Hypocrisy by District and Kent County Cllrs over Council Tax
For those of you not aware, Council tax debt is the most common debt seen by Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) advisers. The CAB estimated in the first 3 months of Coronavirus, [...]
Kent County Council
Nine Kent Councils collect £3.5 million in Penalty Charge Notices
Between August 2019 and July 2020, according to data collected through Freedom of Information (FoI) requests by Compare the Market, Medway Council has issued the most Penalty [...]
Greenie grumbler to step down at next KCC election
On Thursday 2nd May 2013, Martin Edward Whybrow (Green) (pictured) was elected with 1,659 votes to Kent County Council Hythe Ward. He beat Cllr David Drury Monk (Con) who [...]
The Long Read: 52-54 Guildhall Street and other tales of “Technical Issues”
Following our ‘more tales of the unexpected’ piece in September, which briefly mentioned the gap in the streetscape at 52-54 Guildhall Street owned by Brian James Parry [...]
Part 1: What do we know about John Bunnett, the man responsible for the £2.7bn Otterpool Park development
John Bunnett is the man charged with delivering the £2.7bn project we know as Otterpool Park. This development is anticipated to deliver 8,500 homes, in the first phase with [...]
Claire’s story and the scandal of fuel poverty in Kent
“I worried about her especially as winter was setting in. She wasn’t here for the books but the warmth .” says Julia a librarian in Kent (not her real [...]
Part 2: KCC Pension Fund is divesting from fossil fuels but still investing in countries who do not uphold LGBT rights
The KCC Pension Fund total investments were valued at £6.6bn on 31 December 2019. Just three months later, on the 31st March 2020, the pension value had shrunk to £5.7 [...]
KCC “Profiteering” from caring for migrant children under 18
On the 1st April 2019, Kent County Council (KCC) were caring for 254 under 18 unaccompanied asylum-seeking children (UASC). By March 31st 2020, KCC were caring from 450 UASC, [...]
Part 1: Are Kent County Council Finances in Safe Hands?
Zena Cooke (pictured) is probably a woman you have never heard of. There is no need for you to have ever heard of her. She is Kent County Council’s (KCC) Director of [...]
Exclusive: Kent County Council’s response to Govt Free port Consultation revealed
The Shepwayvox Team have managed to get hold of Kent County Council’s response to the Government’s consultation on a proposed new Free port policy. It can be [...]
Kent County Council & Dover District Council support Port of Dover’s proposals for Free port (Offshore) for East Kent.
On the 13th July, Cllr Trevor Bartlett, Leader of Dover District Council, said: “Dover District Council wholeheartedly supports the Port of Dover’s proposals for Freeport [...]
Foreign Criminal Organisation Perpetrate Ransomware attack on £600m Kent County Council owned company
Following on from our first report on the ransomware attack 12 days ago, a Kent County Council (KCC) spokesperson has revealed to the Shepwayvox Team that it was: “A [...]
£600 Million Pound Company Wholly Owned By Kent County Council Suffers Ransomware Attack
Updated -23rd May 14.45 On the 2nd April at 1:30am Kent Commercial Services, wholly owned by Kent County Council suffered a ransomware attack and took down their website. The [...]
Taken For A Ride?
During the coronavirus crisis, buses are more vital than ever. Although many people are staying at home, getting key workers out is crucial. However, the Shepwayvox Team has [...]
Watchdog to examine Kent Councils £373 Million Property Investment Spree
With the world concentrating it’s attention on the Covid-19 pandemic other issues are, understandably, passing unnoticed. One of these issues is the announcement by [...]
FHDC still paying NowMedical for reports after lockdown begun
At the begining of March we brought you the story about – How a doctor who has never seen you can say you’re fit enough to sleep on the streets of Kent. In short [...]
Why are Cllr Lesley Whybrow & FHDC failing to release air quality data which is relevant to the current pandemic?
High levels of air pollution NO² (Nitrogen Dioxide) is “one of the most important contributors” to deaths from Covid-19, according to research in Europe and the USA. The [...]
Clapping Is Welcome, Now Pay Us a Decent Wage Say Carers.
“I’d love a pay rise. The ultimate owner of our care home got £2.5 million last year. Me no pay rise at all.” Kent Care Worker 19/04/20 In 2016 we wrote [...]
“Zoom is malware” and Folkestone & Hythe District Council & Town & Parish Councils Intend To Use It.
It has been brought to our attention that Folkestone & Hythe District Council have trialed Zoom – a video conferencing with real-time messaging and content [...]
Coronavirus Kent: Domestic abuse help is at hand
While the whole country grapples with the consequences of Covid-19, spare a thought for the huge dangers lurking behind closed doors for victims of domestic abuse and [...]
Being Optimistic In These Unprecedented Times.
You’ve gotta love an optimist in these unprecedented times. One such optimist is East Kent Spatial Development Company (EKSDC), – a company you’ve probably [...]
Library use in Kent fallen by 25% over last six years, figures show
All Kent’s 99 libraries are to close their doors today for an indefinite period as part of a range of measures Kent County Council is taking to curb the spread of [...]
54 Kent County Councillors fail to disclose their election expenses.
54 out of 81 Kent County Councillors are currently committing a criminal offence. This is equivalent to two-thirds of the KCC chamber (66.66%). This has been the case since [...]
Tories Dump The Monk
So the local Tory party has dumped the Monk. In a selection battle for the 2021 KCC County Elections, Cllr Monk (pictured below left) went up against Dylan Jeffrey (pictured [...]
Otterpool Park Update: Westenhanger Station Expansion
They haven’t told them and they haven’t told you, but then again that’s just par for the course. Once again Folkestone & Hythe District Council have [...]