Tuesday 31 July 2012

CABINET APPROVES RIGHT TO BUY AGREEMENT


Thanet District Council’s Cabinet has approved the release of money from the sale of council homes so that it can be used to fund extra social housing in the area.

An agreement at the cabinet meeting of Thursday 26 July means that the council has joined many other English local authorities in ensuring that additional ‘Right to Buy’ receipts are invested in affordable homes.

The move follows a government announcement in April, when the cap on Right to Buy discounts was lifted to £75,000 – generating interest in the sale of more properties.

This has led to an increase in enquiries from interested tenants in Thanet, with nine enquiries for the first quarter of the year, compared to 15 for the whole of 2011/12.

But to keep the extra funds, local authorities have an obligation to enter in to an agreement with the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government.

Currently, the council is looking at schemes that could qualify for the re-investment of any receipt retained, including buying properties to covert into affordable housing. There are also plans to build on garage sites that are currently under-used.

The council’s Cabinet Member for Housing, Cllr David Green, said: “The council is very keen to deliver the maximum amount of affordable homes in Thanet, and the new legislation will help us to achieve this. The scheme ensures that at least one new affordable home is created for every one sold under right to buy.

“By allocating money from the sale of council homes towards financing new affordable homes, we can ensure that some of those not on the housing ladder can access affordable housing. This is excellent news for the district and its residents.”

A WINDOW ON DALBY SQUARE

 Two exhibitions about the life, history and future of Cliftonville’s Dalby Square are to take place next month (August).


The exhibitions form part of development stage of the Townscape Heritage Initiative (THI), jointly funded by Thanet District Council and the Heritage Lottery Fund.
On Thursday 2 August, Friday 3 August and Saturday 4th, the first exhibition will take place at 30 Dalby Square and will show a project undertaken earlier in the year by students from Kent School of Architecture at the University of Kent.


The Architecture School project focused on the conversion of 30 Dalby Square into an ‘art hotel’, with the building adapted to contain a series of living spaces, studios and communal areas. The brief encouraged the students to be as imaginative as possible in demonstrating how a Victorian building might be converted into a twenty-first centaury facility.


Also in the exhibition will be a display of historical research about the Square, as well as work of the Design for Future Climate Change project. This work speculates on how Dalby Square will look in the year 2080, and how the 1870s buildings of the Square might be adapted for the future.
The second exhibition takes place at Fort’s Café in Clifton Terrace and the Dalby Café in Dalby Road. Showing portraits of the residents of Dalby Square taken in October 2011 by the world-famous photographer Martin Parr. The exhibition is a precursor to the Margate Photo Fest and takes place throughout August.


Both of these exhibitions are financed by monies already allocated by the Lottery and Thanet District Council towards a submission to the Lottery for a heritage grant scheme similar to the ones already operated in Margate Old Town and along Ramsgate seafront.


The council’s Cabinet Member for Community Services, Cllr Iris Johnston, said: “Dalby Square has a fascinating past and a very bright future, and it’s wonderful that the exhibitions celebrate the area. Dalby Square forms an integral part of the council’s regeneration work, and the support of the Heritage Lottery Fund has enabled us to support the area and its residents.”


She added: “I’m so pleased that students from the Kent School of Architecture have been inspired by Dalby Square, and that the photographer Martin Parr has taken such amazing pictures of local people. I hope that many people in Thanet get a chance to see the exhibitions and be impressed by what they see.” 

Dalby Square exhibition to be held at 30 Dalby Square on Thursday 2 August, Friday 3 August and Saturday 4 August from 11am to 5pm (by kind permission of the building's owners Sanctuary Housing Association).


Photographic exhibition opens Thursday 9 august at 6pm, to be held at Fort's Café Clifton Terrace – (Monday – closed Tuesday – closed, Wednesday – closed, Thursday 9am – 11pm Friday 9am – 11pm Saturday 9am – 11pm Sunday 9am – 5pm. And held at the Dalby Café, Dalby Road, every day 6.30am to 3pm.

photographs by permission of Martin Parr. 

