Catch up on the latest news from across the county with Gabriel Morris.
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00:00 (upbeat music)
00:02 - Good evening and welcome to Kentonite Live here
00:29 on KMTV.
00:30 I'm Gabriel Morrison here.
00:31 All your top stories on Friday, the 29th of December.
00:35 Feeling the pinch, Gillingham Street Angels fearful
00:38 for the year ahead as they feed a record 25,000 in December.
00:43 - The numbers are just getting worse,
00:45 but the people are struggling.
00:46 It's not just the food.
00:46 That's why we're trying to have a more holistic approach,
00:49 other things we can do to help.
00:50 - A big year to come.
00:52 Medway council leader speaks to KMTV
00:55 on what's to come for politics in 2024.
00:58 (thunder booms)
00:59 And out with a bang.
01:01 We asked Dartford residents their plans
01:03 to see off the end of the year.
01:04 (upbeat music)
01:08 Thursday night, 100,000 people were fed
01:17 by the Gillingham Street Angels this year,
01:19 a record number from the Medway Food Bank
01:22 who say their numbers are skyrocketing every year.
01:25 So far this month, they've fed more than 25,000.
01:28 They started off just helping the homeless,
01:31 but are now helping anyone struggling.
01:33 Sophia Aitken has been taking a look
01:35 into the financial and mental health struggles
01:37 during the holidays,
01:38 and also the pressure of setting New Year's resolutions.
01:42 - This has become a reality
01:44 for thousands across Kent and Medway.
01:46 The Gillingham Street Angels has fed
01:48 more than 100,000 throughout 2023,
01:52 a number they fear will only increase next year.
01:55 - The numbers are just getting worse,
01:57 but the people struggling, it's not just the food.
01:59 That's why we're trying to have a more holistic approach,
02:01 other things we can do to help people.
02:02 Glad that we're getting to these kinds of figures,
02:04 but we're noticing daily the increase in people,
02:07 more people struggling.
02:08 - When the Gillingham Street Angels
02:09 first opened several years ago,
02:11 they were primarily just helping the homeless,
02:13 but now in recent years,
02:14 they found their demand for their service
02:16 only continuing to grow,
02:18 and now they're helping anyone with financial struggles.
02:20 - I mean, without this food here,
02:22 I think I'll struggle because everything is up the roof.
02:26 You know what I mean?
02:27 70 pound a week, that's where I go.
02:28 It's not gonna help me.
02:29 - Things are hard, you know, you get the money you get,
02:32 but you still don't have enough,
02:33 so you have to come down and obviously get what you need.
02:37 - As more and more turn to local food banks,
02:40 it seems there's a struggle to budget,
02:42 not only for the festive season, but for the year ahead.
02:46 - It's a clear idea of exactly what you can afford
02:48 to spend this festive period,
02:50 and that means working out exactly what you've got
02:53 coming in and going out in a typical month,
02:56 but then also crucially,
02:57 not forgetting those less frequent expenses
03:00 that build up over the course of the year.
03:02 You can then really start to plan ahead for next year.
03:05 So you know how much you've spent on this festive period,
03:08 you know, you can put a plan in place
03:09 to start building towards that for next year.
03:11 - But for some, it's not just the financial struggles
03:14 of Christmas and New Year,
03:16 it's the stress of hosting the perfect gathering,
03:19 but also the pressure of sticking to New Year's resolutions.
03:22 A Tunbridge Wells therapist stressed the importance
03:25 of being flexible when it comes to setting goals
03:27 for the year ahead.
03:29 - People are looking forward into January,
03:32 and as we know, it's considered a long, bleak month,
03:35 and perhaps plan those small goals for January
03:38 to help you get through that long month,
03:41 break down the month,
03:43 and have those small achievements that you can aim towards.
03:46 - For those struggling during this time of year,
03:48 Kent County Council offers a number of financial
03:51 and mental health resources,
03:53 and Medway Council's help is also available
03:56 on their website.
03:57 The government also offers support.
04:01 Sophia Akin for KMTV.
04:04 - Now, the King has given approval for William Brown
04:08 to be laid to rest at the Church of St. Mary in Folkestone.
04:12 Seven-year-old William was killed in a hit and run
04:15 earlier this month.
