Wednesday April 19 | 2017
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THE WOMAN WHO PREACHES THE GOODNESS OF NUTS AND SEEDS Page 56-57
Hospital faces business rates rise of £1million By Andrew Tong TUNBRIDGE WELLS Hospital has been hit by a massive rise in its business rates after a revaluation that adds 62 per cent to its tax bill. The Pembury site, part of the Maidstone & Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust (MTW), is the seventh worst affected hospital in the country after seeing its rateable value rise by around £1million. The Trust is already in Special Financial Measures following the forecast of a £23.4million budget deficit last July. MTW will be contesting the increase. It paid £1.59million in rates in 2016, but those at its hospital in Maidstone are very low by comparison. The new rates, set by the government’s Valuation Office Agency, are calculated to take into account the rise in property prices between 2008 and 2015. They are normally revised every five years but the latest round was controversially delayed for two years, meaning the rise is steeper than usual. An analysis by business rates specialists CVS in January found that health authorities will see their business rates rise by an average of a third by 2021. Around 80 trusts have asked councils to treat them as charities, as is the case with many private health providers, so they can qualify for the 80 per cent discount which is accorded to such bodies. MTW declined to comment on the rate rise.
SAILOR PROVES DISABILITY IS NO BARRIER TO AN ACTIVE LIFE Page 8
THERESA MAY ANNOUNCES SHOCK SNAP ELECTION FOR JUNE 8 Page 18
ACTOR DISCUSSES HIS LOCAL ROOTS AHEAD OF NEW SHOW Page 75
Council stop CCTV monitoring INSIDE in controversial budget decision EASTER SPECIAL
We review the weekend’s cracking events Page 16
By Murray Jones
murray@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk THE borough council have pushed ahead with a policy to cease monitoring CCTV in the borough. The contentious move came despite strong opposition from seven speakers at a meeting on April 13, including Nicky Blanchard from Royal Victoria Place [RVP] and former Council Leader Lorraine Braam as well as four Conservative and Liberal Democrat councillors. Earlier, Kent Police issued a statement warning that the proposed passive model would mean a ‘key tactical option’ for the force would be lost.
‘This decision would be an advert that the town is vulnerable. It is not a luxury, it is a necessity’ Passive monitoring means the 39 cameras around the borough would still be recording but no one would be watching them live. Currently, personnel in the Town Hall watch the camera feeds 77 per cent of the time [129 of 168 hours a week]. Ms Blanchard said: “Active monitoring is too important to lose. We need to promote an image of safety and confidence. “This decision would be an advert that the town is vulnerable. It is not a luxury, it is a necessity.” The report from the council argued that active monitoring of CCTV only has a ‘modest impact’ on general crime and ‘zero impact’ on violent offences. Contrary to previous police statements Council Leader David Jukes claimed that at a recent meeting Kent Police Chief Consta-
THE PERFECT GAME
Bowling League reflect on another thrilling season Page 78
ble Alan Pughsley said ‘we [the police] only However, the unanimous opposition of want continued access to the control room’. visiting speakers did force a compromise Between April 2016 and January 2017, from the Cabinet. An amendment put there were 31 known arrests instigated by the cameras. They assisted in 172 arrests Continued on page 2 and in total monitored 584 incidents of interest to the police. LEADER ATTEMPTS TO HIDE Lorraine Braam, a former DECISION FROM THE PUBLIC Liberal Democrat Council Leader who oversaw the In an unexpected twist to proceedings, introduction of the cameras Council Leader David Jukes attempted in 1997, described the passive to exclude the press and the public from model as ‘almost useless’, the meeting after the guest speakers adding: “This is not simply had finished. about the number of He requested that the arrests, it is about meeting be exempt, stopping potential meaning the discussion would be held behind incidents or crimes closed doors. from escalating.” He cited ‘security The downgrading reasons’, asking: “Why of CCTV is expected should we tell the bad to save around guys when we are not £100,000 a year, with watching them?” Chief Executive But the Head of Legal William Benson Partnership, Estelle stating that the Culligan, insisted that council are currently CONTROVERSIAL an exemption would facing a £750,000 Council Leader not be justified. deficit for next David Jukes year’s budget.
LOCAL ELECTIONS
The parties make their pitch as county ballots approach Page 4
INSPIRING WORDS
TEDx announce more speakers for their summer event Page 14