Kent County Council has agreed to waive the £190 license fee it was charging for catering business for setting up tables and chairs outside their premises. The fee will now be waived for 6 weeks. The move follows pressure from opposition councillors at County Hall and outcry from traders across the County.

There were 997 at 22 May. On 25th May, the most recent data available, the Office for National Statistics reported 255 deaths in care homes in Kent for which Covid-19 is listed on the death certificate. That is over a quarter of all Kent deaths.

A new report shows how care home residents and staff remain particularly exposed due to persistent problems, including getting tests and protective clothing (PPE).

Traditional season tickets are unlikely to be attractive for many rail commuters in the future. The rail operators need to provide more flexible ticket options.

During the lockdown working from home has become a new routine for many people. Home working has had some positive benefits both for staff and for employers. Now, as the lockdown is gradually lifted, it is clear that many of these workers are unlikely to revert to 5 day-a-week commuting. Instead, many staff are expected to adopt more flexible arrangements, going into work just occasionally.

The pandemic has had terrible impact on the lives and health of thousands of Kent residents and many other appalling consequences. But on a more positive note we have seen a significant reduction in traffic and a marked improvement in air pollution. With the prospect of further easing of the lockdown restrictions, it is vital that KCC takes steps now to keep our roads safe for all road users especially pedestrians and cyclists.

The Liberal Democrats are calling on the Government to ramp up mental health support for health and care staff in Kent and Medway to ensure "world-class" support for those tackling the virus head on.

Highlighting the "deep scar" coronavirus will leave on health and care staff in Kent and Medway, the Liberal Democrats are proposing a package of mental health measures, including:

Ida Linfield expresses concern that the Conservative Government is suggesting that lorry drivers entering Kent ports need not be tested for the Coronavirus bug.

The Government is about to implement two week quarantine rules for the majority of travellers coming from Continental Europe. In recognition of the importance of keeping freight moving, lorry drivers arriving in Kent will be exempt from quarantine but they should not be allowed to travel all over the UK without any form of check on their health.

Trudy Dean, the Liberal Democrat Education spokesperson, has written to Roger Gough, Leader of Kent County Council, asking for this year's Kent Test (11+) to be scrapped.

Trudy's letter follows below:

Dear Roger,

As you will be aware, Rosie Duffield has raised the issue of cancelling this year's Eleven Plus tests due to the effects of CV19. I had already placed an item onto the list of those for discussion at Cabinet Scrutiny for next Tuesday, as parents of year 5 children will need to decide very shortly whether they feel it is safe to send their children back to school in June. I am aware that the test process must be agreed in advance by schools, some of which already set their own additional entrance tests. Whilst I don't think that cancellation is the only way forward, there are clearly a number of issues of concern which need to be discussed with schools and parents urgently.