Edenbridge Town Council

Prime Minister’s statement on coronavirus

As we all now know with certainty, the Prime Minister has confirmed a four-week delay to step four of the government’s roadmap until 19 July due to concerns caused by the Delta variant and to allow for more people to receive their second dose of a COVID-19 vaccine before further easing of restrictions takes place. The extension of restrictions will be put to a Commons vote, with a debate expected on Wednesday.

The delay means limits remain on how many people can meet, with groups of up to 30 allowed to meet outdoors and up to six people or two households allowed indoors. However, 15 coronavirus pilot events will continue as planned, including some upcoming Euro 2020 games, Wimbledon and arts and music performances. Attendees will have to show proof of vaccination or a recent negative test. However, capacity limits will continue at other venues and nightclubs will stay closed and advice to work from home where possible will remain in place.

In addition to the pilot events, from 21 June,  the number of guests at weddings and wakes will no longer be limited to 30. However, venues will have to adhere to social distancing and hosts will have to do a risk assessment. Table service will be required – with six people per table – and no indoor dance floors allowed.

Care home residents will no-longer have to isolate for 14 days after returning from visits outside. Exceptions will include high-risk trips such as overnight hospital stays.

The proposed extension will be reviewed to see if action can be taken two weeks’ sooner on 5 July.

Vaccinations

New analysis by Public Health England (PHE) has shown two doses of either the Pfizer or AstraZeneca vaccine are highly effective at preventing hospital admissions from the Delta variant. PHE said the effectiveness was comparable to protection against the Alpha variant which was previously dominant in the UK.

To ensure people have the strongest possible protection against COVID-19, appointments for second doses have been brought forward from 12 to eight weeks for the remaining people in the top nine priority groups who have yet to receive both doses. Anyone that is over the age of 40 and has yet to have their second dose can bring their vaccine forward by cancelling their current 2^nd dose appointment. On cancellation, new booking slots become available 8 weeks from the first dose, rather than from 12 weeks. An earlier target has also been set to give every adult in this country a first dose by 19 July, that is including young people over the age of 18 with the online vaccination booking system available to 23 and 24 year olds from today (15 June). To book a vaccination, or to manage (cancel and re-book a 2^nd dose) people can visit https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/coronavirus-vaccination/book-coronavirus-vaccination/

By Friday of last week, (11 June), the government announced that over 70 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine have now been administered in the UK, with 78% of adults now having received a first dose. Health services across the UK working alongside councils have administered a total of 70,253,625 vaccines since 8 December, including 41 million people with their first dose and 29 million with their second.

This year’s competition is renamed ‘Sevenoaks District In Bloom’. Sponsored by Coolings Garden Centre, the competition is free to enter with categories ranging from individual pots to entire gardens, an allotment, commercial such as shop and pub fronts, and community categories.

Category winners are awarded prizes of up to £25 of Coolings vouchers, and all entrants will receive a free voucher to get you started. Entries are welcomed from enthusiastic gardeners or anyone wanting to showcase their green fingered skills. To enter, submit a completed form at visit www.coolings.co.uk  (here)   or pick up a form from the Town Council office. The deadline for all entries is 5 July 2021. Judging will take place the last two weeks of July, followed by an awards ceremony in September (Covid-19 restrictions permitting). 

Smaller authority name: Edenbridge Town Council

NOTICE OF PUBLIC RIGHTS AND PUBLICATION OF UNAUDITED ANNUAL GOVERNANCE & ACCOUNTABILITY RETURN

ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021

Local Audit and Accountability Act 2014 Sections 26 and 27

The Accounts and Audit Regulations 2015 (SI 2015/234)

