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One in five councils ‘could go bust’

One in five councils ‘could go bust’

A new survey has revealed that almost one in five council chiefs fear their local authority could go bust.

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Former mayor 'apologises' publicly after bullying scandal

Former mayor 'apologises' publicly after bullying scandal

A former mayor forced to apologise publicly to a woman he was ruled to have bullied has made unfounded claims the allegations against him are lies.

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Calls for urgent decision on future of leisure centre

Calls for urgent decision on future of leisure centre

A council has been urged to plan for a new leisure hub before the existing one becomes unusable.

Council legal action over unaccompanied child asylum seekers due back in court

Council legal action over unaccompanied child asylum seekers due back in court

The controversial issue of how Kent deals with lone asylum-seeking children arriving in small boats is due back in the High Court.

Council tax rise on the cards for borough residents

Council tax rise on the cards for borough residents

People look set to see their council tax bill increase by almost 3% as a council is expected to once again take money from its reserves.

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Former council leader publishes memoir

Former council leader publishes memoir

A well-known political figure in Kent who led a coalition council has written a book about his time in power.

‘We can’t stop hundreds of homeless being sent here'

‘We can’t stop hundreds of homeless being sent here'

Council chiefs say they are powerless to stop hundreds of homeless Londoners being relocated to Kent.

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Labour MP under investigation says: 'Starmer won't talk to me'

Labour MP under investigation says: 'Starmer won't talk to me'

A Labour MP has hit back at her party leader Sir Keir Starmer who she says “has not spoken to me” while she is under investigation for anti-semitism.

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‘Let’s make a stand’ to stop biggest loss of woodland in decades

‘Let’s make a stand’ to stop biggest loss of woodland in decades

A Conservative-run council has been asked to think again over its response to a threat to ancient woodland from a quarry extension.

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Warning that Kent could follow big cities into bankruptcy

Warning that Kent could follow big cities into bankruptcy

A senior Conservative has issued a grim reminder of the authority's financial predicament less than a day after another major council went bust.

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Council chiefs quizzed by public in first Q&A session

Council chiefs quizzed by public in first Q&A session

Council bosses were asked about failing social services, roadworks chaos, broken promises and accessibility issues at a Q&A session.

Cuts to youth services to go ahead despite protests

Cuts to youth services to go ahead despite protests

Thousands of children could be left with nowhere to go after funding was pulled from dozens of youth clubs across the county.

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Search for new national park

Search for new national park

A government minister has announced plans to find a new national park following a visit to a river restoration project in Kent.

Dockside business campus project moves forward

Dockside business campus project moves forward

Drawings of new proposals to transform a dockside industrial estate have been revealed.

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New reception centres planned for unaccompanied child asylum-seekers

New reception centres planned for unaccompanied child asylum-seekers

Kent County Council is pressing for more funding from the Home Office for urgent accommodation for young asylum seekers.

Great crested newts found at redevelopment site

Great crested newts found at redevelopment site

A former golf course earmarked for a new park is home to great crested newts and 34 species of birds.

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‘Fine overrunning roadworks £12k a day’

‘Fine overrunning roadworks £12k a day’

An MP is supporting a bill that would ramp up fines on overrunning roadworks to more than £12,000 a day.

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Have your say on future of Kent’s windmills

Have your say on future of Kent’s windmills

A public consultation has begun on the future of Kent County Council windmills around the county.

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‘They have used the reserves already...once those are gone, they’re gone’

‘They have used the reserves already...once those are gone, they’re gone’

A local government chief has echoed warnings sounded by Kent that councils are at financial breaking point.

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Migration figures are 'too high', says Kent MP

Migration figures are 'too high', says Kent MP

A Kent MP has said migration figures are ‘too high’ despite what she claimed was some of the ‘strongest action ever” taken by her government.

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Kent MP investigated for liking ‘anti-semitic’ tweet

Kent MP investigated for liking ‘anti-semitic’ tweet

An MP is being investigated by the Labour party for liking a controversial tweet by a comedy writer which it claims is anti-Semitic.

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Investigator to crack down on wrongly claimed council tax discounts

Investigator to crack down on wrongly claimed council tax discounts

A council is looking to recoup £800,000 by cracking down on those who claim single person discounts, when they no longer live alone.

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Your chance to quiz council bigwigs

Your chance to quiz council bigwigs

Members of the public have a chance to quiz the two most powerful men in Medway.

