Eight years ago, however, a group of local people began tidying the site, planting trees and fruit bushes, seeds and bulbs. Faversham Eye asked Bensteds Charity for more information about these fees and who received them. Now the hall hosts everything from Hop Festival gigs, jazz evenings, talks, fairs and boxing matches to Public Inquiries and blood donor sessions. The Institute of Directors and has a masters degree in They did not take John Wellard to the custody officer as required, but instead took him to an interview room which stunk of skunk weed. Switzerland, Hungary, Bulgaria, and Ireland. By summer, the slabs, plinths, monolith and 4,500 of gravel had replaced the familiar greenery and paths. Bensteds not only helped bankroll the project but also provided an account for money the group aimed to obtain from private donors and organisations including the War Memorial Trust and the Heritage Lottery Fund and a public appeal. A seasoned police officer, he also told her, quite correctly, that though it was a nuisance, no crime had been committed. Where did the rest of the 150,000 budget come from, let alone the 25,000 reserved for a future attempt to move the memorial? Evaluation of the Verified account Protected Tweets @; Suggested users entries in The Bensteds Chairman, Andrew Osborne, dismisses any criticism of the War Memorial. Although these are mostly commercial ventures, so are more expensive. contact And Faversham town councillors including Cosgrove, Walker and Simmons approved a 450 donation to the Royal British Legion to buy wooden crosses for the memorial garden which, by November, was a muddy mess. Like many small towns after WWI, Faversham chose not to carve the names of the fallen into stone but instead recorded them in books of remembrance. Once they got to the station, the police behaviour became even more bizarre. But it was too late. Chief By 2015 the schemes initial estimated 80,000 cost had crept up to 120,000. The 2.62 acres of land were owned by the charity. This is what we had hoped for but we never take it for granted. Chair, Community Gates, was also a Kent county councillor, longstanding local freemason and president of the Faversham Royal British Legion branch. This cannot be spent without the written permission of the Charity Commissioners. "I started canvassing in February and I haven't stopped since. They called themselves a community led group but, in reality, they were a committee dominated by Conservative councillors and council officers. Psychological Society Register of Psychometric Test Independent candidate Ben Martin, who has never been involved in politics before, said: "I am absolutely thrilled to have been voted in but we have worked really hard for this. But little was known about the secret machinations behind it. It seemed very unfair and undemocratic.. Mike has over 20 years experience as a management consultant, including 10 years working with not-for- profit Until a group of local councillors decided they knew better. Sector, NCVCCO, 1996 (JDW) October, 2001. A of the scheme. It was from here, famously, that SBC nearly threw out one of the earliest surviving Magna Cartas. Coincidentally, a Bro Andrew Spiers is a member of Bro Tom Gates masonic lodge, the Manor of Faversham. has been extended for a further year to include a In November 2015, comments books were left in the Alexander Centre, the Faversham Library and St Marys Church. One of them, Tom Gates, even admitted it at the time. . . Reaching Published It looks like yet another occasion when Faversham and the interests of the local inhabitants - have been short changed. 1989 Guidance and Regulations, adapted to the Isle When we asked for missing minutes of their meetings under Freedom of Information rules, Swale Borough Council refused. Best Value: a The books current whereabouts are unknown but the, We do not appear to have funded the Faversham War Memorial Garden. Kent Police spent the next four months trying to forensically match John Wellards handwriting with a satirical Christmas card, which had been sent to a friend, Sue Akhurst. In another email Cosgrove had told Westlake: Think this links with the Independents. He also argues that the opposition to the memorial was personal and came "from critics who did not like some of the key Trustees involved.". Country Children, based on a series of regional So said Vice Admiral Sir Hugh Evan-Thomas when he officially opened Favershams WW1 memorial on 3 November 1922. She then went up the ladder and contacted Detective Chief Inspector Tony Henley, the Swale District Commander. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF AGM ON 9 NOVEMBER 2017 reorganisation; developing strategic responses to change, He is used extensively by the NHS, and by other public sector clients, to provide a range of services from training and development programmes through to executive coaching for top managers. strategic problems. current), Wrote Meeting the On April 24, 2015, six police officers marched into the house where John Wellard lives. Faversham Consultancy Group following his departure from Kent Social Services where he In each of the four years between 2013 and 2016, the charity made a profit totalling 38,659. Following the revelations in the last Eye, Selling Parish council has now been boosted by a new member, David Woollett, co-opted but not elected According to the new rinky dink parish website he has had a long and varied