Canterbury council news
Canterbury council news, newest first: decisions, budgets, council tax, bins and services, each linked to the council's own papers.
Top story
Canterbury Homelessness Approaches Up 35% in a Year
Homelessness approaches in the Canterbury district rose 35% in a year, to 1,270. The council's new strategy aims to halve rough sleeping by 2028.
More stories
Council
River Stour Rights Declaration Backed by Canterbury Council
Councillors voted 33 to 0 to back eight rights for the River Stour, including the right to flow and to be free from pollution. The minutes are now published.
Council
Canterbury Parking Charges Would Be Frozen in 2027/28
Canterbury City Council plans no parking price rises in 2027/28, a bigger resident discount and free Sundays at seafront car parks. Consultation comes first.
Council
Canterbury Garden Waste Charge Set to Rise to £69.50 in 2027
Canterbury's green bin subscription would rise from £65 to £69.50 in April 2027, and council tax by 2.97%. Consultation on the draft budget opens on 11 November.
Council
Herne Bay Land Train Could Return With £70,000 in the Budget
Canterbury City Council's draft budget sets aside £70,000 to buy a land train for Herne Bay. It lists about £3.6m for the town's schemes in 2027/28.
Council
Canterbury Council Rents Set to Rise 4.5% Plus £1 a Week
Canterbury council tenants face a 4.5% rent rise in April 2027, plus up to £1 a week for many. A survey found a £26.3m repairs backlog on the council's homes.
Council
Canterbury's New City Order Would Drop the Begging Ban
Canterbury's proposed city centre order keeps limits on drinking and delivery riders but drops the persistent begging ban. Councillors debate it on 5 November.
Council
Canterbury Littering Fine Would Rise From £200 to £300
Canterbury's littering and graffiti fine would go from £200 to £300, with fly-tipping split into £500 and £1,000 levels. Councillors discuss it on 5 November.
Council
Dogs Could Be Banned From Five More Sites Around Canterbury
A new order would ban dogs from five more play and sports areas in Canterbury, Whitstable and Herne Bay, and relax Barham green. Cabinet decides on 7 December.
Elections
Canterbury Elections 6 May 2027: Polling Stations Proposed
Canterbury City Council elections are on 6 May 2027, on 24 new wards with 40 councillors. Comment on the proposed polling stations by 9am on 24 November.
Council
Canterbury PSPO Fines Unlawful Since 2022: £10,000 at Stake
Canterbury's recent PSPOs were made by the wrong body, so fines under them are not valid. About £10,000 is at stake, plus two convictions. What happens next.
Herne Bay
Herne Bay Memorial Park Play Area Reopens After Rebuild
Herne Bay's Memorial Park play area is open again after a £300,000 rebuild, with a wheelchair swing, seesaw and sensory zone. Three more play areas are next.
Planning
Shelford Data Centre Approved, With a 20m³ Daily Water Cap
The AI data centre at Shelford landfill has planning permission, issued 15 October, with a 20 cubic metre daily water cap and strict noise limits.
Council
Canterbury Place Panels: Residents Can Apply by 2 November
Residents can now apply to sit on new panels shaping Canterbury, Whitstable and Herne Bay town centres. Send a CV and 750 words by 2 November; posts are unpaid.
Council
Canterbury Town Centre Action Plan: 40 Projects by 2028
A sauna for Herne Bay seafront, a wet fish stall at Whitstable Harbour and a youth hub: the 40 town centre projects Cabinet backed on 5 October, with dates.
Council
Canterbury Council This Week: Data Centre, 402 Student Rooms
Tuesday's planning committee decides the Shelford data centre, 402 student rooms on Sturry Road and 56 retirement flats. Register to speak by 12.30pm Monday.
Transport
Canterbury Travel Survey on a Hopper Bus Has Now Closed
Canterbury's travel survey, asking if you would use a hopper bus between the stations and the hospital, closed at 9am on 26 October. What it asked.
Herne Bay
Herne Bay King's Hall Toilets Move 350m: Cabinet Approves
Approved 5 October: the King's Hall public toilets move 350m east to the East Cliff beach huts, with an accessible toilet and baby change. Cabinet voted 7-0.
Council
Canterbury Licensing Policy: 110 Pages Cut to 23
The council's draft drops its core hours policy and all eight appendices, and 281 of its 306 sentences match Dover's. Consultation closes 17 November.
Council
Chestfield and Swalecliffe: Parish Set to Triple to 8,369
Chestfield's electorate would go from 2,766 to 8,369 in a merger with Swalecliffe its parish council did not ask for. Stage 2 dates are not yet set.
Herne Bay
King's Hall Herne Bay: 1980s Toilet Blocks Cleared to Go
The 1980s toilet lobbies hiding the King's Hall's 1904 front can be demolished, after a 7 September ruling. What the £2m Herne Bay revamp does, and when.
Council
Canterbury City Status Plan Adds Up to 20p a Week to Bills
Charter Trustees would protect Canterbury's city status and Lord Mayor for 4p to 20p a week on council tax. Herne Bay gains a town council. Vote 16 September.
Canterbury
Bayeux Tapestry Tickets: Canterbury Demands Priority Booking
Every ticket to December has gone; the next release is 21 October. Canterbury's council wants the priority booking Hastings residents were given.
Council
Canterbury BBQ and Fire Ban Plan: Deadline 11 September
The council wants power to ban barbecues, open fires and fire pits in public spaces. The consultation runs nine days and closes at 9am on Friday 11 September. What is proposed and how to respond.
Herne Bay
Herne Bay Wins £270,000 for Three Play Area Rebuilds
Government money will rebuild the Central Parade seafront, Collins Road and Honeysuckle Way play areas. Herne Bay was picked on child poverty and playground shortage. Tenders go out this autumn.
Council
Canterbury Council Abolition Paused: What Still Stands
The plan to abolish Canterbury City Council on 1 April 2028 was paused on 7 September 2026. Here is what ministers had decided, and what is now back in doubt.
Council
Herne Bay and Tankerton Dog Beach Ban Ends 30 September
Dogs are barred from both beaches until 30 September under an order that expires next May. Every lead-only and dog-free site listed, plus how to respond by 1 October.
Canterbury
Canterbury canvass letters: which one needs a reply
The council is contacting every household by 1 December. One letter must be answered even if nothing has changed, the other only if your details are wrong.
Herne Bay
Herne Bay Memorial Park play area closes 24 August
Work on a £300,000 fully accessible playground starts on Monday 24 August, closing the King's Road play area until early October. What is being built and why.
Bins
Canterbury Christmas Bin Collections: 2026 Dates Not Out Yet
Canterbury City Council publishes its Christmas bin dates in mid-December. Here is the 2025/26 pattern, the garden waste pause and how to get rid of the tree.
Recycling
Canterbury Tip Opening Times: 8am to 4.30pm, Book a Slot
Herne Bay tip on Westbrook Lane and Canterbury tip on Vauxhall Road open 8am to 4.30pm Mon to Sat, 9am to 4pm Sun. Booking is free but compulsory: how to book.