News

Booking for the free 2011 Kent and Medway Funding Fair on 13th April at The Folkestone Academy, Folkestone is now open.

A proposed £170 state pension for single people and £300 for couples together with free social care has been announced.

Former Saga boss Roger De Haan and brother Peter have made it into the top 50 of the 2009 Sunday Times Rich List.
 

By Jenny Barraclough

In these times of financial uncertainty, you may be interested in visiting the financial help and advice surgery in Capel-le Ferne on Tuesday, 14th April between 10.00 am. and 12.30 pm.

The average salary in Britain has increased by 21 per cent to more than £31,000 in five years, according to a new survey by the Halifax, and people in Shepway have seen some of the fastest rising salaries in the country.

Salaries for full-time workers across the country have increased by £5,561, from £25,939 in 2003 to £31,500 today.

Shepway saw the third fastest rise in the country behind Thanet and Havering in London.

Those working on the Isle of Thanet have seen their annual pay packet grow 60 per cent from £18,769 in 2003 to today's figure of £29,956.

Workers in Havering in London recorded the second highest growth rate, 55 per cent, followed by Shepway with 47 per cent.

But when it comes to actual earnings, workers in the city of London top the list with average annual salaries of £82,084, according to the survey.

However, there are vast regional differences.

Martin Ellis, chief economist at Halifax, said: "Average earnings in Great Britain have risen by more than retail prices over the past five years, indicating an increase in living standards for the typical worker.

"The biggest rises have been concentrated in a fairly limited number of local authorities in southern England."

The following statement has been issued by Dover District Council after it was revealed the council had deposited £1m in the Icelandic bank, Landsbanki.

Eleven months ago Dover District Council made a fixed term deposit with Landsbanki for 1 year. At the time Landsbanki had a high credit rating and the deposit was made as part of the normal Treasury Management operations of the Council. The deposit was £1 million. This is a relatively small proportion (4%) of the Council's total investments and the Council is working to ensure that it will not have any immediate impact on services. It is also stressed that these monies are at risk rather than confirmed as lost. Nonetheless, the potential loss of this investment is a very serious matter for the Council Tax payers of the District.

The Chancellor has announced that he will protect investors who have lost money through Icesave, the retail banking arm of Landsbanki. The Local Government Association has released a statement urging the Chancellor to assist the many Local Authorities who have also invested with the Icelandic banks. Dover District Council supports the LGA's approach of working with the Government on this issue. While it is important that the Chancellor protects the interests of those with the financial resources to invest directly in Icesave, even where this exceeds the standard £50,000 protection level, it is also important that Council Tax payers who may not have had the funds to invest with Icesave themselves, but who will be affected by the loss, are also protected.