Communities across the district are getting ready for celebrations for the Coronation of His Majesty The King and Her Majesty The Queen Consort on Saturday 6 May.

A range of events is taking place over an extended Bank Holiday weekend, with an extra Bank Holiday on Monday 8 May, providing opportunities for communities to celebrate this moment in history.

For more information on getting involved, and details of street parties and events near you, please see the DDC website.

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District and parish elections will take place on Thursday 4 May 2023.

Please remember that to vote at a polling station, you will need to bring photo ID with you under new requirements from Central Government.

If you don't have photo ID, you can apply for a free Voter Authority Certificate (VAC).  You can apply for a VAC online on the GOV.UK website. The deadline to apply is 5pm on 25 April.  You can also apply for a free VAC via a paper form and in person at the council.

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DDC has agreed its budget for 23/24, with an exciting programme of investment ahead, including a fully funded capital programme totalling around £91m - while keeping the lowest Council Tax in East Kent.

On Wednesday, 1 March, DDC agreed the district council part of the Council Tax bill for a Band Property will increase by 2.98%.

DDC continues to maintain a full range of core services and support for communities.

• More on DDC Budget

Deal is the venue for the latest Jobs & Skills Fair organised by DDC and the Department for Work and Pensions.

Supported by Your Leisure, the Tides Leisure Centre in Park Avenue, Deal throws open its doors to job seekers on Tuesday, 14 March between midday and 4pm.

A host of employers will be showcasing local jobs, along with a wide range of information and opportunities on further education. The event is free to attend and places can be booked online. Stagecoach are onboard too with a free shuttle bus operating to Tides Leisure Centre.    

• Big Deal Jobs and Skills Fair

Two projects in Dover have been awarded over £63m to deliver new investment to boost jobs, skills and access in the town in the latest round of the Government's Levelling Up Fund.

DDC secured £18.1m for the Dover Beacon project to transform a brownfield site on Bench Street in Dover town centre.  Separately, KCC was awarded £45m for Dover Access Improvements.

Proposals for the Dover Creative Centre on Bench Street also continue to progress (see picture). Proposals are online and your views are sought in a survey open until 31 March.

• More on regeneration

Work to transform the Guildhall Square in Sandwich as a welcoming place for both residents and visitors is now underway.

Due to be completed in early summer, the historic town square will be resurfaced along with the installation of new features such as improved seating, tree planting and lighting.

The project is part-funded by the R&A, as part of The Open Legacy Fund, alongside additional investment from KCC, DDC, Sandwich Town Council, Prince's Golf Club and Discovery Park.

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With spring in the air, DDC is supporting the Great British Spring Clean again this year, with a range of events set for the campaign, which runs from 17 March to 2 April.

DDC has also announced the second year of its popular environmental awards scheme, expanded this year to include environmental and community heroes. The REACH Awards (Recognising Environmental and Community Heroes) recognises our district’s unsung heroes. The closing date for entries is 9 May.

This also follows fantastic news in February that DDC won the prestigious Keep Britain Tidy Great British Spring Clean Award for its wide-ranging 2022 campaign, (see picture).

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DDC has launched a district-wide housing needs survey asking people about current and future housing requirements - and the deadline has been extended to April 18.

This comes as DDC continues to invest in affordable housing as part of plans to build up to 500 new homes across the district. 

A range of new homes continues to be built across the area. This includes news that developers constructing the Aylesham Garden Village are to begin work on the final phase of the development. Twelve bird-themed street names have also been approved by DDC as Whitfield Urban Expansion soars on.

• More on Housing Needs Survey

DDC staff are travelling out into the heart of our local communities thanks to a community project grant from Kent County Council’s ‘Helping Hands Scheme’.

The £173,000 grant is helping to support DDC's community team in their resident engagement work. Part of the funding has financed a new bespoke vehicle.

The fully kitted out ‘Community Roots’ van enables DDC to offer access to council services ‘out on the road’. Residents living in rural locations are benefitting from the additional service, with the van attending community events throughout the year.

• More on Community Roots