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People across Swale are being encouraged to check if they are eligible to receive help under a new scheme being launched to help local householders be warmer in their homes, lower their carbon emissions, and save money on their fuel bills this winter.

Councillors have approved a new draft planning enforcement strategy and service charter outlining how breaches of planning permission are handled.

Swale Borough Council sought approval of the new draft strategy and charter at last month’s cabinet meeting on Wednesday 22nd September. The strategy sets out how the council protects the borough’s built and natural environment from unauthorised developments. It includes identifying priority issues for the service and explains what action can be taken.

Swale Borough Council say that they will now save more than 30 tonnes of carbon every year with a fleet of nine new electric vehicles.

The zero-emission vehicles "will help to improve the air quality in Swale". The council’s say that their fleet "regularly travels though the borough’s air quality management areas (AQMAs) where vehicle pollution contributes to poor air quality".

Swale Borough Council is proposing to set up a housing company to help deliver affordable homes for local people in the area.

A report is going to the cabinet this evening (Wednesday 28th October) proposing the setting up a local housing company to increase the supply of affordable homes in the borough, without placing a financial burden on the council.

Swale Borough Councillors have approved the appointment of Larissa Reed as the new chief executive of the council.

The appointment was approved at last night’s (Wednesday, 7th October) full council meeting and follows the death of the previous chief executive Mark Radford in May.

Many people will have trusted friends, family and neighbours they can call on for support but where this is not the case, Kent Together is working with all of the local authorities, fire, health and police services to organise help and assistance for the communities and vulnerable people across Kent. 

Yet another collision has happened involving a lorry and a car on the new section of Dover Street/St Michael's Road near the new Bourne Place development.

This is the second collision in as many weeks and happened at around 7:00pm this evening (Tuesday 25th February).A witness told SFM News that the car had lost it,s bumper in the collision and the lorry appeared to be on the wrong side of the road after following the corner around towards the Lidl store.

Concerns about the safety of the new road layout have been made to Kent Highways and Swale Borough Council.

Local organisations are being encouraged to apply for funding from Swale Borough Council's brand-new Foodbank Grant.

The council are offering a total of £15,000 to support community projects and organisations supporting people in severe need, who are promoting healthier eating or are tackling the causes of foodbank usage by working with others to offer specialist support and advice.

The applications process is open for four weeks and closes on Monday 17th February and each organisation can apply for a maximum of £6,000.

KCC Trading Standards say that they have received a number of reports concenring a scam targeting residents throughout Kent, with offers of security checks and security alarms.

How the scam works:

Cllr Roger Truelove has been elected as leader of a new coalition administration at Swale Borough Council.

The Leader was elected by fellow councillors at the Annual Council meeting last night (Wednesdat 22nd May) following elections earlier this month.

The meeting also saw a new cabinet and deputies appointed to make decisions on resources and priorities to deliver and implement the budget and policies decided by the council.

The new cabinet is made up of: