Local Authority
@localauthority.news
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Award-winning independent news for Medway Subscribe for free at
https://www.localauthority.news/
Medway will balance its budget again, but only just. Today we look at what a 'balanced' budget really means, why Exceptional Financial Support still underpins the numbers, and how much resilience the council actually has going forward.
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Medway’s budget holds the line for another year
What a balanced budget does - and doesn’t - say about Medway’s finances
https://www.localauthority.news/medways-budget-holds-the-line-for-another-year/
2 days ago
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The Isle of Grain has one road in and out. Next month, it closes for 29 hours. We look at what that means for a village of 1,700 people, why a promised tree in Hoo was felled anyway, and what the latest rail stats say about Medway. Our full briefing:
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When the only road closes
A village cut off, a tree felled in Hoo, and new rail usage figures for Medway
https://www.localauthority.news/when-the-only-road-closes/
8 days ago
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Ed is live tweeting (or blooting or whatever) tonight's full Medway Council meeting.
add a skeleton here at some point
14 days ago
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Medway’s full council meets this week to decide where it draws the line on intimidation at council meetings, as changes to the constitution shrink the voice of smaller political groups. Plus the reality behind Medway hospital’s 74,000-strong waiting list.
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What kind of democracy does Medway want?
Scrutiny, civility, and basic democratic questions are on this week's agenda. Plus a look at NHS waiting lists at Medway.
https://www.localauthority.news/what-kind-of-democracy-does-medway-want/
15 days ago
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After years of legal battles, the fight over Chatham Docks has reached a turning point. The High Court has dismissed ArcelorMittal’s challenge, clearing the way for Peel Waters’ long-planned redevelopment of Basin 3.
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High Court clears the way for Chatham Docks redevelopment
What the ruling means for Medway, what’s coming up at Medway council, and everything else you need to know this weekend
https://www.localauthority.news/high-court-clears-the-way-for-chatham-docks-redevelopment/
17 days ago
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Medway’s Local Plan has gone to inspection, with formal objections from two Labour councillors in the ruling administration, who warn it is unsound and not legally compliant. Plus Ofsted on children’s services and Medway on standby as Kent’s water network came under strain.
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Labour councillors raise red flags over Medway’s Local Plan
Plus Ofsted’s inspection of children’s services and Medway’s on alert Kent’s water network comes under strain
https://www.localauthority.news/labour-councillors-raise-red-flags-over-medways-local-plan/
23 days ago
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Hoo’s Christmas lights were so disappointing that Medway Council has cancelled the invoice to the parish. The council says its festive lighting stock is “extremely limited” after years of under-investment, and the programme relies on sponsorship to have any lights at all.
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The Christmas lights so rubbish even Medway Council wouldn’t charge for them
Plus council business, planning applications, a £700,000 house behind the walls of Kitchener Barracks, what’s on this week and the weekend’s sport.
https://www.localauthority.news/the-christmas-lights-so-rubbish-even-medway-council-wouldnt-charge-for-them/
24 days ago
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Our weekend interview is with Jack Packman, the new CEO of Medway Voluntary Action, on what MVA does, the pressures facing the voluntary sector, and why he says he doesn’t sit on boards to be important.
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“I don’t sit on boards to be important”
What Steven asked Jack Packman, CEO of Medway Voluntary Action
https://www.localauthority.news/i-dont-sit-on-boards-to-be-important/
about 1 month ago
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Our interview this week is with Philip Hesketh, Dean of Rochester, on what it costs to keep Rochester Cathedral running, how the church works in practice, and why “people are always searching for something."
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“People are always searching for something”
What Steven asked the Philip Hesketh, Dean of Rochester
https://www.localauthority.news/people-are-always-searching-for-something/
about 2 months ago
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Hopefully you won't notice much difference, but today, we have left Substack and migrated our work to Ghost. Read more about why we've done it here:
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Local Authority has a new home
We’ve moved, but nothing should change for most of you.
https://www.localauthority.news/local-authority-has-a-new-home/
about 2 months ago
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New interview: Musician Pete Molinari went from recording his first album in Billy Childish’s house to performing globally and working with some of the biggest names in music. Now living in LA, he spoke to us about leaving Medway, recording with Childish, performing with Yoko Ono, and lots more.
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“I did everything I could to get out of Chatham”
What Steven asked musician Pete Molinari
https://www.localauthority.news/p/i-did-everything-i-could-to-get-out
about 2 months ago
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🚑 Ambulance service criticised after secret Medway filming 🏥 Inspection finds Medway A&E still not good enough 💷 Councillor allowances admin error 🗞️ News in brief, and more
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Ambulance service criticised after secret Medway filming
Plus inspection finds Medway A&E still not good enough, councillor allowances admin errors, news in brief, and more
https://www.localauthority.news/p/ambulance-service-criticised-after
2 months ago
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Cllr Louwella Prenter speaks to us about housing, homelessness, Love Gillingham and why being a YIMBY doesn’t mean harming the local environment. This week’s Sunday interview:
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“A YIMBY doesn’t mean you’re ruining the local environment”
What Steven asked Cllr Louwella Prenter, Medway Council Portfolio Holder for Housing and Homelessness.
https://www.localauthority.news/p/a-yimby-doesnt-mean-youre-ruining
2 months ago
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reposted by
Local Authority
Richard Brooks
2 months ago
I really enjoyed this excellent and very timely article on the Medway Towns’ many lost pubs, by Chris de Coulon Berthoud, and published by
@localauthority.news
#Bskybeer
#Beersky
open.substack.com/pub/localaut...
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The ghosts of a working-class landscape
Plus a proper Christmas for care leavers, new High Span album, our weekly events guide, and more
https://open.substack.com/pub/localauthority/p/the-ghosts-of-a-working-class-landscape?r=omxtf&utm_medium=ios
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Record label
@spinoutnuggets.bsky.social
have released some of the best Medway music of the last decade. Steven met owner and DJ Lee Grimshaw to discuss why he set up the label, how he came to release the latest 5.6.7.8’s single, and what counts as success in the modern music business.
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"Success is doing it in the first place"
What Steven asked Lee Grimshaw, owner of record label Spinout Nuggets
https://www.localauthority.news/p/success-is-doing-it-in-the-first
2 months ago
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🛍️ Gillingham Street Angels has closed. What comes next? 🗳️ Politics latest ⛪ St. John's Church reopens 🗞️ News in brief, and more
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GSA has closed. What comes next?
Plus politics latest, St. John's Church reopens, news in brief, and more
https://www.localauthority.news/p/gsa-has-closed-what-comes-next
2 months ago
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📮 We've launched something different: A pen pal scheme between Medway and a tiny village called Port Medway in Nova Scotia, Canada. Learn more about the project and how to get involved here 👇
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Connecting two Medways
A new pen pal project linking Medway and Port Medway, one handwritten letter at a time
https://www.localauthority.news/p/connecting-two-medways
2 months ago
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In our latest column by Kent Police and Crime Commissioner Matthew Scott, he talks about his Annual Policing Survey, the Police Property Fund, and the Safer Streets initiative.
www.localauthority.news/p/voice-of-t...
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Voice of the Police and Crime Commissioner
Matthew Scott on his Annual Policing Survey, the Police Property Fund, and the Safer Streets initiative
https://www.localauthority.news/p/voice-of-the-police-and-crime-commissioner-a11
3 months ago
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🤏 Medway shrinks its democracy 📍 4D for the future 👨⚕️ Medway to build care home 🗣️ Spalding censured 🗞️ News in brief, and more
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Medway shrinks its democracy
Plus 4D to the future, Medway to build a care home, Spalding censured, news in brief, and more
https://www.localauthority.news/p/medway-shrinks-its-democracy
3 months ago
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Tonight's full Medway Council meeting is underway.
