What steps is the Council taking to tackle deprivation?
Date: Thursday 5, February 2026
Name: Mr C
Following the release of the latest Indices of Multiple Deprivation, it is clear that there are pockets of Faversham experiencing some of the highest levels of deprivation in the country. The data indicates that a key driver locally is barriers to employment.
Can the Leader please set out what funding, programmes, or practical support Swale Borough Council currently has available (directly or via partners) to improve employability, skills, and access to work for residents in these areas—and what additional steps the Council is considering to help tackle deprivation linked to employment barriers?
Show/hide the answer to 'What steps is the Council taking to tackle deprivation?'The councils Empowering You in Swale Strategy aims to direct services within 4 priority delivery areas, including Priority 1, Creating skilled, educated and working communities. This work includes delivery of strategic collaboration with partners from DWP, ICB & Public Health, the local voluntary and community sector, schools, education systems and many wider partners to target resources and funding where it is needed, all underpinned by evidence such as the IOMD data and various other data sources.
Specific projects delivered include (funded by UK Shared Prosperity Fund), multiple organisations in Swale to deliver targeted projects to support those furthest away from the job market to build confidence, resilience and increase learning and skills (see attached report. In addition, dedicated UKSP funding is provided to support young people in the borough who are Not in Education Employment or Training (NEET) to develop the confidence and skills to either return to education or seek work.
Swales Cost of Living Group, has a long standing record of delivering collaborative work across the borough to tackle poverty, including collaboratively delivering the Household Support Fund, One Swale Roadshows, targeted benefit uptake campaigns, and a variety of other interventions and work.
We are a Marmot Coastal Program location and are working closely with our partners in health to support wider links for skills and work through and the wider determinants of health. In November last year we held a Youth Democracy Event which successfully engaged young people from across the borough and promoted a variety of work and skills programs including apprenticeships, work experience and a wider understanding of the council and its role.
You can
download the Swale Voluntary Alliance People and Skills final report.
Flag displays in Faversham
Date: Saturday 6, September 2025
Name: Mrs P
I would like to ask when the flags will be removed from around Faversham town centre - they are not representative of many Faversham residents and have been put up without authorisation. They are fostering an atmosphere of hate and create an unwelcoming vibe for locals and visitors alike.
Show/hide the answer to 'Flag displays in Faversham'Thank you for writing to share your concerns. I want to assure you that both I and the Borough Council are very aware of the issue of flags being raised in Faversham and across our borough and we fully understand the strength of feeling this has caused in our community. Let me be clear, Faversham is a welcoming town, and there is no place here for racism, hate, or intimidation of any kind. What you describe here does not in anyway represent what we want for our town or wider borough.
In this particular case, majority of the flags have been placed on a lampposts, or highway assets and the responsibility lies with Kent County Council as the highways authority. I will raise the matter with them as they are the body able to take direct action regarding unauthorised use of their infrastructure.
In terms of Swale Borough Council matters, Graffiti in public spaces will continue to be managed in line with our existing policy. Offensive graffiti will be removed within 48 hours of being reported, either by our Environmental Response Team (ERT) or through a case raised with our contractors Suez, depending on the location and severity.
- Flags in conservation areas are not subject to additional controls beyond the standard regulations, such as restrictions on the height of any characters displayed
- Flags placed on council-owned assets may be removed on a case-by-case basis, particularly if they pose a safety risk or obstruct CCTV cameras
- Flags flown on council buildings or flagpoles such as the Union Flag at Swale House will remain unchanged. These are only altered for specific occasions, such as St George’s Day or significant national events like major sporting achievements or war commemorations
It is also worth highlighting that where flags are erected on private property we have no jurisdiction over them unfortunately.
I want to acknowledge the personal impact this situation is having on our residents including yourself. No one should feel embarrassed, unsafe, or unwelcome in their own town. Our priority is to work with partners to restore confidence in Faversham as a safe and inclusive place for everyone and in closing I want to thank you again for raising your concerns and for speaking up about the values that truly reflect our community. Tourist signage
Date: Tuesday 2, September 2025
Name: Mr K
I would like to know the exact cost of the 4? new tourist signs (with a street map of Faversham) which have been erected in Faversham. It is part of your “Way Finding Project”,and although I have been in touch with Cllr Charles Gibson he has not been able to answer my question.
Show/hide the answer to 'Tourist signage'I have consulted with my colleagues, and I can confirm that the Council awarded £80,000 to Faversham Town Council on phase 2 of the wayfinding project, with a further £6083 paid directly by Swale Borough Council for planning fees.
Our current understanding of the breakdown of costs associated the project, is based on those provided at the planning stage, set out below.
£59,830 manufacture and installation of the signage
£6,660 other project costs including surveys, sample and transport costs.
£25,760 for planning fees, including highways approvals, design and procurement costs and management of the project
These come to a higher figure than the money awarded and paid directly by Swale Borough Council, as the project was subject to change. The money provided to the project through Swale Borough Council was made available by Central Government under the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and Rural Prosperity Fund and monitoring of its delivery will indicate the precise final figures. Many thanks Money and budgets
Date: Wednesday 13, August 2025
Name: Mr E
The council are always complaining about wasting money trying to be green and to be more efficient and proactive. If that is truly the case I can prove you are not on any and all of the above in one instance. Today a refuse lorry came to take our black refuse sacks & food waste. However, their truck was incapable of taking food waste, which means a second collection will now be necessary to collect it. This will therefore mean more wages for doing the job twice, pollution & congestion caused by a second vehicle doing the whole route again. Totally inefficient and causing disruption & countless calls from your residents to report the issue. So therefore head office staff time also wasted viewing submitted email reporting (I assume they are looked at and logged)
Show/hide the answer to 'Money and budgets'Thank you for your question to the Leader regarding our waste service.
