In the library alone, more than 80 comments were against the scheme, many fiercely so. It would go on to pour a total of 32,700 into the scheme. In each of the four years between 2013 and 2016, the charity made a profit totalling 38,659. In fact he wouldnt answer any questions about his project. The town has many halls for hire, including the beautiful Assembly Rooms just down the road. Volunteers complained the plans were shrouded in secrecy as Swale referred their queries to Cosgrove, who failed to answer them. However, the office rentals are popular, so The Alexander Centre is considering renovating the attics to create more offices for startups and charities. The following year, they gave 8,420 in grants, but put aside an extra 20,000 for future projects. Arriving to lay a wreath alongside other veterans organisations, the Royal Air Forces Association discovered they werent invited, a snub reportedly compounded by some regrettable conduct ill-befitting a ceremony of remembrance. . The night that the police decided to take no further action against John Wellard, Councillor (now Mayor) Trevor Abram emailed Nigel Kay saying: there is also a constant daily diatribe of acrimonious accusations against the actions of the Council in social media, which allowed to continue unchallenged could easily cost any of us our seats on May 7. John Humphrys discusses John's arrest on Radio 4 and hundreds of well-wishers from all over the world comment online, the vast majority expressing disgust and astonishment at the actions of both the police and Faversham's councillors. New trustees were appointed and there was a reaffirmation of the original purpose of the charity the relief of the aged and those in distress and sickness, the provision of social welfare and educational facilities for local inhabitants. Education Department's Child Protection Procedures, 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? About 500,000 of this is the permanent endowment and comes from the original land sale. The peoples voice was clear. The design looked not unlike the Faversham Eye logo or even, some say, the famous masonic all-seeing eye. They called themselves a community led group but, in reality, they were a committee dominated by Conservative councillors and council officers. At the next meeting he reported a renewed campaign from objectors. Families were separated, the food was dreadful and in Andover it was reported that inhabitants starved to death. Workshops and Publications. Opportunity: Developing Practice through Training One of them, Tom Gates, even admitted it at the time. Mike Cosgrove, Cindy Davis, Tom Harding, Pam and Alan McLean, Ann Osborne, Colin Simmonds, Brian Turner and Jackie Westlake. David said: "Very pleased with the result. By the end of 2015, Bensteds had also paid out 1,820 in consultancy fees from its war memorial fund. But eyebrows were raised when Cosgrove told the, Osborne wrote: It is clear that the author of the letter from the War Memorials Trust has no qualifications in either architecture or landscaping, more importantly has not visited the site, has no knowledge of the history of the memorial and is probably only regurgitating the objections of those who have taken over the land for their own personal enjoyment.. His early career was spent as a teacher and, later, as a teacher trainer. . John Wellards quote, borrowed from the Pythons, No one expects the Spanish Inquisition! appears in print everywhere alongside the mocked-up satirical posters, one featuring notoriously publicity-friendly councillor Mike Cosgrove riding a toy donkey to his next photo opportunity. them.. Mike has undertaken a consultancy role for 3 years, having set up The of The application went to appeal, the charity won and planning permission was granted in May 1991. Congratulations to the Hop Festival organisers for their well developed sense of irony. Yet oddly, Cosgroves committee were told only 60 comments were received in total. Cosgrove, Gates, Walker and Andrew Bowles were also trustees of Bensteds, the long-established Faversham charity chaired by former town councillor, town mayor and prominent local freemason Bro Andrew Osborne. Ouch. Wheelchair users frequently visited and enjoyed the old garden without any problems. in organisations. Until now. revised Manchester Published The most recent leader of the council Andrew Bowles retained his seat on Boughton and Courtenay ward. NCVCCO, 1998/99 (JDW), Sure Start Even as its contractors, Blenwood, were digging up remaining plants, Swale Borough Council purported to to be in the dark about the committees plans. Architect Nigel Lee Evans oversaw the structural refurbishments, planning permissions and acoustics work for the Gatefield Hall. He is also a qualified teacher. Can this possibly be the same Mike Cosgrove who sat on Swale Borough Council as it allowed our small town to be swamped by at least ten new housing estates, doubling the towns developed area within five years and ruining swathes of countryside? Each year, Bensteds makes an overall profit which it adds back into the cash pile. including a regular column in Community Care magazine and On the morning of his 71st birthday. organisations employing people with severe disabilities. 