Dartford Borough Council News

Dartford Borough Museum is exploring the Borough’s culinary history in its latest exhibition.

‘Food for Thought’ uses numerous photographs to give a ‘taste’ of local food shops and eating places over the years.

The exhibition also celebrates the 175th anniversary of Mrs Beeton’s birth and the 150th anniversary of her most famous work, ‘The Book of Household Management’.

In addition, an assortment of kitchen utensils from years gone by will be on display.

Running from Saturday 5 November 2011 to Saturday 28 January 2012, admission to the exhibition is free, so pop in and find out more!

When to visit
Dartford Borough Museum is open:
- Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, 10am-2pm and 3pm-5.30pm.
- Saturdays 9am-1pm and 2pm-5pm

It is closed Wednesdays, Sundays and Bank Holidays.

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

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This year’s spectacular fireworks display in Dartford’s Central Park will be held on Saturday 5 November.

This annual event, organised and run by Dartford Lions Club, kicks off at 5pm with the bonfire being lit at 7.15pm and the fireworks starting at 8pm.

Advance ticket prices: £4 adult/£2 child

Tickets are available in advance from local venues including:
- Craft Frames, 21 West Hill, Dartford (Tue-Sat)
- Yogesh of Londis, 43 Dartford Road
- Chef’s, Priory Centre, Dartford
- EllenorLions Hospice Shop, Spital Street, Dartford
- EllenorLions Special Treats, Darent Valley Hospital
- Priory Shopping Centre, Dartford, on Thursday 27 October, Saturday 29 October, Thursday 3 November, Friday 4 November and Saturday 5 November (morning only)

On the gate ticket prices: £5 adult/£3 child

Proceeds from the event will go to EllenorLions Hospices and other Dartford Lions Charities.

For more information visit Dartford Lions Club’s website www.dartfordlions.org.uk

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Dartford residents are invited to join the Mayor of Dartford, Councillor Eddy Lampkin, at this year’s Remembrance Day Parade and Service on Sunday 13 November.

The commemoration starts at 10.45am with a procession from Dartford Borough Museum to the War Memorial.

The service, which includes wreath laying and a two minute silence, then follows.

After the service, a march past and parade by members of local uniformed organisations completes the commemoration.

Please note that Market Street will be closed to traffic from 10.30am until 11.45am.

Council tenants and leaseholders can join in discussions about housing services at the annual general meeting of Dartford Borough Residents’ Forum on Wednesday 12 October at Princes Park Stadium. Forum members will give an update on the group’s achievements over the last year and speak about their plans for the year ahead.

Introductions from Councillor Jeremy Kite and Councillor Pat Coleman will be followed by an informative presentation by Digital UK to keep you switched on in 2012 when the digital switchover takes place. Digital UK is the independent, not-for-profit organisation leading the process of digital TV switchover in the UK. Digital UK provides impartial information on what people need to do to prepare for the switch to digital, and when they need to do it. The company was set up by public broadcasters at the request of the Government.

A free prize draw for £50 in high street vouchers will also take place on the evening for tenants and leaseholders attending.

Tenants and leaseholders are encouraged to take this opportunity to ask questions or voice their views to the people who matter including forum members, council officers, Councillors and contractors who will be there on the night.

Information will be provided to interested candidates about becoming one of the committee members as spaces have become available this year.

Refreshments will be served from 6.30pm, for a 6.45pm start and transport may be provided if required.

For more information, visit www.dartfordhousingresidents.org, email rio@dartford.gov.uk or call the Resident Involvement Officer on 01322 343682.

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Dartford’s residents are being reminded to check their cab is safe following the discovery of unlicensed taxi services advertised in shop windows.

Following complaints from the public and inspections by Dartford’s Community Safety Unit (CSU) and Kent Police, shopkeepers have been advised to remove the advertisement cards from their windows.

In addition, two drivers have been identified and interviewed where they admitted to acting as taxis despite being unlicensed. The pair were issued with formal warnings and have been advised that further action will be taken against them if they come to the attention of the CSU or Kent Police again.

Dartford Borough Council’s Community Safety Unit and Kent Police work closely together to help to ensure the safety of the Borough’s residents. Part of the CSU’s work also includes the licensing of Hackney Carriages and minicabs.

Councillor Dave Hammock, Lead Member for Enforcement & Licensing said, “We do all we can to ensure illegal unlicensed cabs are not operating in the Borough. Cab users should always remember to hire their cab from a reputable company and if they’re not happy – don’t get in and report it to the Police.”

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From the beginning of October, visitors to Dartford Borough Council’s Pay & Display parking areas in Dartford town centre and Greenhithe will be able to pay for their parking using their mobile phone.

Although the traditional coin-operated Pay & Display machines will remain, this new cashless alternative should prove popular with motorists who will be able to pay for parking from the comfort of their vehicle and avoid having to guess the length of their stay. They will also avoid having to find the correct change for the ticket machines. Add to this the bonus of avoiding trips to and from the machines in the pouring rain and the new parking payment option looks very attractive!

Registering to use the new Pay by Mobile Phone method is easy – all you need to do is contact the service provider, Parkmobile, by making a short local phone call on 020 3003 2523 or if you prefer to register online, you will be able to do so at www.parkmobile.co.uk. You can also use Parkmobile’s free Apps for iPhones and Android phones.

Once registered, you can start using the service. When parking, just call the local number; confirm your parking location (shown on signs in the car park) and your parking session will automatically start.

You won’t need a Pay & Display ticket as your parking details will be downloaded immediately to the Civil Enforcement Officers’ equipment so they can tell straightaway that your vehicle is legally parked. When you return to your car, make another quick call to end the charging period.

It’s as simple as that.

You will be able to use this payment method in all the Council’s Pay & Display car parks and in other car parks across the country where Parkmobile provides the service.

Pay by Mobile Phone customers will pay a small convenience charge of 20p each time they use the service in addition to the standard tariff.

Councillor Tony Martin, Deputy Leader of the Council said, “It’s great that we’re now able to offer visitors to the town centre and Greenhithe a choice when paying for their parking. There are many advantages to Pay by Mobile Phone parking especially not worrying about having the correct change! We hope that customers will appreciate the benefits of this new service.”

Full details of the scheme will be displayed on signs on or near the existing Pay and Display machines or online at www.parkmobile.co.uk. Leaflets about the service are also available from Dartford Civic Centre.

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Dartford Borough Council and Sevenoaks District Council have scooped a prestigious award for their innovative partnership for providing Revenues and Benefits services.

The partnership picked up the Silver award from the Institute of Revenues Rating and Valuations for ‘Excellence in Partnership Working’. The IRRV is the governing body which represents the council tax and housing benefits profession.

Olympic Gold medallist Colin Jackson presented the award at a ceremony in Telford on Wednesday evening (21 September 2011).

The award was in recognition of the Councils’ joint revenues and benefits team, which only formed last December.

This partnership is currently on schedule to make combined savings of £2.5 million over the next five years for the two authorities.

Cllr Tony Martin, Deputy Leader of Dartford Borough Council, commented: “This is a fantastic achievement by both Councils who have led the way in showing the benefits of joint working to provide an exemplary service to residents. I would like to offer my warmest congratulations to all the staff involved.”

Cllr Brian Ramsay, Sevenoaks District Council’s Member for finance, adds: “The commitment of everyone involved across both Councils has made this fantastic award achievable. Through this partnership we have managed to provide an improved service while at the same time saving local tax payers millions.”

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