News

Deputy Parish Clerk / RFO VACANCY

Job Vacancy for Deputy Parish Clerk

A vacancy has arisen for the post of Deputy Parish Clerk / Responsible Finance Officer (RFO) at Sandgate Parish Council.

The Deputy Clerk will be providing support to the Parish Clerk and Librarian and is one of the main points of contact for Sandgate residents.

The position is for 10 hours per week, to include Wednesday 9.30am-1.00pm – plus evening meetings. The salary is £13.40 per hour with a voluntary pension scheme.

The successful candidate will be entitled to 21 days holiday plus bank holidays.

Duties include:

  • Attending Parish Council meetings
  • Preparation of Agendas and Minutes
  • All Financial matters including preparation of financial statements for the Annual Audit
  • Maintaining the Parish Council website
  • Managing and interrogating the Parish CCTV
  • Assisting the Parish Clerk/Librarian in running the parish library

The ideal candidate will be a good communicator, with the ability to work on their own initiative or as part of the team.

The Deputy Clerk will be the Responsible Financial Officer (RFO) and will be responsible for all financial records of the Council and the careful administration of its finances.

CVs to be sent to clerk@sandgatepc.org.uk (or via post to the Parish Council Office and Library) to arrive not later than 12.00 noon 17rd November 2023.

References and Enhanced DBS will be required prior to job offer.

RFO-Deputy-Clerk-Job-Description-October-2023

Posted by Tim Prater in News

Sound Quality for SPC Meeting Broadcasts

Sandgate Parish Council broadcast all our full Council and Committee meetings online live (and able to watch back for some months following the meeting) at https://www.facebook.com/sandgatepc

We have had some feedback on, and have been monitoring, the sound quality of our televised meetings and concluded that it needed improvement.

We purchased some improved sound technology and used it last night for the first time. We hope that you will agree it’s a massive improvement: last nights meeting is at https://fb.watch/nKAcL-debK/ (and could compare it with a previous meeting such as at https://fb.watch/nKAD9ycX61/).

For reference, we replaced our previous “budget” desk microphone system with a pair of Anker Power Conf S500 Speakerphones https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B08W24YDSC

What is even more impressive is that we only used one of those for the meeting last night: the second didn’t make it out of the box, but the sound quality is already so much better. We still have somewhere to go to improve further, but massive step forward.

Posted by Tim Prater in News

Report of the External Auditor 2023

Conclusion-of-AGAR-to-upload-1

“On the basis of our review of Sections 1 and 2 of the Annual Governance and Accountability Return (AGAR), in our opinion the information in sections 1 and 2 of the AGAR is in accordance with Proper Practices and no other matters have come to our attention giving cause for concern that relevant legislation and regulatory requirement.”

The 2023 report of the external auditor is as shown above, and is also available to inspect from the Sandgate Parish Council office during opening hours.

Posted by Tim Prater in Finance, News, Resources
Six Month Closure of Public Footpath HF8, Sandgate

Six Month Closure of Public Footpath HF8, Sandgate

Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, Section 14(1), As Amended By The Road Traffic (Temporary Restrictions) Act 1991

Kent County Council intends to make an Order the effect of which is to temporarily close Public Footpath HF8 for its entire length between Public Footpath HF59 & Public Footpath HF56 from the 01 October 2023.

The path will be closed for a maximum of six months.

Public Footpath HF8 is to be closed because development works are planned on or near them.

An alternative route is available from Public Footpath HF59 to Public Footpath HF56 and will be signed for the duration of the closure.

For detailed enquiries please contact Edward Denne in Kent County Council Public Rights of Way, Contact Centre no. 03000 41 71 71.

HF8-TRO-Intends-Notice

Closure-map

Posted by Tim Prater in News
The Sandgate Sea and Food Festival 2023

The Sandgate Sea and Food Festival 2023

On the evening of Saturday 26th August 2023, we’ll be welcoming back the Sandgate Sea and Food Festival FREE fireworks display, sponsored by the Roger de Haan Charitable Trust, from Granville Parade.

On Sunday 27th August there will be the Sandgate Sea and Food Festival, featuring live music, entertainment, stalls and great food on Sandgate’s Granville Parade, Castle Road Car Park and at businesses along Sandgate High Street.