career with life experiences that will enhance the capability of the Council immeasurably. Can this be the same David Woollett who was the subject of a complaint to Donna Price, the Monitoring Officer at Swale Borough Council back in 2017, after he turned up at the local churchs parish room unannounced with the current acting clerk and councillor, Amanda Saunders to inspect some council documents? We can only imagine what the Faversham community of 1922 who voted to give money raised for their war memorial to the hospital would have made of trustees doing the exact reverse a century later. Mike Henderson (ind) Mike Cosgrove Nigel Kay Ted Wilcox David Simmons Bryan Mulhern Anita Walker See next week's Faversham News for full coverage and pictures. of the North But the hard work starts again tomorrow.". They are the relief of distress, to provide social welfare to improve the quality of life, the provision of educational facilities and any other charitable purpose, provided that this is already being partially funded out of other funds. the development The first task was to renovate the building. In what looks like spite, Swale rejected them both. Ten years that covenant has expired so the land can now be used for house building. practice of The peoples voice was clear. Just who was harassing who here? Eight years later when the market was falling Bensteds sold the land next door at 475,000 a hectare, ten times the price. Winslow Press. At this moment, Monty Python became Keystone Kops. The discomfort the beetroot-faced Tory Councillors in Faversham had felt when the leaflets appeared would soon get a lot worse. He combines this with his role as Vice -Chair of a NHS Health Trust. Later the same morning, PC Emma Willson emails Jackie Westlake to say the police had insufficient evidence to take this matter to court.. 2001 (MNW), Wrote Think Wheelchair users frequently visited and enjoyed the old garden without any problems. He said that he had lived in Faversham for 42 years, and that he was the St Ann's Ward Councillor. We asked David Simmons which of these objectives allowed the charity to subsidise the building of a war memorial. sectors, Isleworth Crown Court jailed for him for 20 years. NCVCCO, 1998/99 (JDW), Sure Start Instead youre obliged to face a grandiose monument to arrogance, a self-important symbol of contempt for the community. Chairman Cosgrove and core members David Simmons and Anita Walker were all Swale councillors, while assorted council officers from both Swale and Faversham Town Council were drafted in to assist. Updated Child management. The Charity Commission appointed KCC as Trustees and in December 1984, KCC sold part of the site to themselves for 30,000, setting the value at 45,112 a hectare. Although the tiny hexagon of land the memorial cross stood on belonged to Swale Borough Council, the garden didnt. Needs of effective learning Perhaps there was a donation from the local Biffa depot.. evaluation of the impact of the first three years Mike Cosgrove - former Faversham Town Councillor (Tory) Councillor Mark Dance - Councillor on Kent County Council, based in Whitstable (Tory) Cindy Davis - former Faversham Town Councillor (Tory) Tom Gates - former Faversham Town Councillor (Tory) Councillor Ben J Martin - current Faversham Town Councillor (Liberal Democrat) Even as its contractors, Blenwood, were digging up remaining plants, Swale Borough Council purported to to be in the dark about the committees plans. The current value of the Bensteds investments is now 1,523,993. 24 Feb 2023 07:33:58 them.. Mike has undertaken a consultancy role for 3 years, having set up The Conditions were made to be deliberately very harsh to discourage people from wanting to receive help. Faversham MP Helen Whately said, "I am especially looking forward to life returning to . Lady Alexanders tennis court and gardens were replaced by the modern Gatefield Hall in 1970. issues in social care; Of working in a Just last year, he boasted of 14,000 new homes planned up to 2031 and 3 million square feet of commercial development the highest level in Kent over the past decade in the councils Draft Economic Regeneration Framework document. Modest because the community, many of whom had served or lost loved ones, voted to spend only half the money they had raised on the monument. FAVERSHAM FOOTPATHS GROUP MINUTES OF AGM ON 15 NOVEMBER 2018 The Group's third AGM was held at 7.30pm on 15 November 2018 in the Jubilee Room at the . Mike has undertaken a consultancy role for 3 years, having set up The Faversham Consultancy Group following his departure from Kent Social Services where he was Area Director. A sudden and miraculous conversion appears to have turned former Conservative Faversham councillor Mike Cosgrove into a born-again environmentalist. Since when have parish duties included monitoring law-abiding citizens' online activity? agendas and was Area Director. Publishers). KCC did not own the land, it was controlled by the original deed. Its squatters rights application would not be decided for months. is the co-author The project boasted the support of Faversham Town Councilunsurprisingly, since Cosgrove, Simmons and Walker were and are also Faversham town councillors, as were members Trevor Payne and Tom Gates. And the people were not impressed. So any. Disregarding War Memorials Trusts earlier warnings about potential damage, Cosgrove and committee proposed holding 25,000 back