麻豆约拍

Nearly half of children in care in Kent come from outside the county. 1,340 vulnerable children from London are being cared for in the county - that's the figure from Kent County Council, which says local children are losing out because of the extra costs placed on it by London boroughs sending their children here.

Although Kent does not pay housing costs for these children, the county council does have to pick up the bill for educating them, amounting to 拢500,000 a year, as well as seeing to their health and social needs.

We speak to Laura Sandys, MP for Thanet South, and Anthony Mead, managing director of a private adoption agency in Folkestone which places children from London boroughs in Kent.

Jenny Whittle, Cabinet Member for Specialist Children's Services at Kent County Council and Dr. Derek Kirton, a Lecturer in Social Policy at the University of Kent, also review these figures.

Also on the programme, there has been a spate of heating oil thefts across Kent this month. Kent Police says it is aware of at least six cases totalling over 拢5,000 in stolen fuel.

The targets are primarily quiet locations in the countryside. Officers are warning people in rural areas to be careful.

We hear from Sergeant Alison Oates and Norman, whose village hall have fallen victim to one of these burglaries.

Charities in West Kent says vulnerable people will miss out with the closure of a community transport service today.

The Tunbridge Wells Volunteer Community Car Service will lose out after a decision by Kent County Council not to renew a grant of 拢29,000.

The county council insists the transport service knew two years ago there would be no more money, that a similar service is being provided by another organisation and that those with a social need will be offered alternative transport.

We hear from the manager of the scheme Julia Cronin and Sandra Springett from Age UK.

And seven new businesses have moved into Herne Bay in the past three months alone. Is it the UK's fastest-growing seaside town?

We sent our reporter Alex Ward along to East Kent to see what makes Herne Bay so special.

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