We have investigated the points you have raised below with our contractor who has advised that they are unaware of any issues with collections in Winstanley Road this week. The crew that collect your refuse/recycling do have a separate food compartment and were tasked with collecting both refuse and food waste this week (separately but in the same vehicle).
As you have advised, the most efficient way of carrying out waste collections is with a one pass vehicle with the facility to collect both waste streams separately and this is the type of vehicle that is used for waste collections across the borough. On a few rare occasions there have been vehicle issues that have prevented the food waste from being collected with the refuse or recycling, which will unfortunately result in a smaller vehicle following the crew to collect the food waste, however this is very rare and we have been advised there were no reports of any issues from the crews during this week’s collection. We also have not received any other reports of food waste not being collected with the refuse in Winstanley Road this week.
I have asked that this is investigated further with the crew and ensure any issues are resolved quickly to avoid any recurrence.
We are truly sorry that you have experienced an issue that has led you to make a complaint. We understand that raising concerns can be frustrating, and we appreciate you taking the time to let us know.
If you have any further issues and to ensure your complaint is handled efficiently and directed to the appropriate team, we kindly ask that you submit a service request. This helps us gather all the necessary information and ensures the matter is properly recorded and investigated.
You can submit a request by:
Using one of these methods will automatically assign the task to the relevant officer, generate a reference number, and allow us to begin addressing the issue promptly.
We appreciate your cooperation and understanding and thank you again for bringing this to our attention. Many thanks Website improvements
Date: Monday 8, September 2025
Name: Mr D
Could you make your website easier because I have and my mother have tried to inform you of problems from leaning lights damage road signs cars left to rot in front of houses pollution mice rats overgrown trees and although I have tried to request from each independent department nothing has happened it would be easier if we could just ask a simple AI has they are largely available now and that we'd be sent directly to the system or person who can talk about this and then inform the people that need to be informed about the problem it would lower the costs of people spending time treating this questions would be more efficient and would also make it a lot easier for the elderly and potentially save the council money in the long run because the information could be saved and cross examined during one or twice a month so that you will get a global picture of the problem areas or potential ways to make things better and more productive with the limited funding that you have
Show/hide the answer to 'Website improvements'Thank you for your question to the Leader.
We’re sorry to hear that you’ve encountered difficulties when trying to report issues. We understand how frustrating this can be and appreciate you taking the time to share your concerns.
To ensure your query is directed to the appropriate team and handled efficiently, we kindly customers to submit a service request. This allows us to gather all the necessary information, assign the matter to the relevant officer or department, and begin investigating promptly. It also generates a reference number for tracking purposes.
The customer services team will also be able to signpost to the relevant service if not within the remit of Swale Borough Council.
You can submit a request by:
We appreciate your feedback and your suggestions regarding accessibility and efficiency. These are important considerations, especially for residents who may find current systems challenging.
Your comments will be shared with the relevant teams for review.
Thank you again for raising this with us. Milton Recreation Ground
Date: Sunday 3, August 2025
Name: Mr W
I see once again that Milton Recreation Ground has been invaded by 30 or more traveller’s caravans plus cars and vans. The cars and vans are being driven willy nilly over the entire Recreation Ground and in particular are being used as transport to the large sycamore tree by the back gardens of houses in Worcester Drive, where the occupants decamp and urinate and/ or defecate under the tree just where children love to play.
Please can you advise me what steps the Council are taking to have the travellers removed, and then to prevent them from returning. It must cost the Council thousands of pounds of money which we the residents have supplied to clear the mess that is left behind.
Show/hide the answer to 'Milton Recreation Ground'Thank you for reporting regarding the recent incursion to us at Milton Rec.
I can confirm that the Environmental Response Department is following the nationally set procedures, starting with a welfare visit today to ascertain what action we need to take. This will likely lead to us issuing a notice to leave, which if not complied with, then will result in the Council seeking the magistrate’s permission to remove them from our land.
In accordance with standard procedure, we provide waste bags to promote site cleanliness and to reinforce the importance of maintaining hygienic conditions.
The Council is currently investigating further restrictive measures at Milton Rec to try and reduce ongoing spend. Naming of a footpath in Faversham
Date: Monday 28, July 2025
Name: Mr S
Can you please tell me why the Faversham Town Council have asked Swale Borough Council to issue an order under the Public Health Act 1925 Section 18 to name a footpath in Faversham that has a perfectly good name and has done so for generations !
Show/hide the answer to 'Naming of a footpath in Faversham'Thank you for your request to ‘Ask the Leader’. We have been asked to name a path in Faversham because it has never had a name and an elderly resident in Faversham contacted Faversham Town Council some time ago and said that it would be nice to call the path Queen Matilda Path after the wife of King Stephen who lived in Faversham in the12th Century.
This process of naming a path or road with no name is a simple process and I can assure you we are not renaming any path. We are adhering to the request of one of our Town Councils who, in turn has considered the request of a Faversham Resident. 