NOTICE

NOTES

1. Date of announcement_________04 June 2021___________(a) 2. Each year the smaller authority’s Annual Governance and Accountability Return (AGAR) needs to be reviewed by an external auditor appointed by Smaller Authorities’ Audit Appointments Ltd.  The unaudited AGAR has been published with this notice. As it has yet to be reviewed by the appointed auditor, it is subject to change as a result of that review. Any person interested has the right to inspect and make copies of the accounting records for the financial year to which the audit relates and all books, deeds, contracts, bills, vouchers, receipts and other documents relating to those records must be made available for inspection by any person interested. For the year ended 31 March 2021, these documents will be available on reasonable notice by application to:   (b)       Lorraine Ganney, Responsible Financial Officer  (RFO) Edenbridge Town Council, Doggetts Barn 72a High Street, Edenbridge, TN8 5AR. Email    accounts@edenbridgetowncounci.gov.uk   commencing on (c) __Monday 07 June 2021 _______________________     and ending on (d) ___Friday 16 July 2021 ________________________   3. Local government electors and their representatives also have:   The opportunity to question the appointed auditor about the accounting records; andThe right to make an objection which concerns a matter in respect of which the appointed auditor could either make a public interest report or apply to the court for a declaration that an item of account is unlawful. Written notice of an objection must first be given to the auditor and a copy sent to the smaller authority.   The appointed auditor can be contacted at the address in paragraph 4 below for this purpose between the above dates only.   4. The smaller authority’s AGAR is subject to review by the appointed auditor under the provisions of the Local Audit and Accountability Act 2014, the Accounts and Audit Regulations 2015 and the NAO’s Code of Audit Practice 2015.  The appointed auditor is:   PKF Littlejohn LLP (Ref: SBA Team) 15 Westferry Circus Canary Wharf London E14 4HD (sba@pkf-l.com)   5. This announcement is made by (e) ____Lorraine Ganney___________

(a) Insert date of placing of the notice which must be not less than 1 day before the date in (c) below                     (b) Insert name, position and address/telephone number/ email address, as appropriate, of the Clerk or other person to which any person may apply to inspect the accounts   (c) Insert date, which must be at least 1 day after the date of announcement in (a) above and at least 30 working days before the date appointed in (d) below   (d) The inspection period between (c) and (d) must be 30 working days inclusive and must include the first 10 working days of July.                                               (e) Insert name and position of person placing the notice – this person must be the responsible financial officer for the smaller authority

Click here for the Annual Return and End of Year accounts page

Edenbridge Town Council Councillor, Margot McArthur, recently elected new Kent Country Councillor representing residents of Sevenoaks Rural South including Edenbridge. She now has been appointed Deputy Cabinet Member for Integrated Children’s Services. One of her other Committees is also ‘Kent Flood Risk’.

Cllr McArthur continues to be a Sevenoaks District Council Councillor as well, and is the Cabinet Member for Cleaner and Greener.

The Town Council is delighted to have representation for Edenbridge, and we know Cllr McArthur will shout out on Edenbridge’s behalf.

The toilets have now been fitted with a new locking timer, ventilation, and other repairs following previous vandalism. The public toilets are open to the public from 06:00 to 18:00 hours. Please look after these public toilets and if you see any anti-social behaviour please report on 101 or the Town Council.

The new health and wellbeing centre in Edenbridge will be an integral part of the town and this is your chance to vote on its name.

Vote online here or pick up a voting postcard from the hospital, town council offices or Edenbridge Medical Practice.

The vote closes on Friday, 25 June.

Edenbridge – Have your say Survey (surveymonkey.com)

Following the Annual Meeting of the Town Council on Thursday 6 May, Cllr Bob Todd was unanimously voted in as the new Chairman of the Town Council. Cllr Angela Baker was voted in as Vice-Chair.

Cllr Todd said, ‘I am honoured to have been voted in by my fellow councillors. I look forward to leading the town in to a better brighter future after lock down, and to be able to put in to place projects that had to be put on hold’.

There were some changes to the Committees (click here for copy of membership). The Committee Chairmen will be confirmed at the first meeting of each committee.

Congratulations to Cllr Margot McArthur who won the local county elections on Thursday 6 May. Cllr McArthur will be representing residents of Sevenoaks Rural South including Edenbridge.

The Town Council would like to thank Cllr Peter Lake for the years he has represented Edenbridge’s interests at Kent County Council and helped a large number of local children getting suitable school places.