Sandgate-Seafest-Flyer-2023-web-1

Programme

SATURDAY EVENING (26 August, 7-10pm)

Live music & stalls and our annual free firework display.

Live Music

GRANVILLE PARADE BEACH STAGE

  • The Liberators (8-10pm)

CASTLE ROAD CAR PARK

  • Terry Daniels (8-10pm)

SUNDAY (27 August, 10-5pm)

A fun day for all the family with live music, stalls and entertainment along Granville Parade & throughout Sandgate. Arts and Crafts Fair in the Chichester Hall, 70 Sandgate High Street.

Live Music

GRANVILLE PARADE BEACH STAGE

  • Gumboots Reggae 10am-12noon)
  • Rattlaz (12.30-2.30pm)
  • Steve Boltz (3-5pm)

CASTLE ROAD CAR PARK

  • A Jazz stage led by Roan Kearsey-Lawson and other musicians performing from noon.

THE SHIP INN

  • Steel And Strings Steel Band right on the seafront next to the restaurant (3pm onwards).

SANDGATE MEMBERS CLUB

  • Bill Palmer Disco & Karoake. Non-members welcome. (from 6pm)

The organisers would like to say a huge thank you to the generous sponsors of this event. Without their support it would not be possible to hold the festival: The Roger De Haan Charitable Trust, Sandgate Parish Council, Saga, Prater Raines, Joy-Bettany, Livingstone Homes & Smith Woolley Perry.

Can You Help Fill Our Barrow of Booze?

A key part of the Sandgate Sea and Food Festival each year is the draw to win a “barrow of booze”. That’s an eclectic collection of bottles, cans and more donated from across the village and conveniently served in a wheelbarrow to one lucky ticket buyer! All proceeds from ticket sales will go to the RNLI.

If you have a bottle or two you could donate to fill our barrow this year (unopened bottles only please!) then please drop them to Sandgate Library during opening hours or contact clerk@sandgatepc.org.uk to arrange delivery. Thank you! 

Parking Suspension Advance Notice

Parking on Granville Parade, Granville Road East & West and The Parade will be suspended from Noon on Saturday 26th until 7pm on Sunday 27th to allow for the Sea Festival and stalls including drop off, set up and break down.

There is also a parking suspension in Castle Road Car Park from noon on Saturday 26th and all day until 7pm on Sunday 27th August, to allow for deliveries and set-up on the Saturday and the market and break-down on the Sunday.

Please do NOT park in those areas during suspended hours. There are a lot of deliveries, stalls setting up and people visiting: leaving your car there while that is going on makes it much harder to do (and you may get a ticket!).

Posted by Tim Prater in News
Tenants Benefitting from Ross House Revamp

Tenants Benefitting from Ross House Revamp

Tenants have moved into a council-managed housing scheme in Sandgate which has undergone significant improvement works.

Work at Ross House forms part of a wider multi-million pound project to help keep tenants warm in winter and cool in the summer through the installation of energy efficient measures.

Ross House in Ross Way, Sandgate, is the council’s first ‘net zero’ enabled residential block. Retrofit work at this site includes externally insulating and rendering the building, insulating the loft and under floor voids, installing photovoltaic panels on the roof and adding more energy efficient air source heat pumps. The block of 16 apartments has also been redecorated and had replacement kitchens fitted.

The work was completed using funding from the first wave of the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund (SHDF), alongside match funding from Folkestone & Hythe District Council.

Elaine Cox, chair of the Strategic Tenant Advisory Panel, officially re-opened Ross House on 18 July.

Councillors, staff and tenant representatives spoke to tenants at the event and learned more about the efforts being made to improve the district’s social housing stock.

Cllr Rebecca Shoob, Cabinet Member for Housing and Homelessness, said: “It has been fantastic to see the work that has been undertaken to increase the energy efficiency of Ross House.”

“The work being done across our properties in the district will not only improve the comfort of our tenants’ homes but also reduce their carbon emissions.”

Folkestone & Hythe District Council was recently awarded £2.6m in the second wave of the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund. The funding will again be matched by the council, bringing the total spend on improving the homes and wellbeing of tenants to £5.2 million.

