The Maidstone Gateway

Welcome to the Maidstone Gateway access to public services, the Gateway offers access to public services for local residents and customers alike, including a full council service and a range of voluntary and support services which we are always seeking to expand to match the needs of our community.

On arrival in the Gateway you will be welcomed by our staff on the meet and greet reception desk. Here they will establish your requirements and issue you with a ticket for the service you require and asked to take a seat in one of our spacious waiting areas until your ticket is called by an adviser who is fully trained to deal with your enquiry.

** Please note tickets are not called in number order. **

Facilities and services
Opening hours
Partners
Visiting
More information

Council facilities and services available at the Gateway

Facilities

The Maidstone Gateway offers a whole range of facilities to customers:

7 self help PC’s where customers can access a computer and the internet for up to 1 hour per day. Click the link for online services Do It Online;
The Gateway offers community toilets open to the public with disabled access. We also have a separate disabled toilet and a Changing Place facility;
Wellpoint machine: - register free with Wellpoint and check your 6 vital signs for weight, hydration quota, BMI (body mass index), body fat content, heart rate and blood pressure; and
3 Automated Payment Kiosks: - for easy, no queue payments by cash or debit card for all council services.

Services

Building Control General Advice Applications Fee’s Advice	Planning View Planning Applications Apply for Planning Permission History Searches Enforcement Enquiries View Stat Reg
Electoral Registration Register to Vote View the Electoral Register	Environmental Enforcement Report Noise Problems Food Safety Health and Safety Issues Pest problems Pollution issues Report Dog and Animal Welfare issues Public Health issues
Environmental Services Arrange a Bulky Collection Report Dog Fouling Report Graffiti Report Fly Tipping Report a Missed Bin Find out about your waste collection services and recycling Order or remove a bin Freighter Service Information	Free School Meals Apply for Free School meals
Housing General Housing Advice Points Enquiry Choice Based lettings enquiry Changes in circumstances Transfers Referrals to Homeless and Housing officers Apply to the Housing Register Apply for a Rent Deposit Bond Scheme	Housing Benefits New Application Changes in Circumstances Over payment enquiries PDSA letters Second Adult Rebate Can I claim and how much? (Try the benefit calculator) Housing Benefit Backdates Housing Benefit Appeals Check Payments Change of Bank details Local Housing Allowance Information
Human Resources / Job Vacancies Check Job vacancies Application packs for specific jobs	Make a complaint to council Make a complaint to council
Revenues/National Non Domestic Rates (NNDR) Check your Council Tax and NNDR balance Moving in or out of the Borough Changes in Circumstances Single Persons Discounts Council Tax Exemptions Summons Enquiries Final Notice Enquiries Bailiff Enquiries Payment Arrangements Apply for small business rate relief	Parking Services Apply for a disabled blue parking badge New Application for a Parking Permit Renew a parking permit Apply for a work permit Report a change of vehicle Notify us of a Courtesy Vehicle
Sports and Play Hotfoot Applications Freefall Applications

As an extra to the services offered above, the Gateway also offers assistance for general enquiries and has duty officer services for the following:

Planning Duty Officers are available Monday to Friday 11am – 3pm with a late night service on Thursday until 7pm,
Licensing Taxi Officers are available Monday to Thursdays 10am – 1pm,
Housing Duty (appointment only) and Homeless Officer’s are available Monday to Friday 9:00am – 11:30am and 2:00pm – 4:00pm,
Pension Service, Pension Credit Applications by pre booked appointment Tuesday and Thursday’s 9:30am, 10:30am, 2:30pm and 3:30pm

Opening hours

The Gateway is open 6 days per week:

Day	Open time	Close time
Monday	8:30 am	5:30 pm
Tuesday	8:30 am	5:30 pm
Wednesday	8:30 am	5:30 pm
Thursday	8:30 am	7:00 pm
Friday	8:30 am	5:30 pm
Saturday	9:00 am	1:00 pm
Sunday	Closed	Closed

Christmas and New Years holiday opening hours:

Day	Open time	Close time
Thursday 22^nd December 2011	8:30 am	7:00 pm
Friday 23^rd December 2011	8:30 am	5:30 pm
Saturday 24^th December 2011	Closed	Closed
Sunday 25^th December 2011	Closed	Closed
Monday 26^th December 2011	Closed	Closed
Tuesday 27^th December 2011	Closed	Closed
Wednesday 28^th December 2011	Closed	Closed
Thursday 29^th December 2011	8:30 am	5:30 pm
Friday 30^th December 2011	8:30 am	5:30 pm
Saturday 31^st December 2011	Closed	Closed
Sunday 1^st January 2012	Closed	Closed
Monday 2^nd January 2012	Closed	Closed
Tuesday 3^rd January 2012	Normal Gateway Hours Resume

Partners calendar

Click a service to view more details.