04:16 He often played in the area next to the church,
04:19 and his parents wished for him to be buried there.
04:22 But an order from the Privy Council has meant
04:24 that no burials have taken place at the cemetery since 1855.
04:29 On Christmas Day, his mother travelled four hours
04:31 to St Andrew.
04:32 That's where the royal family attended
04:33 a Christmas Day service,
04:35 and she delivered a personal letter to the King,
04:38 asking for his help.
04:39 Next tonight, a new year is nearly upon us.
04:46 2024 is set to be a big year for politics in Kent,
04:49 and of course, the rest of the UK.
04:51 Many councils are under a financial strain.
04:53 Cuts are gonna have to be made,
04:55 and a general election is more than likely to happen
04:57 at some point.
04:58 Well, the leader of Medway Council joins me
05:00 on the sofa now.
05:02 Vince, thank you so much for joining us
05:03 on Kent Tonight this evening.
05:05 It's been a big 2023 for you,
05:08 elected as the leader of Medway Council,
05:11 and of course, we got this footage at a count back in May.
05:15 (bells ringing)
05:18 What was going through your head at that moment?
05:26 - Well, I'd been up about 25 hours at that point,
05:28 and it was the realisation that after more than 20 years,
05:33 the people of Medway had given us the opportunity
05:36 to serve as their administration,
05:37 which is a privilege,
05:38 and a privilege I never take for granted.
05:40 Every single day, we're working hard
05:42 for the people of Medway,
05:43 and you capturing that footage,
05:45 which literally put Medway on the map across the globe.
05:47 So thank you for being there for that historic moment.
05:50 - That's quite all right.
05:52 Now, in that time,
05:53 there's been a lot of headlines for Medway Council.
05:56 I think top of the pile for you guys going back next year,
06:00 it's gonna be housing.
06:01 We saw Michael Gove essentially giving you a 12-week notice
06:05 for, to get a housing plan in order.
06:07 Is that gonna be possible?
06:08 - Well, look, as families are taking down the tinsel,
06:11 putting the nutcracker away,
06:12 we're getting ready,
06:13 and we've already been working hard on this
06:15 since May the 4th, frankly.
06:16 It's a shame Michael Gove didn't actually look
06:18 at what's been happening in Medway.
06:21 I agree with him.
06:21 It's very frustrating
06:23 that the previous Conservative administration,
06:25 his Conservative colleagues,
06:27 failed to deliver a local plan for Medway.
06:30 We're getting on with the job.
06:31 In our first six months,
06:32 we've already gone through Regulation 18.
06:34 That's the first legal process for a local plan.
06:37 And I thank all the residents
06:38 who have made a contribution to that.
06:40 The work's continuing.
06:42 As we go into 2024,
06:44 and I genuinely hope that Michael Gove
06:46 takes up my invitation to come and see personally
06:49 the work that's happening here in Medway
06:51 with hardworking cabinet members,
06:53 the wider council, hardworking officers.
06:56 Getting on with this job is too important
06:58 to not get on with.
06:59 - Well, the Medway Conservative Party,
07:01 they had tried to do a local plan,
07:02 but I understand the issues which happened last time
07:05 was all about Chatham Docks.
07:07 Is that gonna be an issue for the Labour administration?
07:09 - Well, look, there are always difficult decisions
07:11 with any local plan.
07:12 If you look at other councils across the country,
07:15 when a local plan is brought in,
07:16 most people are a bit unhappy with it.
07:19 And that's likely to be the case here in Medway.
07:21 It's very difficult with a strategic document
07:24 of that nature when you've got to take difficult decisions
07:27 that you're gonna have,
07:28 it'll be difficult to please all the people all the time,
07:30 as they say.
07:31 - Will houses be built on Chatham Docks?
07:33 - Well, look, I've said since the election,
07:34 I wanna get the owners, Peel,
07:38 and I wanna get the current operators, Mittal, into a room.
07:41 It looks as if the diaries are gonna work for January.
07:44 I'm really pleased that they've both agreed
07:46 to come into that meeting.
07:47 And we'll see what the art of the possible is.
07:49 I don't know the outcomes of that meeting yet,
07:51 'cause we haven't had it,
07:52 but the fact that both sides have agreed,
07:54 compared to the previous council leader
07:56 who refused to reply to a letter for 18 months,
08:00 where again, we're getting on with the job.
