Council Talk

I’m sure many of our residents would have been comforted, as I was, by reading that Kent Police has been rated as the only outstanding police force out of the 43 assessed by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary. Ashford Borough Council, working with the police and other agencies, is making a real difference to improving community safety. Our recent annual report showed just how successful the Ashford Community Safety Partnership has been; it demonstrates the importance placed on reducing anti-social behaviour. The number of incidents reported continues to decrease, and Ashford has the lowest volume of reported anti-social behaviour in the county.

There are a number of excellent initiatives that are supporting the partnerships’ aims, and one of these is the domestic abuse one-stop shop service. As an increasing number of victims are gaining confidence to come forward, demand has continued to rise. In 2014, ABC dedicated significant funds to strengthen our support (including the appointment of a domestic violence coordinator).

The annual report highlights the positive impact this funding has had on the way services are working together to deal with those in need. Ashford’s one-stop shop has developed an excellent reputation for its strong partner links, and is one of the most effective in the county.

Unfortunately, and in spite of our very best efforts to persuade people to use the bins provided, we still continue to see too much littering. We will, therefore, be taking further action to assist in making our borough more inviting and welcoming – watch this space.

ABC has a new chief executive following the approval of the appointment of Tracey Kerly.

Having worked closely with Tracey over a number of years, I know she is the right person to facilitate a seamless transition and to continue to drive forward the good progress the council is making on a range of projects set to improve further still the economy of Ashford.

I applaud Ashford United’s exploits in the FA Vase competition. They have helped to put the club on the football map, and while they did not make it to the final, everyone involved should be very proud of their achievements. I wish them continued success in the future.