pressure-selling of concrete driveways and patios has appeared in court. Arif Choudry was the sole director of Wycombe Welding Limited, previously trading as A Drive for Life, based at Kings Hill, Kent. In a prosecution brought by KCC Trading…
Libraries across the county will be focusing on the topic of wellbeing as they participate in this year’s national Libraries Week from Monday to Saturday, 8 to 13 October. They will showcase how they bring communities together, combat loneliness and social isolation, provide a space for reading and creativity, and support people with their mental…
Kent County Council’s support for ex-service personnel and Reservists has been recognised today with the Ministry of Defence Employers Recognition Gold Award – just one year after receiving the silver award. KCC’s close relationship with the Military was cemented by the re-signing of the Kent Armed Forces Community Covenant in 2017 to enable the armed…
KCC has put its weight behind a campaign by Maidstone commuters who are mounting a last-ditch attempt to save high-speed train services to London. More than 2,200 people have delivered a petition to the Department for Transport opposing plans to scrap the early-morning journeys from Maidstone West to St Pancras International. Commuters say the proposed…
The county’s latest Community Alcohol Partnership has been launched in Tonbridge, following similar projects in Ramsgate, Broadstairs, Herne Bay and Snodland. Representatives from a range of agencies gathered at Tonbridge Castle to mark the launch of the scheme which is aimed at preventing underage drinking through a mix of education, enforcement, community engagement and by…