Dartford Borough Council News

Dartford Borough Museum is starting Her Majesty the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee year by launching its latest exhibition, ‘Long to Reign Over Us’, in time for the anniversary of the Accession on 6 February.

The exhibition, which runs from Saturday 4 February to Saturday 23 June 2012, looks at local events at the time of the Accession and Coronation, together with more recent royal visits to the Borough, including the opening of Dartford Judo Centre by HRH the Princess Royal.

Entry to the Museum and exhibition is free.

For more information about the Museum and its exhibitions, visit www.dartford.gov.uk/museum or call 01322 224739.

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The wartime fire engine known as “Borough of Dartford” has come home after being rescued from an uncertain future by Dartford Borough Council in late 2011.

The official handover of the engine to the Council took place on Thursday 26 January 2012 at Dartford Fire Station in Watling Street. The ceremony was attended by Jeremy Kite, Leader of the Council, Councillor Ann Allen, Lead Member for Communities, Mr Bryan Cope, Chairman of Kent and Medway Fire and Rescue Authority, and Steve Griffiths, Kent Fire and Rescue Service’s Director of Service Delivery.

Councillor Kite, said, “When we saw it, we knew we had to have it! The fire engine is fantastic and it was great that we could buy it and give it a good home back here in Dartford.”

Purchased by public subscription in 1939, ownership of the Leyland Fire Engine passed to Kent Fire Brigade following the nationalisation of the fire service in 1941. The engine was withdrawn from service in 1955, was fully restored in 1971 and has been kept in Kent Fire and Rescue Service’s museum ever since.

The fire engine will now be cared for by the Council and is available to hire for special events such as weddings and fetes. Please email heritage@dartford.gov.uk or call 01322 343244 for more information.

After making its first official appearance at the Carol Concert in Central Park back in December, the engine’s next outing will be to Dartford High Street on Friday 17 February as part of the British Heart Foundation’s ‘Red for Heart’ event.

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Mayor of Dartford, Councillor Eddy Lampkin, joined Darth Vader, Daleks and Stormtroopers in Dartford town centre last Saturday to raise money for local charity Cherished Memories.

The Mayor helped to collect £465 in donations from members of the public who had their photographs taken with the Star Wars and Dr Who characters in the Orchards Shopping Centre.

Councillor Lampkin said, “It was great to see these hugely popular characters drawing in people of all ages to have their pictures taken and donate money to Cherished Memories – a very worthwhile cause.”

Cherished Memories works to organise special family days out for children from hospices. The families are also provided with a DVD to help them remember their special day.

Along with Arrow Riding School, DGSM YourChoice and ChYps, Cherished Memories is one of the charities that Councillor Lampkin has chosen to support during his term of office.

For more information about the Mayor of Dartford’s charities and upcoming fundraising events, including a race night on Saturday 21 January, please visit www.dartford.gov.uk/mayor

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Older residents living in Dartford are being given the chance to join a free class to help prevent falls.

The classes aim to prevent falls and associated problems and are suitable for people who have a fear of falling or anyone with poor posture and balance. The classes are also ideal for frail or elderly older people who have already had a fall as trained professionals at the classes can give excellent practical advice and support to prevent a second fall.

They aim to improve the stability when standing, walking and making other movements by strengthening the muscles around the hip, knee and ankle. They also teach a range of associated techniques, including how and when to get up following a fall.

Classes include a warm up, gentle endurance work, resistance exercises and finally a 10 minute cool down followed by a cup of tea and a chat.

The hour long classes will take place at Alamein Gardens Supported Housing Scheme, Alamein Gardens, Dartford, DA2 6BW from Friday 20th January for 13 weeks. Transport may be available if required for people living in the Borough.

Falls can pose a serious danger to older people. Over 30% of the over 65s have a fall in any one year and this percentage increases with age. These falls can lead to injury, time spent in hospital and in the most severe cases they can result in a permanent disability or death.