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? agreed solutions. Winslow Press. But they had a problem: the community wasnt buying it one bit. TACT is now The Alexander Centre CIC (Community Interest Company), chaired by Graham Setterfield, and is a not-for-profit organisation. programmes for social care organisations in Wales and Mike has over 20 years experience as a management consultant, including 10 years working with not-for- profit Plans were drawn up with the help of Faversham-based FDA architects, showing a garden laid out in an eye shape. Services By the end of 2015, Bensteds had also paid out 1,820 in consultancy fees from its war memorial fund. Kingdom as well as in France, Morocco, Italy, Denmark, The They also still rent a small office to the left of the front door. We asked Mike Cosgrove but he declined to answer. management development handbook for middle and All relatively small sums, which could make a profound difference to the quality of life of those who received the money. Management's OK - This type of project would not fit under our funding criteria. For example if part of a project requires And the people were not impressed. benchmarking tool, the negotiation of a package from a In 1948, the Poor Laws were finally abolished. Plan meals, try new foods and explore cuisines with tested recipes from the country's top chefs. They had something grander and more military in mind, even if it meant tearing up the garden and moving the Grade II-listed cross. Moving the memorial wasnt so important after all, they decided. wrote the guide He said: "I never expect the results. We must not let this continue.. It's nice to see the outcome of a lot of hard work we have done in this ward.". It is no secret our local councillors were behind John's arrest. She is a Visiting Lecturer at Nottingham University. What rankles with the Bensteds Trustees is this: KCC sold a chunk of the land to themselves in a rising market at a rate of 45,112 a hectare. It seemed very unfair and undemocratic.. The irony is that they did not need to spend this money. The Council is shorthand for a number of civic upheavals. The memorial, a modest cross to commemorate local men who fell in the First World War, was placed at the corner of the Cottage Hospitals garden on Stone Street. emphasis (Social Services Strategic Planning). Page after page, the objections piled up: Only seven favourable comments were left, one of which was penned by former town councillor and mayor, Bensteds Charity chairman and prominent local freemason, Bro Andrew Osborne. Children Act Yet more bizarre behaviour by the police, as defamation is a civil, not criminal, matter. There are other places to hold small classes and a few other large venues to hire for weddings and concerts. But that was a misconception, according to Cosgrove and his committee. In Pursuit of Comments books were left in Faversham Library, the Alexander Centre and St Marys Church. The history of the project (as detailed in previous issues of the Faversham Eye) is very different. Movies. It is far from clear what authority it had to evict the community gardeners. The anticipated Heritage Lottery Fund grant was declined but Favershams Bensteds Charity gifted more cash. Swale Borough Council leader Andrew Bowles was also on board but mostly absent from meetings. cultures Meanwhile, the original Victorian and Edwardian rooms, where Lady Alexander held recitals and Sir Sidney played billiards are hired out for workshops, training sessions and meetings. 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) Initially, the volunteer gardeners attended Cosgroves meetings but soon concluded their concerns were being ignored. But Cosgrove and his band of public servants seemed determined to force it through. Lady Alexanders tennis court and gardens were replaced by the modern Gatefield Hall in 1970. The lead police officer arrested him for collective harassment, a phrase he later repeated to one of Johns neighbours who came round shortly afterwards. Against the wishes of many Faversham people, councillors were aggressively pushing a deeply unpopular Neighbourhood Plan allowing development of sensitive creekside sites. Has a drive to Shripshire been Mr Cosgroves Road to Damascus? Numerous articles on The 2.62 acres of land were owned by the charity. strategic problems. And worse. Value And, as one of the largest halls in Kent, it keeps Faversham in the running for big community events, such as the Swale Heritage Fair. have worked with during the past two years. service for children and parents in public law Ouch. 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