Monday 30 July 2012

New planning applications,

The TDC planning website is one of the most bizarre websites I have ever come across in as much as the web addresses of the pages on it change after a few hours so you can’t publish links to them. If you want to look at any of the applications you need to go to the site and enter the application reference in the search box, this link takes you to the site http://www.ukplanning.com/thanet


Date Published*Application No.AddressStatus
27 Jul 2012F/TH/12/0569DRAGONS LAIR CHINESE TAKE AWAY 257 NORTHDOWN ROAD CLIFTONVILLE MARGATE CT92PNcurrent
25 Jul 2012F/TH/12/0439THE MINNIS THE PARADE BIRCHINGTON CT79LTcurrent
24 Jul 2012F/TH/12/0571THE PADDOCK, HENGIST ROAD, BIRCHINGTONcurrent
24 Jul 2012F/TH/12/0572THE PADDOCK, HENGIST ROAD, BIRCHINGTONcurrent
24 Jul 2012F/TH/12/047411 CANNON ROAD, RAMSGATE, CT11 9SQcurrent
24 Jul 2012F/TH/12/057396 PARK AVENUE, BROADSTAIRS, KENTcurrent
24 Jul 2012F/TH/12/057994 HIGH STREET BROADSTAIRS CT101JJcurrent
24 Jul 2012F/TH/12/05769 HAWKHURST WAY BROADSTAIRS CT101SDcurrent
19 Jul 2012OL/TH/12/0550LAND ADJACENT TO CLIFFTOP AND SURROUNDING REDRIFF, NORTH FORELAND AVENUE, BROADSTAIRScurrent
19 Jul 2012CD/TH/12/038985 NORFOLK ROAD CLIFTONVILLE MARGATE CT92HXdecided
19 Jul 2012DM/TH/12/0523signal box adjacent to 1c hartsdown road margate ct9 5bbdecided
19 Jul 2012F/TH/12/044315 HAROLD AVENUE WESTGATE-ON-SEA CT88QUcurrent
19 Jul 2012F/TH/12/0518SPAR STORES 29-31 ADDINGTON STREET RAMSGATE CT119JLcurrent
19 Jul 2012F/TH/12/0556FORMER GOODS YARD STATION ROAD WESTGATE ON SEA CT8 8QYcurrent
19 Jul 2012L/TH/12/0483SPAR STORES 29-31 ADDINGTON STREET RAMSGATE CT119JLcurrent
19 Jul 2012NM/TH/12/0536RIVER DALE HOTEL 40-46 SWEYN ROAD CLIFTONVILLE MARGATE CT92DFdecided
19 Jul 2012F/TH/12/05684 EFFINGHAM STREET RAMSGATE CT119ATcurrent

* This date is when Thanet District Council first published this case file.

New documents published by Thanet District Council,


Thanet District Council licensing applications,


Name of Applicant / ClubAddress of Premises / ClubNature of application. New or variationProposed licensable activities / or proposed variationDate by which representations may be made
(no less than 28 days after date received)
Mr Julian Newick44-46 Albion Street, Broadstairs CT10 1NENew premises licence applicationSupply of alcohol, regulated entertainment, late night refreshment27th July 2012
KAT Store Limited70-72 Upper Dane Road, Margate CT9 2LXVariationTo amend the licensing and trading hours27th July 2012
Mr Michael BeaumontThe Four Candles Alehouse, 1 Sowell Street, Broadstairs CT10 2ATNew premises licence applicationSupply of alcohol, regulated entertainment03 August 2012
Mr Somkid Thongtanom8-10 Albion Hill, Ramsgate CT11 8HGNew premises licence applicationSupply of alcohol15 August 2012
Salmestone Grange LtdSalmestone Grange, Nash Road, Margate CT9 4BXNew premises licence applicationSupply of alcohol, regulated entertainment, late night refreshment22 August 2012
Caboose Cafe Ltd18 Queen Street, Ramsgate CT11 9DRVariation of premises licenceExtend hours for regulated entertainment and the supply of alcohol, additional licensable activities, amendment of plans24 August 2012

Thursday 26 July 2012

REVISED PLANS FOR COMMUNITY CENTRE WILL PROTECT GREEN OPEN SPACE


Thanet District Council’s Cabinet have given conditional agreement to revised plans for the proposed new community centre next to Pierremont Hall in Broadstairs.

Plans for a replacement for Park Hall were originally considered by the Cabinet on 5 January 2012, but the original design was not acceptable as it was considered to have far too great a detrimental impact on Pierremont Park.