@edjennings.bsky.social
is covering it live.
add a skeleton here at some point
3 months ago
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🏴 Flags down 💷 Medway still struggling to balance the books 📚 Strood Library finally gets a new lift 🗞️ News in brief, and more
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Flags down
Plus Medway still struggling to balance the books, Strood Library finally getting a new lift, news in brief, and more
https://www.localauthority.news/p/flags-down
3 months ago
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⛺ Medway Streets Angels are not closing ⚽ Gills latest ✉️ The Silent Postman 🎸 adults at Poco Loco 🎟️ Our weekly events guide 🗞️ News in brief, and more
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Medway Street Angels are not closing
Plus Gills latest, the Silent Postman, adults at Poco Loco, our weekly events guide, news in brief, and more
https://localauthority.substack.com/p/medway-street-angels-are-not-closing
3 months ago
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🔐 Gillingham Street Angels suddenly announces closure 🔵 Conservative defects from Conservatives to Conservatives 🏴 The latest flag-off 🗞️ News in brief, and more
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Gillingham Street Angels suddenly announces closure
Plus Conservative defects from Conservatives to Conservatives, the latest flag stand-off, news in brief, and more
https://www.localauthority.news/p/gillingham-street-angels-suddenly
3 months ago
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📚 Medway River Lit returns 🧑🎨 Requiem for a hoodie 🪕 New Singing Loins album 🎨 Give art a second chance 🎟️ Our weekly events guide, and more
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Medway River Lit returns
Plus requiem for a hoodie, new Singing Loins album, give art a second chance, our weekly events guide, and more
https://www.localauthority.news/p/medway-river-lit-returns
3 months ago
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From Militant to TUSC and now Your Party, Chas Berry, who has long been at the forefront of leftist politics in Medway. We talk to him about his journey, leaving Labour, his hopes for the new party, and lots more.
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“I still support the idea of revolutionary change”
What Steven asked Chas Berry, socialist and coordinator for Your Party Medway
https://www.localauthority.news/p/i-still-support-the-idea-of-revolutionary
3 months ago
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🗣️ Kent and Medway's relationship seems increasingly strained 🏴 Anti-immigration march for this weekend is off 🗞️ News in brief, and more
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Kent and Medway's relationship seems increasingly strained
How a plan to save Kent’s tourism voice became another casualty of Reform’s chaos. Plus
https://www.localauthority.news/p/kent-and-medways-relationship-seems
3 months ago
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🇺🇳 Medway marks 80 years of the UN 🪕 Music supergroup South Shore launches crowdfunder 🎭 Play by Medway creatives reaches the London stage 🎟️ Our weekly events guide, and more
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Medway marks 80 years of the UN
Plus crowdfunder launched for Medway supergroup, we review the Flowers of Srebrenica on stage, our weekly events guide, and more
https://www.localauthority.news/p/medway-marks-80-years-of-the-un
3 months ago
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We've shared lots more photos from Saturday's UKIP march and counter-protest in Rochester over on our Instagram:
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localauthoritynews on Instagram: "More photos from Saturday’s UKIP march and counter-protest in Rochester. All photos: Authority Media.🔗 Link to full coverage in bi…"
More photos from Saturday’s UKIP march and counter-protest in Rochester. All photos: Authority Media.🔗 Link to full coverage in bio/story.
https://www.instagram.com/p/DQHFOupiDOl/
4 months ago
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📣 UKIP's march on Rochester fails to find an audience 🗣️ Medway Council meeting comes to an abrupt end 📸 The return of Rehman 🗞️ News in brief, and more
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A protest in search of a crowd
Plus Medway Council meeting comes to an abrupt end, the return of Rehman, news in brief, and more
https://localauthority.substack.com/p/a-protest-in-search-of-a-crowd
4 months ago
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For our weekend interview, we sat down with David Cramer Smith, the author of Medway: A Novel. They discuss growing up in Medway and moving away, a possible sequel, mushrooms, and lots more.
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"Don’t take advice from me. Don’t do it my way."