Residents who want to join the falls prevention classes should visit their GP or other health professional and complete the referral form and send it to Dartford Borough Council. Alternatively, people can refer themselves by calling Dartford Borough Council’s Health team.

Cllr Ann Allen, the Council’s Lead Member for Health, says: “Falls can pose a serious danger for older residents, but in many cases they are preventable. By attending this free programme, older residents could help to avoid a serious injury or something worse.”

For further information contact the Council on 01322 343067 or e-mail health@dartford.gov.uk

The falls prevention programme is run by Dartford Borough Council in partnership with NHS West Kent.

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Dartford Borough Council has launched the Community Grant scheme. With a minimum of £500 and a maximum of £3,000 available, local ‘not for profit’ registered charities and community groups can apply in order to improve their offering to Dartford’s residents.

Eligible projects must fit objectives, aiming to improve Dartford’s sporting provision, or services to young or older people. The Council will support voluntary projects that promote sporting excellence, work towards improving club standards through accreditation or training; or that provide new, (or expand upon existing), services and activities which directly benefit young or older people. Applications will be judged by a panel of councillors and successful applicants will receive their funding before the end of the current financial year.

Cllr Jennifer Rickwood is Chair of the grants approval panel and says, “Dartford Borough Council places great emphasis on empowering residents to improve their own communities. The Community Grant scheme will do just that – and reward innovative and effective local projects and volunteers with funding to continue to improve the services and activities available locally in Dartford. I look forward to seeing the worthy array of projects Dartford has to offer and awarding the grants.”

Further information and an online application form is available at www.dartford.gov.uk/business/DartfordBoroughGrants.htm. Applications must be received by close of business on Wednesday 29 February 2012 and should be sent to grants@dartford.gov.uk with requested supporting documents.

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The Deep Clean team are coming to an area near you and need your help.

If you lend a hand, you will be working alongside the Deep Clean team to tackle everything from graffiti and litter to overgrown pathways, and make your community sparkle.

You will be provided with all the equipment you need to help the Deep Clean team clean up your area – all you need to do is turn up!

The Deep Clean team are hitting Dartford’s streets on Monday 5 December to clean up the River Darent from Brooklands Lakes to Mill Pond Road. On Tuesday 6 December they will continue to the Burnham Road area for a two-day long intensive cleaning spree. Roads around Dartford Town Centre will be the focus for Thursday 8 & Friday 9 December.

To register your interest in helping clean up your community, call 01322 343353 or email janice.collins@dartford.gov.uk

Councillor Chris Shippam, Cabinet Member for the Town Centre, said, “It will be great to see the local community lending a hand at the Deep Cleans in and around the town centre this week. It’s true that many hands make light work and we can all do our bit in tidying up the town.”

For more information about the initiative and upcoming Deep Clean dates, visit www.dartford.gov.uk/deepclean

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A benefit cheat has been brought to book by Dartford Borough Council after they were found to have illegally claimed more than £4,600 of tax payers’ money.

Following a joint investigation by Dartford Borough Council and the Department for Work & Pensions a benefit claimant from Stone was found to have fraudulently claimed £4,619.90 in benefits.

The investigation established that they had failed to inform the authorities that they has received an inheritance and therefore had capital in excess of the £16,000 capital limit (which precludes people from receiving Housing Benefit, Council Tax Benefit or Job Seekers Allowance (Income-Based)). Whilst being in receipt of this undeclared capital they incorrectly claimed £2,682.75 Housing Benefit, £414.25 in Council Tax Benefit and £1,522.90 in Job Seekers Allowance.

The claimant pleaded guilty to benefit fraud at Dartford Magistrates Court on 30 November 2011 and was handed a £200 fine and ordered to pay £100 towards the prosecution costs. A £15 victim surcharge was also imposed.

The court took into account the claimant’s willingness to assist fully with the investigation and the fact that all of the overpaid benefit had been promptly paid back to both Dartford Borough Council and the Department for Work & Pensions.

If a member of the public suspects a case of benefit fraud then they can contact the Council’s Anti-Fraud Team, in complete confidence, on 0800 496 3245.

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