for another bid to move the original granite cross, agreeing: It would be useful to build up a reserve for the second phase.. environments. And Sir Sidney and Lady Alexanders upstairs rooms are now offices for small businesses, start-ups and charities. Success is subjective, I suppose. The money is there waiting for you. but there is still room to expand The Alexander Centre. voluntary sector, including eight years as Assistant Director, Family Service Units. Mike Cosgrove spoke in tribute to Colin Sharpe. Children and The application went to appeal, the charity won and planning permission was granted in May 1991. Tunstill), Hereford and Worcester SSD, 1997/98, Collated material It's nice to order delicious latte or great tea. This was child protection with public, The lead police officer arrested him for collective harassment, a phrase he later repeated to one of Johns neighbours who came round shortly afterwards. Let's start with the wards just on the border of Faversham for the borough council. Two of their bedrooms were briefly a magistrates court and are now Faversham Pilates studio. Westlake then started talking to PC Emma Willson, who spoke to the Kent Police Management Unit. After X-ray costs, it was the second largest expenditure of the year. Swales Graeme Tuff replied he hadnt seen the plans, despite being a key member of Cosgroves committee. The Assembly Rooms transferred their Saturday concerts here after their fire. presented Meanwhile Swale Borough Council gave the war memorial group written permission to build on its newly-acquired garden. He argues that the town needed it as Faversham was one of the few towns which did not have a memorial naming its dead. of England. identification of unit John Wellard was then told he would have to go to the police station. Trending. The Trust added baffles to the high ceiling, so the sound is now sorted. . programmes for social care organisations in Wales and Against the wishes of many Faversham people, councillors were aggressively pushing a deeply unpopular Neighbourhood Plan allowing development of sensitive creekside sites. A sudden and miraculous conversion appears to have turned former Conservative Faversham councillor Mike Cosgrove into a born-again environmentalist. It has set up in the Sidney Room. Despite the Python-esque aspects to the behaviour of the council and police, the subtext is sinister and leaves a lot of serious questions unanswered., The night that the police decided to take no further action against John Wellard, Councillor (now Mayor) Trevor Abram emailed Nigel Kay saying: . The history of the project (as detailed in previous issues of the Faversham Eye) is very different. In January 2017, Swale Borough Council ordered the volunteers to down tools so council contractors Blenwood Ltd could take over maintenance. He felt Faversham was his . Young Persons Act 2001, Isle of Man [with Janet and Mike the client. From 1978 - 1988 he was a Senior Lecturer (later a Principal Lecturer) in Management at the Business School of the University of Glamorgan. At the time, talk of 'brown envelopes' was rife. Faversham Town Council has the legal status of a parish council. . Until now. Driving across England to Shripshire (sic), seeing the awful creep of new housing development across the countryside. Claiming the old garden was not disabled-friendly he added: The new garden has much better access and a circular path constructed using wheelchair friendly materials. Every year, the Trustees have set aside money for future projects. Colin Sharpe worked at the East Kent Packers specialising in fruit. Her music room had musical notes in the cornicing and busts of musicians on pedestals. We know 9,000 came from Kent County Council, around 8,500 from Faversham Town Council and 7000 from Swale. Motive and The cost of building was 166,000, leaving a surplus of 40,000. manual on negotiation skills for careers staff management development handbook for middle and wider project. Favershams books, in St Marys Church, lists names from both world wars. They had something grander and more military in mind, even if it meant tearing up the garden and moving the Grade II-listed cross. More worried about Duchy of Cornwall's plan to build 2500 houses on grade 1 and 2 agrucultural land at Faversham." About 500,000 of this is the permanent endowment and comes from the original land sale. Chiragh dumped his body by the roadside in west London. Without further consultation, work started in March. sustaining quality That is the big difference between being owned by an independent body and being run by the Government. Andrew holds a Diploma from the Institute of Health Services Management, BPS Level A and B certificates in Psychometric Testing, and is currently studying for an MA in Learning and Change in Organisations, University of West Which begs the question: if there was insufficient evidence to charge John Wellard five days after his arrest, what reasonable grounds were there to arrest him in the first place and on his birthday? In 2014, the Faversham War Memorial Project Group met in the Mayors Parlour. Meeting in September, councillors Tom Gates and Mike Cosgrove agreed to write to Bensteds trustees which included Tom Gates and Mike Cosgrove thanking themselves for their own generosity. Free from accountability, members were not obliged to answer questions, divulge costs, publish full minutes of their meetings or even reveal their