Subsequent discussions between Thanet District Council, the Community Centre Trust and Broadstairs & St. Peter’s Town Council have led to improvements in the layout that have a much reduced impact on the park.

The revised design also offers a better connection to Pierremont Hall, and is more aligned with the council’s aims of preserving open space as set out in its new Corporate Plan.

Cabinet’s conditional agreement to the revised design for the community centre represents the first stage of the project coming to fruition.

If the proposals do proceed, Cabinet has agreed to the section 106 funding from the Ellington and Hereson School site to be provided to the Trust to fund the project in association with other funding streams.

The Council’s Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Commercial Services, Cllr Alan Poole, said: “When the outline plan for the community centre was originally submitted to Cabinet we couldn’t approve some aspects of the building’s design, as it adversely impacted on the park.

“The revised plan represents an improvement, and has addressed our original concerns.”

Tuesday 24 July 2012

Consultation begins on changes to Council Tax and Council Tax Benefits


 

Local people are being urged to take part in a consultation on major changes to Council Tax and Council Tax Benefit.
The government has announced that from 1 April 2013 they will be abolishing Council Tax benefit in its current form.  Instead, all councils will need to create and run a local Council Tax support scheme.
There will be less funding from the government under the new scheme, which means that Thanet District Council will have to work within a budget that has been reduced by approximately £2.2 million.
The government has also announced that from April 2013 councils can change discounts and exemptions given for Council Tax. These changes mainly affect empty properties and ‘second homes’.
Thanet District Council is now consulting on a proposed local Council Tax support scheme. This scheme aims to reduce the impact on benefit customers by removing some Council Tax discounts and exemptions.
The main proposals are to:
  • Reduce working age Council Tax benefit awards by between 5% and 6%.
  • Remove the Council Tax discount for ‘second home’ owners (currently 10%).
  • Remove the Council Tax exemption for empty and unfurnished properties (currently 100%).
  • Discontinue second adult rebate for working age claimants.
The government has stated that there can be no change to Council Tax benefit for pensioners, so the reduction in benefit will only affect working age claimants.
There will also be no change to the Council Tax exemption for properties undergoing major structural repair.
Leader of Thanet District Council, Cllr Clive Hart, said: “It’s essential that local people are aware of the changes to Council Tax and Council Tax benefit.
“At Thanet we’re facing a reduction of over £2 million from central government to fund Council Tax benefit.  This means we’ve had to make some really difficult decisions about who gets financial support, and how much, in order to continue providing this benefit to those on low incomes.
“Working together with the East Kent Councils, we’re proposing a scheme that reduces the impact on benefit customers by removing some Council Tax discounts and exemptions as well as cutting benefit awards. This will help to reduce the overall financial impact on benefit reductions to working age people, however working age Council Tax benefit claimants will still have to pay more Council Tax than they have before.
“Whether you’re in receipt of Council Tax benefit, or own a second or empty property, I would urge you to take part in this consultation and ensure you have your say.”
To view a copy of the full proposed scheme, and to take part in the consultation, please visit www.thanet.gov.uk/counciltaxchanges
To request a paper copy of the scheme and survey, call the central information line on 01227 862310. You can also collect paper copies from Thanet’s Gateway Plus in Cecil Street Margate, Ramsgate District Office in York Street or by visiting any Thanet library.
The consultation closes on Monday 17 September 2012.

Saturday 21 July 2012

New planning applications,

The TDC planning website is one of the most bizarre websites I have ever come across in as much as the web addresses of the pages on it change after a few hours so you can’t publish links to them. If you want to look at any of the applications you need to go to the site and enter the application reference in the search box, this link takes you to the site http://www.ukplanning.com/thanet  