Please note: Citizens Advice Bureau will not be available for drop in appointments at the Gateway Between Thursday 1st Sept 2011 and Friday 16th Sept 2011, specialist appointments will continue as normal. The Bureau at Bower Terrace Tonbridge Road will be open as usual.

Age Concern

Age Concern - Tuesday 8:30am - 3:30pm

Concessionary Fares Vouchers and advice and support for older people.

Citizens Advice Bureau

Please note (as above): Citizens Advice Bureau will not be available for drop in appointments at the Gateway Between Thursday 1st Sept 2011 and Friday 16th Sept 2011, specialist appointments will continue as normal. The Bureau at Bower Terrace Tonbridge Road will be open as usual.

Citizens Advice Bureau - Monday to Friday - 10am - 4pm queue closes at 3:30pm

Free independent confidential advice, specialist services available by appointment only (Housing, Money/debts, benefits, Family law & Employment contact 01622 757228)

Hi Kent

Hi Kent - Tuesday - 10am - 12pm

Advice and practical help for deaf and hard of hearing people.

Infozone

Infozone - Monday and Thursday - 11am - 1pm & 1:30pm - 3:30pm

Support, advice and counselling service for young people.

Kent County Council

Kent County Council - Every day except Thursday 5.30pm - 8pm

Services offered include Highways, Disabled Parking Badges, and Free School Meals.

KCC - Community Wardens

KCC - Community Wardens - Every 2nd Monday - 10.00am - 12.00pm

Advice, help and support for local residents and the community.

KCC - Kent Supported Employment

KCC - Kent Supported Employment - Wednesday and Friday 9.30am - 12.30pm and 1.00pm - 4.30pm

Working with people and local employers to enable equal access and provide ongoing support tailored to peoples needs.

KCC - Registrar

KCC - Registrar - Thursday - 9am - 5pm (pre booked appointments only, call 0845 247 247 or book online)

Registration of births and deaths.

Kent Link

Kent Link - Wednesday - 1pm - 5:30pm

The Kent LINk (Local Involvement Network) is an independent network of local people and community groups working together to influence and improve Kent’s health and social care services.

Kent Police

Kent Police - (starting 9th April 2011) Saturday’s 9th April, 14th April, 18th June, 23rd July, 27th July, 1st October, 5th November, 10th December

Local Community support and confidential advice.

Porchlight

Porchlight - Every Wednesday - 9am - 11am

Information and help for people who are homeless or threatened with homelessness and vulnerable people who may need support.

Water For Work Well Point

Water For Work Well Point - Every day

Free check for weight, BMI, hydration and blood pressure.

Victim Support

Starting 1st December 2011 every 2 weeks on a Thursday afternoons 1:30pm – 4:00pm

Visit us

The Gateway, King Street, Maidstone, Kent, ME15 6JQ.

When visiting the Gateway, the nearest car parks are in Church Street, King Street and The Mall, King Street.

Download a map of the Maidstone House showing how to get to the nearest car parks.
Download a map of car parks in the Maidstone town centre.

There is disabled access to the Gateway from the roof of The Mall, King Street.

If you are visiting the Gateway using SatNavs, route planners and electronic maps, please use ME15 6AW as the post code.

Gateway visitor information

The Gateway sees approximately 6500 customers per month, our busiest days are Monday and Fridays. Across the whole week the busiest times are between 11am and 3pm where we generally see 50% of our total customers.

Graph 1 shows the average waiting time each day of the week whilst graph 2 shows the average waiting time in a day.

Gateway background information

The Maidstone Gateway opened on the 5th January 2009 and is funded in partnership with Maidstone Borough Council and Kent County Council.

The Gateway network (KCC Link), currently consisting of seven physical Gateway locations, is working in partnership with in excess of 50 organisations.

Read or download Maidstone Borough Councils policy on customer care.