08:01 We're getting people in the room trying to facilitate
08:03 a forward plan on that particular issue,
08:05 of which there are many across Medway.
08:06 - Well, he's not here to defend himself,
08:08 but let's talk about your administration,
08:10 a projected 12 million overspent this year.
08:14 Are Medway residents gonna see cuts
08:15 in the coming months and years?
08:17 - Look, we inherited a really difficult financial situation,
08:20 not helped, of course, because of the 91% cut
08:23 in the government's revenue support grants
08:25 in Medway since 2010.
08:27 We've already got that figure down
08:28 from 17 million to 12 million.
08:30 We've had to take some difficult decisions,
08:32 as we've talked about here on KMTV.
08:35 But the thing we were charged to do back on May the 4th
08:39 was to deliver a positive outcome for Medway.
08:42 But that does mean taking difficult political decisions.
08:45 That's what we've been entrusted to do,
08:47 and that's what we're gonna get on with between now
08:49 and certainly February the 29th,
08:51 when we'll deliver the first labour
08:53 and cooperative budget for Medway.
08:55 - And finally, general election,
08:57 more than likely to happen issue.
08:58 What do you think are gonna be the big election issues
09:00 for Medway residents?
09:02 - Well, we know from talking to residents on the doorstep,
09:04 the cost of living crisis is huge,
09:06 and actually people are seeing the desperation for a change.
09:10 They're fed up with the chaos they've seen
09:11 from Liz Truss and Boris Johnson.
09:13 Rishi Sunak hasn't helped that.
09:15 So when we brought Keir down to Medway,
09:17 he was well-received,
09:19 and I think we'll see more of that as we move through.
09:21 But cost of living is impacting
09:22 on every household across Medway.
09:25 - Vince, thank you so much for your time this evening.
09:28 Well, a GP practice in Giningham,
09:31 which cares for thousands of patients,
09:33 has been placed into special measures.
09:36 Medway Medical Centre has now been downgraded
09:38 from good to inadequate following
09:40 an unannounced inspection triggered
09:42 by whistleblowing concerns.
09:44 Medway Medical Centre says they take
09:46 the CQC's findings very seriously
09:48 and have already made urgent changes.
09:51 And now, gusts of up to 75 miles per hour winds
09:55 are set to batter the Kent coast
09:57 as another yellow weather wind warning has been issued.
10:00 Well, do take care if you're out and about this weekend.
10:02 That alert comes into force at 11am tomorrow morning,
10:05 in place to 3am on Sunday.
10:07 Travel disruption is to be expected,
10:09 and plenty of rain too.
10:12 Well, let's find out what's in store for this weekend,
10:14 and of course, the new year with the weather forecast.
10:16 Going into this evening, clear skies for most of the county,
10:25 lows of six, highs of seven in Dover.
10:28 Tomorrow morning, we'll be waking up to rain
10:30 across much of the county,
10:32 a couple of sunny spouts down in Folkestone.
10:35 This is what the afternoon looks like.
10:36 Largely dry winds are picking up though.
10:40 And this is what the weekend outlook looks like.
10:42 We're going to be waking up to a lot of rain on New Year's Day,
10:47 but it's looking to be a little bit sunny on Tuesday.
10:49 Well, we've heard what's in store for politics next year,
10:59 but what are you going to be doing to celebrate the new year?
11:01 We've been asking people in Dartford.
11:04 New year, nope, staying in.
11:06 Too many children to be able to go out anymore.
11:08 I generally avoid travelling over the holidays at all,
11:12 but I'm really fortunate.
11:13 Got lots of family, they're all very local, nice and close.
11:16 Just keeping it local, keeping it small,
11:19 seeing family where we can, a few walks,
11:21 and yeah, just keeping it quiet one this year.
11:24 What are both of your plans over New Year?
11:27 Revising for exams.
11:30 Yeah, say nothing interesting, unfortunately.
11:32 I'd love a break with the children,
11:35 and the grandchildren.
11:36 What are you doing between Christmas and New Year?
11:38 Nothing.
11:40 Not at all.
11:42 Well, thank you for being with us this year on Caine TV for 2023.
11:46 That's all from us this evening.
11:47 Have a happy new year.
11:48 We'll see you next year.
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