well one local authority facing some very tough decisions is medway council in kent.iscuss their budget. the council�*s finances are perilous. we have got roads full of potholes. food banks are now normal. they�*re already cutting things like free swimming for children, cancelling events and closing a visitor centre and art gallery. the discussions they are having are based on the hope that the government is going to let them borrow £30 million over the next two years. even if the government says yes, they�*re still going to have to make some pretty significant cuts to services. like other councils, the leader here says it�*s the rising cost of services like social care and housing, combined with a shortage of government funding, that is pushing some councils to the brink. this is really challenging. this is my home, my community, the street i live on. they will all be impacted by these decisions we�*ve got to take. it�*s not easy. a few days later, in the medway town of gillingham, we caught up with him again, this time as he met parents and carers to explain the sit

alex forsyth, bbc news, medway. let's bring you some breaking news.overnment spokesperson has confirmed that there has been an incident — confirmed that there has been an incident in — confirmed that there has been an incident in the channel involving a 5mall— incident in the channel involving a sn1allboat— incident in the channel involving a small boat in french waters. the statement _ small boat in french waters. the statement says _ small boat in french waters. tue: statement says that french authorities are leading that response. a french official has confirmed that there was an incident concerning a boat with migrants, in the channel in french waters. that is a verbatim statement as well from french officials and one of my colleagues were saying earlier that the hm coastguard at dover said that there was a rescue operation ongoing. huge concern there, many people who try to cross the channel in small boats so of course the priority will be the safety. a little more information there, saying there was a safety incident involving a small boat and a

alex forsyth, bbc news, medway.t ever olympic medal winner, at the age ofjust 13, is now turning her hand to another olympic sport — surfing. she's hoping to qualify for the paris games this year, and to become the first british woman in history, to compete in two different sports, at the same summer olympics. natalie pirks has been to meet her in puerto rico. she may still be a teenager, but her ambitions know no bounds. in the waves of arecibo, skye brown is trying to pull off something close to a sporting miracle. i have a lot on my bucket list, i love surfing just as much a skating, and it was hard for me to pick, actually. and this time i want to do both. i've been really enjoying it but i definitely, it comes with a lot of hard work. it's a long journey but it's a fun 1 and i never wanted to end. she's the world number 3 in skateboarding, and became the park world champion last year, but in surfing, she's a relative unknown and the world's best are all here in puerto rico. there's not many teachers teenagers w

alex forsyth, bbc news, medway.not be resuscitated. so it looks like two missing, presumed dead, and one... so three casualties there and that crossing there, 108 people attending to cross the channel. earlier we did also have a statement from the uk government on that, a spokesperson said, "we can confirm there's been an incident in the channel involving an incident in the channel involving a small boat in french quarters. the french authorities are leading a response and investigation. we will not be commenting further at this stage." of course huge concern for the people on that boat, this is also a very political issue, of course, the prime minister and the government saying they want to stop those small boat crossings. but it looks like today has ended in tragedy. we'll have more on that story as and when we get it. a woman has been seriously injured in an explosion in bury, that saw homes and a primary school evacuated. an eyewitness said the property had been badly damaged in the explosion, with clouds of smo

but, in medway, they say that's still not enough.orrow to balance their books. it's around quarter to two monday night into tuesday morning. i'm just talking through the final budget processes for the council meeting on thursday. we've also still not heard back from central government on exceptional financial support. so this community waits with an announcement expected tomorrow, which will determine what happens to the services many here value. that was our political correspondent alex forsyth in medway. we're joined now byjonathan carr—west, chief executive of the local government information unit. morning to you. morning. really interesting _ morning to you. morning. really interesting story _ morning to you. morning. really interesting story in _ morning to you. morning. really interesting story in alex's - morning to you. morning. really| interesting story in alex's report. the first question, how has it reached this point folsom councils? we have seen a huge squeeze on council finances, we have seen a huge squeeze on councilfi

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town clamouring to be part of the next chapter — queueing around the block from dawn along the river medwayhe most eagerly anticipated rugby league occasions in the calendar. the champions of super league, wigan warriors, go head—to—head with the champions of australia, penrith panthers, for the right to be called the best club side in the world. penrith are out for revenge, after losing last year's final to st helens, while wigan will be roared on by a sell—out home crowd. adam wild reports. the cherry and whites are on top. already the best in britain, for wigan warriors now is the battle to be called the best on planet. the super league champions are up against the back—to—back australian champions penrith panthers. there are few bigger challenges anywhere in the sport. there has been a buzz around the town for quite a bit now, obviously been sold out for a month and it is going to make for an unbelievable atmosphere. it will be great for us to be a piece of that special history. and that is quite some history. commentator: a magnificent| interception by shaun edwards. the sides have met

queueing around the block from don along the river medway to try to get one of the 4800 tickets.of super league, wigan warriors, go head to head with the champions of australia, penrith panthers, for the right to be called the best club side in the world. penrith are out for revenge, after losing last years final to st helens, while wigan will be roared on by a sell—out home crowd. adam wild reports. the cherry and whites are on top. already the best in britain, for wigan warriors now is the battle to be called at the best on any planet. super league champions against at the back—to—back australian champions penrith panthers. there are few bigger challenges anywhere in the sport. are few bigger challenges anywhere in the sport-— in the sport. there has been a buzz around the — in the sport. there has been a buzz around the town _ in the sport. there has been a buzz around the town for— in the sport. there has been a buzz around the town for quite - in the sport. there has been a buzz around the town for quite a - in the sport. there has been a buzz around the town for quite a bit

town clamouring to be part of the next chapter, giving around the block from dawn along the river medway at the front of the i cup, not being at the front of the line, you know? at the back of the cucumber winning against all odds and getting tickets, that is what the fa cup is all about. thea;r and getting tickets, that is what the fa cup is all about. they don't want this fairytale _ the fa cup is all about. they don't want this fairytale to _ the fa cup is all about. they don't want this fairytale to end - the fa cup is all about. they don't want this fairytale to end and i want this fairytale to end and commentary, but whatever happens now, this fa cup run has created a legacy to rival even maidstone�*s most famous dinosaur. it just shows the itjust shows the power of it just shows the power of the itjust shows the power of the fa cup, but a nonleague side is going to be followed on monday night around the world, from vietnam to cameroon to brazil, to can you, everywhere. they will be watching. i think it isjoyous, i think it is lovely. today marks the second anniversary of the war i