What Steven asked David Cramer Smith, the author of Medway: A Novel
https://www.localauthority.news/p/dont-take-advice-from-me-dont-do
4 months ago
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🕌 Faith, safety and human connection in Medway 🗼 New EP links Tokyo and Chatham 🍲 We review the Royal Crown 🎟️ Our weekly events guide 🗞️ News in brief, and more
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Faith, safety and human connection
Plus new EP links Tokyo and Chatham, we review the Royal Crown, events this week, and more
https://www.localauthority.news/p/faith-safety-and-human-connection
4 months ago
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🧱 Labour office vandalised amid rising tensions 🗣️ A stacked full council agenda 📣 The latest Medway Matters Live 🪧 UKIP return to Rochester 🗞️ News in brief, and more
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Labour office vandalised amid rising tensions
Plus it's full council o'clock, the latest Medway Matters Live, and UKIP return to Rochester
https://www.localauthority.news/p/labour-office-vandalised-amid-rising
4 months ago
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Can Medway make you happy? It's an idea we're keen to explore with our new live event concept. Find out how to get involved 👇
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Can Medway make you happy?
A new live forum for real conversation and real action on Medway’s future
https://www.localauthority.news/p/can-medway-make-you-happy
4 months ago
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➡️ Princes Park councillor defects to Reform 🕍 Faith and fear in Medway's Jewish community 🗞️ News in brief, and more
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Princes Park councillor defects to Reform
Plus faith and fear in Medway’s Jewish community, news in brief, and more
https://www.localauthority.news/p/princes-park-councillor-defects-to
4 months ago
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reposted by
Local Authority
Ed Jennings
4 months ago
Multiple Conservative councillors in Kent are defecting to Reform today. Cllr Robbie Lammas in Medway, a former staffer to Richard Holden, has jumped. Cllr Gary Harding, Cllr David Beattie, Cllr Emma Elliott, and Cllr Aaron Elliott in Gravesham defected en masse this morning in Gravesham.
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🏴 As the far-right plots two protests for Medway, just how seriously should we be taking them? 📍 Medway's lonely reorganisation 🗞️ News in brief, and more.
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Marching orders
The far-right plot two protests for Medway. Plus Medway's lonely reorganisation to be examined, news in brief, and more
https://www.localauthority.news/p/marching-orders
4 months ago
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🎖️ Medway's overlooked treasure trove of military history 🗣️ Glassbox lecture casts a spell 🥓 We review Piggyz 🎟️ Our weekly events guide 🗞️ News in brief, and more
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Medway’s overlooked treasure trove of military history
Plus Glassbox lecture casts a spell, we review Piggyz, our weekly events guide, and more
https://www.localauthority.news/p/medways-overlooked-treasure-trove
4 months ago
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As ministers demand fewer, bigger councils, Kent’s authorities struggle to agree on who goes where. Bob Collins digs into what's going on and where Medway might end up.
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North Kent or nowhere?
As ministers demand fewer, bigger councils, Kent’s authorities struggle to agree on who goes where
https://www.localauthority.news/p/north-kent-or-nowhere
4 months ago
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🏴 Council pledges to remove Medway's lamppost flags 🧑💻 Medway integrates more AI into services 🏗️ Brownfield scheme gets funding boost 🗞️ News in brief, and more
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Council pledges to remove Medway’s lamppost flags
Plus AI to the rescue, brownfield scheme gets funding boost, news in brief, and more
https://www.localauthority.news/p/council-pledges-to-remove-medways
5 months ago
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⛵ Barges find new life on the Medway ⚓ Festival of Chatham Reach returns ➡️ Reform school latest 🚜 Farmers' market turns 25 🐟 We review Fish at 55 🎟️ Our weekly events guide 🗞️ News in brief, and more
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Barges find new life on the Medway
Plus Festival of Chatham Reach returns, Reform school latest, farmers' market turns 25, we review Fish at 55, our weekly events guide, news in brief, and more
https://localauthority.substack.com/p/barges-find-new-life-on-the-medway
5 months ago
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A Medway school is giving away a Reform football shirt as part of an essay writing contest on how the party has 'obliterated' the two-party system. They say this is all normal, and they do this for all parties. Students, parents, and other politicians disagree. Our exclusive story:
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Farage football shirt offered as essay prize in Medway school
Plus Medway MP gets promoted and hears from the worst people, news in brief, and more
https://www.localauthority.news/p/farage-football-shirt-offered-as
5 months ago
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🎭 From page to stage - Medway author's book on Bosnian genocide is adapted into play 🎸 Theatre Royal at Three Sheets to the Wind 🍣 We review Boba Tigers 🎟️ Our weekly events guide 🗞️ News in brief, and more
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From page to stage
Plus Theatre Royal at Three Sheets, we review Boba Tigers, our weekly events guide, news in brief, and more
https://www.localauthority.news/p/from-page-to-stage
5 months ago
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reposted by
Local Authority
Stuart Bourne 🌷🌱
5 months ago
My latest article for
@localauthority.news
is now out, and you can read it here:
open.substack.com/pub/localaut...