It will continue the progress made during the first phase, enabling the council to improve the energy efficiency of a further 300 homes over the next two years.

Posted by Tim Prater in News

Free All Day Bus Travel for Older and Disabled Person Bus Pass Holders

1 – 31 AUGUST 2023

Using National Bus Strategy Funding provided by HM Government, throughout August, bus passes for Older and Disabled Persons will be accepted for travel in Kent and Medway before 9.30am. So you can now travel for free up until 11pm.

kent.gov.uk/alldayaugust

Using your pass before 9.30am is valid Monday to Sunday from 1 to 31 August from the first bus of the day up until 11pm for older persons and disabled persons bus pass holders only.

Normal times will apply from 1 September.

All-Day-August-poster

Posted by Tim Prater in News

Sandgate Parish Council Annual Return 2022-23

Sandgate Parish Council is defined as a “smaller authority” for the purposes of publication of its annual accounts and statements.

The Local Audit and Accountability Act 2014 and the Accounts and Audit Regulations 2015 require that:

1. 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, during a period of 30 working days set by the smaller authority and including the first 10 working days of July.

2. The period referred to in paragraph (1) starts with the day on which the period for the exercise of public rights is treated as having been commenced i.e. the day following the day on which all of the obligations in paragraph (3) below have been fulfilled.

3. The responsible financial officer for a relevant authority must, on behalf of that authority, publish (which must include publication on the authority’s website):

(a) the Accounting Statements (i.e. Section 2 of the Annual Return), accompanied by:

(i) a declaration, signed by that officer to the effect that the status of the Accounting Statements are unaudited and that the Accounting Statements as published may be subject to change;

(ii) the Annual Governance Statement (i.e. Section 1 of the Annual Return); and

(b) a statement that sets out—

(i) the period for the exercise of public rights;

(ii) details of the manner in which notice should be given of an intention to inspect the accounting records and other documents;

(iii) the name and address of the local auditor;

(iv) the provisions contained in section 26 (inspection of documents etc.) and section 27 (right to make objections at audit) of the Act, as they have effect in relation to the authority in question.

All the required accounting statements, declarations, annual governance statement and additional statements are available in this 2023 Full Annual Return of Sandgate Parish Council. The declared period for the exercise of Public Rights is 27 June – 7 August 2023.

AGAR-for-noticeboard

Scanned pdf documents do not comply with the Accessibility Regulations but the above documents can be provided in an alternative format or on alternative media, on request.

There is a National Audit Office guide Local Authority Accounts: A guide to your rights.

Posted by Tim Prater in Council, News, Resources

Sandgate Esplanade: Start of Works Notification for A259

As part of the on-going maintenance and improvement of the highway network, Kent County Council will be resurfacing the A259 Sandgate Esplanade from Court Road to Castle Bay.

These road surface improvement works are programmed to start on Monday 26th June and should take 8 Nights to complete (should there be any unforeseen delays, Kent County Council may resolve these issues by undertaking weekend working to avoid an overrun of works). These activities will be undertaken between the hours of 20:00 and 05:00 each day.

During these essential works it will be necessary to close Sandgate Esplanade completely so that we can carry out the works safely for both the workforce and road users. The diversion route will be via B2063 Hospital Hill, West Road, North Road, Gurkha Way, Military Road and Vice Versa.

We need your help to make sure the work is done as quickly as possible and to the best possible quality. If your vehicle is usually parked on the carriageway, please make sure you park it somewhere else away from the site whilst the works are carried out, so the road is clear for us to resurface.

SoWN-26-06-2023-A259-Sandgate-Esplanade-Sandgate-Folkestone-Hythe-Renewal

Site Location Plan:

Sandgate Esplanade diversion map

If you need more information, you can visit our website www.kent.gov.uk/resurfacingupdates to view our
programme & updates, to find out how we look after the roads throughout Kent or report any faults you find on our roads. You can also view our diversion/permit details at www.one.network. Alternatively, you can call us on 03000 41 81 81 Mon to Fri 09:00 to 17:00. If there are any last-minute changes to the program dates such as poor weather or other factors, these will be advertised via the KCC Website and Social Media Platforms

Posted by Tim Prater in News