COUNCIL MEETING 10TH MARCH - IN SUMMARY

Council on 10 March got through a very heavy agenda with some good discussions and many decisions on how to move things forward. 

• Local not-for-profit groups that have had their income hit by COVID restrictions can now qualify for financial support if they are not eligible for other support schemes. 

• Council renewed its commitments to the local voluntary food pantry scheme run by Kennington Community Volunteers and to FareShare Kent, the foodbank. We are still exploring how to get a FareShare distribution outlet in Kennington. 

• The Council has decided to purchase its first freehold property: a phone box in Tile Kiln Road for £1! BT will transfer this asset to the Council and continue to pay for the electricity supply and we will install a defibrillator in it and consider other suitable uses. We are also going to consider whether other areas are in need of a defibrillator, while seeing whether we can draw on other funding sources for some of this. 

• Did you know that Kennington already has two Town Greens, in Grasmere Road and Beecholme Drive? As well as having an update on the application for Town Green status for land at The Pasture, Council decided to consult the residents living around those greens to consider whether they wanted to suggest any enhancements that would increase their enjoyment and use of them. 

• Council is continuing to look for options for solving the traffic and parking problems at Downsview and Kennington schools, in consultation with the highways department at Kent County Council. 

• We are also starting to look at the provision of litter bins and dog litter bins, with the aim of working with Ashford Borough Council to improve this. If you are aware of bins in streets or parks that are always overflowing, or where there seems to be a long walk to the next bin, please let us know and we will be able to map the problem areas.