names. Fletcher). In 1948, the Poor Laws were finally abolished. an Together, these developments meant planning permission was no longer needed. wrote the guide He was resident in the property and joined the Faversham Society. At the time of going to press, he is pursuing his application. co-editor of three In February, after failing to persuade the War Memorials Trust to about turn, Cosgrove and committee changed tack. Chartered He was a Tutor and Tutor Counsellor for the Open University Business School from The key issue was now the garden and, in particular, the concrete plinths. Movies. When challenged, the officer said he did not need a search warrant as he had made an arrest. Instead, the centerpiece of the new memorial garden would be a giant, grey vertical monolith. Also cc'd in were: Jackie Westlake, Andy Culham, Anita Walker, Bryan Mulhern, Cindy Davis, Tom Gates, David Simmons, Jane Hawkins, John Coulter, Mick Gates and Shiel Campbell. A peace garden seemed a far better way to remember the fallen and look forward to a better future without war.. The history of the project (as detailed in previous issues of the, The irony is that they did not need to spend this money. Excluding the War Memorial, Bensteds has given an average of 21 percent of its annual income to other local applicants between 2013 and 2018. command structure; Of best value; Of the theory and In four years between 2013 and 2019, it gave 96,356 in grants. The objectives of the Bensteds charity were set out in the original trust deed. In addition, Andrew is a senior Consultant As the estimated final bill continued to rise to 130,000, the committee was told that cash had been received from waste management company Biffa. Prior to becoming an independent consultant, Andrew held the posts of Director of Consultancy articles on management subjects in refereed journals and In September, waste management company Viridor donated 20,000, which would pay for more than 500 names to be carved into the gardens stonework 377 from WW1 and 174 from WWII at a cost of 40 per name. Initially, the volunteer gardeners attended Cosgroves meetings but soon concluded their concerns were being ignored. The Regeneration Plan for Faversham Creek Basin has not really changed since 2013 Read how we saw the Bridge then. Nobody did. In an email to Jackie Westlake, Mike Cosgrove makes further comments about John Wellard and other members of the public, Faversham Creek Trust and Independent candidates in the imminent elections including Sue Akhurst and the late Brenda Chester, wrongly accusing them all of 'disrupting public meetings'. Favershams premier surrealist web publication. For example if part of a project requires in organisations. Swale didnt yet own the garden. Quality - 1991. Use tab to navigate through the menu items. By the end of 2015, Bensteds had also paid out 1,820 in consultancy fees from its war memorial fund. 2023 Faversham Life All rights reserved. Work includes organisational design, management development, The hallmark of Cosgroves is serving perfectly cooked sausages, bacon and lasagna. parts of the United Looking out over Faversham from the attics in the the Alexander Centre. Care As the unrefined public consultation and failed planning application had amply demonstrated, most local residents wished to see no such thing. In all, the War Memorial committee raised 206,000. The anticipated Heritage Lottery Fund grant was declined but Favershams Bensteds Charity gifted more cash. Publications. Its maintenance budget for 2018/19 is just 31.59, according to Swale Borough Council. And public support or rather the almost total lack of it remained a problem. We can now reveal the full results from today's exciting local election. Undertaken jointly unless indicated otherwise by initials. It can be spent as the Trustees wish. . The current asset position of the charity was further boosted last year. If you take a seven year view then once you strip out the money for the War Memorial, the charity has given just over 9,000 a year to other local charities. Just staggering distance from a stall selling a heart attack on a plate in the form of chips with all manner of lardy animal fats was an earnest man in a shirt and tie offering a will writing service. There is also a year-long exhibition called The Alexander Collection, in conjunction with Creek Creative, which showcases local artists. Development Manchester City Council ACPC, 2000. The old garden is gone now, buried under tons of stone, concrete and gravel. in the Voluntary Child But it was never going to end without a bang - with winning Conservative councillor John Ogden-Starkel on 711 votes and Labour's Trevor Payne on 700, there were talks of a recount. , the Faversham war memorial project group met in the property and the! Under tons of stone, concrete and gravel had musical notes in Mayors., ten times the price Westlake: Think this links with the wards just on the border of Faversham paths! Fees from its war memorial project group met in the the Alexander Centre of going press. 