Kent County Council is being urged to commit to providing free school meals in all school holidays as a way of tackling not just hunger in poorer children, but also to help improve their success in learning at school.

Around 50,000 children in Kent are entitled to get free school meals, but around one in five do not claim them. These children are missing out not just on a good meal, but also on money for their school learning. A child registered to receive free school meals also benefits from a much less well known annual payment of around £1,300 per primary pupil, and over £900 per secondary pupil, known as the Pupil Premium. Paid for by Government direct to the schools, it is aimed at giving extra help with school work to children from poorer families. It can help provide computers, books or trips out which parents might not be able to afford.

Rail operators recognise the needs of the growing numbers of people who need to combine home-working with part-time commuting to their office or other place of work. Proposals for flexible ticketing were presented to the Government back in July. Three months later, the Government is still sitting on its hands as it continues to discourage rail travel during the Covid pandemic.

In a policy motion adopted today at the Liberal Democrats' Autumn Conference, the Party has warned that the Government's planning proposals will "disempower" councils and allow developers to "run roughshod" over local communities' wishes.

The motion lays bare the risks of the Government's proposals, which the Party argue amount to a Government "power grab" that will reduce investment in affordable housing, damage public scrutiny of planning decisions, and potentially undermine climate commitments.

"The Government's proposal to require hauliers heading for Dover or the Channel Tunnel to obtain a Kent Access Permit has caused much amusement", says Rob Bird, Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group at County Hall. "But it's not a joke. It is another ill-conceived bureaucratic burden which will affect hauliers and businesses throughout the County."

Some thoughts by Rob Bird, Leader of the Liberal Democrat group at Kent County Council

Earlier this month Minister of State, Simon Clarke, stated that the Conservative Government is pressing ahead with the publication of its Devolution White Paper in the Autumn. The Minister stated that the Government is aiming for 'many more elected mayors and more unitary councils following in the footsteps of Dorset, Buckinghamshire and Northamptonshire.'

Minister admits that Government is planning for significant disruption in Kent at the end of the Brexit transition period

Earlier this week the Government completed the purchase of the so-called "MOJO" customs clearance site and lorry holding area next to Jct. 10a on the M20 near Ashford. The Government's plans first came to light last Friday week. They were previously kept secret from Ashford Borough Council and local residents, although the Cabinet Member has confirmed that Kent CC was aware of the Government's proposals.

Kent Liberal Democrat councillor Antony Hook has asked Conservative-run Kent County Council to urgently clarify its approach to awarding big contracts.

At a meeting this morning of the county's Environment & Transport Committee, Mr Hook challenged Conservative Cabinet Member for the Environment Susan Carey to include green requirements when contracts are awarded to supply services to the county.