🌱
#Gardening
#UKGardening
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Autumn arrives early
How to adapt our gardens to climate change, Medway's lack of allotments, a perfect Medway park for autumn, and more
https://open.substack.com/pub/localauthority/p/autumn-arrives-early?r=qlgnf&utm_medium=ios
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🏠 The fight over Medway's HMOs 📍 Two Kent maps left standing 🏴 MP supports flag erections 🗞️ News in brief, and more
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The fight over Medway’s HMOs
Plus two Kent maps left standing, MP supports flag erections, news in brief, and more
https://www.localauthority.news/p/the-fight-over-medways-hmos
5 months ago
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⚽ Gillingham are top of the league, but can it last? 🗳️ Results from yesterday's Grain by-election 🎟️ Our weekly events guide 🗞️ News in brief, and more
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Top of the league
Plus a parish council by-election special, our weekly events guide, news in brief, and more
https://localauthority.substack.com/p/top-of-the-league
5 months ago
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🗣️ Councillor found to have bullied nursery boss insists 'all is not as it seems' 🗳️ Democracy on a rota 🏴 Flag wars keep raging 🗞️ News in brief, and more
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Councillor found to have bullied nursery boss insists ‘all is not as it seems’
Plus democracy on a rota, flag wars keep going, news in brief, and more
https://www.localauthority.news/p/councillor-found-to-have-bullied
5 months ago
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For our weekend interview, Steven sat down with Phil Bungay and Martin Nagler of the Medway Neurological Network. They talk about their respective conditions, the upcoming conference Neuro-Tech 25 in Medway, and the work of the network.
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“The times I've been accused of being drunk is unbelievable”
What Steven asked Phil Bungay and Martin Nadler of the Medway Neurological Network
https://www.localauthority.news/p/the-times-ive-been-accused-of-being
5 months ago
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🎭 Playtime for grown-ups - how one organisation is encouraging creativity through improv 🏗️ The bridge trust helping students into engineering 🎟️ Our weekly events guide 🗞️ News in brief, and more
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Playtime for grown-ups
Plus helping students into engineering, our weekly events guide, news in brief, and more
https://www.localauthority.news/p/playtime-for-grown-ups
5 months ago
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In the latest in our series of columns by Medway's elected representatives, Gillingham and Rainham MP
@naushabahkhanmp.bsky.social
writes for us about flags, the challenges facing the constituency, and work to regenerate town centres.
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Voice of the MP - Gillingham and Rainham
Naushabah Khan MP on flags, the challenges facing the constituency, and work to regenerate town centres
https://www.localauthority.news/p/voice-of-the-mp-gillingham-and-rainham-6ad
5 months ago
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🏴 We have to talk about flags, apparently 💸 Medway debt surges 36% in a year 🏢 Council staff happy with pay but other problems linger 🗞️ News in brief, and more
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Flags, apparently
Plus Medway debt surges 36% in a year, Council staff happy with pay but other problems linger, news in brief, and more
https://www.localauthority.news/p/flags-apparently
5 months ago
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