ate Published*Application No.AddressStatus
19 Jul 2012OL/TH/12/0550LAND ADJACENT TO CLIFFTOP AND SURROUNDING REDRIFF, NORTH FORELAND AVENUE, BROADSTAIRScurrent
19 Jul 2012CD/TH/12/038985 NORFOLK ROAD CLIFTONVILLE MARGATE CT92HXdecided
19 Jul 2012DM/TH/12/0523signal box adjacent to 1c hartsdown road margate ct9 5bbdecided
19 Jul 2012F/TH/12/044315 HAROLD AVENUE WESTGATE-ON-SEA CT88QUcurrent
19 Jul 2012F/TH/12/0518SPAR STORES 29-31 ADDINGTON STREET RAMSGATE CT119JLcurrent
19 Jul 2012F/TH/12/0556FORMER GOODS YARD STATION ROAD WESTGATE ON SEA CT8 8QYcurrent
19 Jul 2012L/TH/12/0483SPAR STORES 29-31 ADDINGTON STREET RAMSGATE CT119JLcurrent
19 Jul 2012NM/TH/12/0536RIVER DALE HOTEL 40-46 SWEYN ROAD CLIFTONVILLE MARGATE CT92DFdecided
19 Jul 2012F/TH/12/05684 EFFINGHAM STREET RAMSGATE CT119ATcurrent
18 Jul 2012F/TH/12/0524EAST NORTHDOWN HOUSE EAST NORTHDOWN MARGATE CT93TScurrent
18 Jul 2012F/TH/12/05282 FLETE FARM COTTAGES FLETE ROAD MARGATE CT94LJcurrent
18 Jul 2012F/TH/12/053411 OSBORNE ROAD BROADSTAIRS CT102AEcurrent
18 Jul 2012F/TH/12/054724 SHAKESPEARE ROAD BIRCHINGTON CT79ETcurrent
18 Jul 2012F/TH/12/05549 NURSERY GARDENS BROADSTAIRS CT103EWcurrent
18 Jul 2012F/TH/12/05636 INGLE CLOSE BIRCHINGTON CT79EBcurrent
18 Jul 2012F/TH/12/05573 TOTHILL STREET RAMSGATE CT124AGcurrent
18 Jul 2012F/TH/12/0558BARCLAYS BANK, 11-13 QUEEN STREET, RAMSGATE, CT11 9DZcurrent
18 Jul 2012F/TH/12/056466 PRINCES GARDENS MARGATE CT93AScurrent
17 Jul 2012F/TH/12/046811 CRAMPTON COURT GROSVENOR ROAD BROADSTAIRS CT102XUcurrent
17 Jul 2012F/TH/12/0542NUMBER 16 MARINE DRIVE AND 42, HIGH STREET, MARGATE, CT9 1DScurrent
17 Jul 2012F/TH/12/0561NUMBERS 31 TO 41 PULLMAN CLOSE RAMSGATEcurrent
17 Jul 2012F/TH/12/0552RAMSGATE AND DISTRICT MODEL ENGINEERING CLUB, ELLINGTON PARK, RAMSGATE, CT11 9TLcurrent
17 Jul 2012A/TH/12/0513361 CANTERBURY ROAD, WEST, BIRCHINGTON, CT79TZcurrent
16 Jul 2012F/TH/12/04021 ALBION PLACE RAMSGATE CT118HQcurrent
16 Jul 2012F/TH/12/0227HOTEL LESLIE 1-5 SURREY ROAD CLIFTONVILLE MARGATE CT92JRcurrent
16 Jul 2012F/TH/12/045223 BELMONT ROAD WESTGATE-ON-SEA CT88AXcurrent
16 Jul 2012F/TH/12/05539 QUEENSGATE COURT QUEEN STREET RAMSGATE CT11 9ERcurrent
16 Jul 2012F/TH/12/0560FINEBUILD BUILDERS 60 CONNAUGHT ROAD MARGATE CT95TWcurrent
16 Jul 2012NM/TH/12/045990 LINDENTHORPE ROAD BROADSTAIRS CT101DHdecided
13 Jul 2012F/TH/12/05398 SWINBURNE AVENUE BROADSTAIRS CT102DPcurrent
13 Jul 2012A/TH/12/053845A WESTWOOD CROSS, MARGATE ROAD, BROADSTAIRScurrent
13 Jul 2012F/TH/12/0484LAND ADJACENT, 22 CLEMENTS ROAD, RAMSGATEcurrent
13 Jul 2012C/TH/12/0543NUMBER 16 MARINE DRIVE AND 42, HIGH STREET, MARGATE, CT9 1DScurrent
13 Jul 2012F/TH/12/0543NUMBER 16 MARINE DRIVE AND 42, HIGH STREET, MARGATE, CT9 1DScurrent

* This date is when Thanet District Council first published this case file.

New documents published by Thanet District Council,