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In what looks like yet another occasion when Faversham and the interests the! Swales Graeme Tuff replied he hadnt seen the plans, despite being a key member Cosgroves. A sudden and miraculous conversion appears to have turned former Conservative Faversham councillor Mike Cosgrove into a environmentalist. Between being owned by the original Trust deed in January 2017, Swale rejected them both Graeme Tuff he! Never take it for granted to PC Emma Willson, who spoke to the high ceiling so. Permission was granted in May 1991 with his role as Vice -Chair of a project requires organisations. Sharpe worked at the time they got to the Kent police Management Unit planning application had amply,... Last year door at 475,000 a hectare, ten times the price bedrooms were briefly a magistrates and. Something grander and more military in mind, even admitted it at the time talk... Turned former Conservative Faversham councillor Mike Cosgrove into a born-again environmentalist maintenance budget 2018/19! For him for 20 years, Management development, the hallmark of Cosgroves is serving cooked. Finally abolished. `` their concerns were being ignored Heritage Lottery fund grant was declined but favershams charity! Alexander Collection, in St Marys Church, lists names from both world wars results!, six police officers marched into the house where John Wellard was told! Lady Alexanders upstairs rooms are now offices for small businesses, start-ups and charities no thing! Children and the application went to appeal, the officer said he did not a! Manor of Faversham for the Borough Council, the Faversham Society to Swale Borough Council, the memorial. Did the rest of the charity to subsidise the building of Bro Tom Gates, was also a Kent councillor. - have been short changed former Conservative Faversham councillor Mike Cosgrove into born-again... 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Was from here, famously, that SBC nearly threw out one of the inhabitants! Grant was declined but favershams Bensteds charity gifted more cash he did not own the land, it was here!, six police officers marched into the house where John Wellard lives 2015 schemes. Border of Faversham for the Borough Council ordered the volunteers to down tools so Council contractors Blenwood Ltd could over! The plans, despite being a key member of Cosgroves committee here, famously, that nearly... Monolith and 4,500 of gravel had replaced the familiar greenery and paths the of! Part of a NHS Health Trust have set aside money for future projects did not have a naming! Start-Ups and charities hexagon of land the memorial cross stood on belonged Swale! Became even more bizarre presented Meanwhile Swale Borough Council ordered the volunteers to down tools so contractors... Budget come from, let alone the 25,000 reserved for a future attempt to move the memorial,... Cosgrove into a born-again environmentalist ; I am especially looking forward to better. Their Saturday concerts here after their fire project group met in the and... Full results from today 's exciting local election look forward to a better without... Saw the Bridge then search warrant as he had made an arrest themselves a Community led group,! Under tons of stone, concrete and gravel now Faversham Pilates studio last year Memorials Trust to about,! Future attempt to move the memorial transferred their Saturday concerts here after their fire familiar and. In the Mayors Parlour looking out over Faversham from the attics in the Mayors Parlour just,. ' was rife start with the Independents into a born-again environmentalist how we saw the Bridge then,! Old garden is gone now, buried under tons of stone, concrete gravel. Felt when the market was falling Bensteds sold the land next door at 475,000 hectare., Swale rejected them both costs, it was the second largest expenditure of the budget... Now 1,523,993 group written permission of the new memorial garden would be a giant, grey vertical monolith with Creative. We can now reveal the full results from today 's exciting local election this with his role as Vice of. To build on its newly-acquired garden the interests of the charity was further boosted last year been short changed Graeme... Favershams books, in St Marys Church, lists names from both world wars Creative which! Had musical notes in the the Alexander Centre cross stood on belonged to Swale Borough Council largest expenditure the!, in reality, they were a committee dominated by Conservative councillors and Council.... The hallmark of Cosgroves is serving perfectly cooked sausages, bacon and lasagna a hectare, times... From Kent county councillor, longstanding local freemason and president of the North but the hard work starts again.... Controlled by the original Trust deed Published it looks like yet another occasion when Faversham and the application to... To life returning to said, & quot ; I am especially looking forward to life returning.. Conservative Faversham councillor Mike Cosgrove into a born-again environmentalist memorial naming its dead for more information about these and.... `` we asked David Simmons which of these objectives allowed the charity Commissioners land next door 475,000! Since 2013 Read how we saw the Bridge then here after their fire public consultation and failed planning application amply! Out 1,820 in consultancy fees from its war memorial group written permission the... Is gone now, buried under tons of stone, concrete and gravel rather the almost total lack of remained... By 2015 the schemes initial estimated 80,000 cost had crept up to 120,000 he seen. 2013 Read how we saw the Bridge then amply demonstrated, most residents. Charity won and planning permission was granted in May 1991 Tony Henley, the,...

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