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Firms offered interest-free £600k loans to boost jobs

Firms offered interest-free £600k loans to boost jobs

A council is offering lucrative interest-free loans in bid to help businesses grow and take on more workers.

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From political defeat to making history as Britain’s youngest commissioner

From political defeat to making history as Britain’s youngest commissioner

As Crime Commissioner Matthew Scott prepares to stand for re-election, he explains how a landslide election defeat led to him making history in Kent.

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Council hit by suspected cyber attack on children’s services

Council hit by suspected cyber attack on children’s services

Local authorities have been warned to be on ‘red alert' after hackers gained access to the county council’s children's department.

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‘If I had my way I’d close even more tips’

‘If I had my way I’d close even more tips’

A county councillor has sparked fury by suggesting he’d close even more than the four tips already under threat from swingeing cuts.

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London boroughs accused of housing their homeless in Kent

London boroughs accused of housing their homeless in Kent

A council leader says London boroughs are “exasperating” temporary housing pressures and calls from them to stop moving their homeless into the area.

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Is there really a ‘war on motorists’ in Kent?

Is there really a ‘war on motorists’ in Kent?

One topic guaranteed to set our letters pages abuzz is the so-called ‘war on motorists’ – but has it all been “manufactured” for political purposes?

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Russian trolls attack council’s Facebook post

Russian trolls attack council’s Facebook post

“Vile” Russian trolls are believed to have bombarded a council with horrific abuse on social media while it celebrated helping displaced Ukrainians.

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Rogue recycling costs taxpayers £57k

Rogue recycling costs taxpayers £57k

Some 3,000 tons of recyclable waste could not be processed because residents had put the wrong things into the bags - costing taxpayers £57,000.

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Tories suspended for defying party on housing policy

Tories suspended for defying party on housing policy

Two Conservative members at Kent County Council have been suspended for defying the party on housing policy.

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Kent MP pens spy thriller

Kent MP pens spy thriller

A member of parliament has released his latest book whose main character displays the working-class qualities of its author.

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‘I’ll scrap ULEZ, 20mph zones – even speed bumps’

‘I’ll scrap ULEZ, 20mph zones – even speed bumps’

He’s saved motorists hundreds of millions of pounds – now Kent’s Howard Cox is vowing to rip up ULEZ if he succeeds at the polls next year.

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Number of fines issued for overrunning roadworks revealed

Number of fines issued for overrunning roadworks revealed

Councillors have criticised the ‘pitiful’ fines handed out to utility companies causing unnecessary jams on the county’s roads.

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Takeaway chain scales back delivery hours after noise fears

Takeaway chain scales back delivery hours after noise fears

A new late-night takeaway service has scaled back its delivery hours after neighbour concerns.

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Former council boss questions ‘transparency’ of current leadership

Former council boss questions ‘transparency’ of current leadership

A former leader received two rounds of applause after criticising Kent County Council’s current top table.

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Council slashes own affordable housing scheme by 80%

Council slashes own affordable housing scheme by 80%

A council’s 100% affordable housing development will be slashed by 80% over viability concerns as it enlists help from private developers to build it.

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Major events and services face cuts as council slashes funding

Major events and services face cuts as council slashes funding

Popular annual events and key community services are facing cutbacks in support as a council aims to plug a £12m hole in its finances.

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Bid to ditch windmill sell-off plan fails by single vote

Bid to ditch windmill sell-off plan fails by single vote

An attempt to halt proposals to offload eight of the county’s historic windmills has been defeated.

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Council leaders ‘in denial’ over level of opposition to tip closures

Council leaders ‘in denial’ over level of opposition to tip closures

Top Tories have been accused of burying their heads in the sand by refusing to take plans to close waste centres off the table.

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MP calls for access to medicinal cannabis to help teenager

MP calls for access to medicinal cannabis to help teenager

A Kent MP has raised the case of a teenager with severe epilepsy in parliament as she called for access to medicinal cannabis.

Lib Dems aiming to find way back onto council

Lib Dems aiming to find way back onto council

They may have no councillors at all but the Lib Dems certainly have high hopes in Medway, as Robert Boddy found out.

‘I worry my son could be enticed into a street gang’

‘I worry my son could be enticed into a street gang’

Parents say planned cuts to youth clubs will leave children with nowhere to go, and that they fear some will turn to crime.

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