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The Ecclesiastical Parish falls within
the Diocese of Canterbury. It is governed by the Eastling
Parochial Church Council, which is an autonomous body operating
under the direction of the Priest-in-Charge within the bounds
of Ecclesiastical Law and Measures. It is responsible to
the Diocese of Canterbury, and reports to the Canterbury
Diocesan Synod.
The (Civil) Parish is governed by Eastling
Parish Council, which has 5 elected members whose remit
is to look after the well being of residents, to consider
planning applications and ensure the overall well-being
of the various aspects of village life which come under
its control.
The local District council is Swale Borough
Council, based at Sittingbourne but with a local office
in Faversham. Eastling forms part of its Swale East Division,
and the East Downs ward and helps to elect one member to
Swale Borough Council.
Swale Borough Council area forms part
of the Faversham and Mid-Kent Parliamentary Constituency.
It is also part of the UK (South East) European Union Constituency.
Very little employment is available in
the village, and only a limited number of Eastling residents
are employed within the parish. The School, the Public House
and agriculture are employers on a modest scale; and a small
number of residents are self-employed and can work from
their homes. So the majority of the working population must
find employment outside the village, some in Faversham,
others in Canterbury, Maidstone, the Medway Towns, London
or elsewhere.
The approximate percentage breakdown of
occupations for those employed, as published in the Eastling
Parish Appraisal 2001 was as follows:
Lecturing/Teaching: 28%
Management: 16%
Financial Services: 12%
Agriculture: 7%
Architecture/Surveying: 7%
Public Relations: 5%
Law: 5%
Police: 5%
Gardening: 3%
Computing: 3%
Catering: 3%
Boat Design: 2%
Engraving: 2%
Travel Services: 2%
The Parish Appraisal also indicated
the approximate breakdown of employment for the population
as follows:
Retired: 15%
Self-employed: 11%
In full-time employment: 33%
In part-time employment: 7%
In full-time education: 19%
Disabled and not in employment: 4%
Otherwise employed: 12%
The Appraisal showed that about
19% of those employed were engaged in manual work, and about
50% were professionals
The Appraisal also showed that
the majority of the parish's population were in the working
age range between 25 and 64. The following are approximate
percentages:
Under 5 years: 9%
5-10 years: 8%
11-18 years: 8%
19-24 years: 7%
25-44 years: 31%
45-64 years: 28%
Over 65 years: 9%
The majority of residents would describe
themselves as UK citizens, and there is a small minority
of residents from other EU countries (France, Netherlands,
Ireland). The village is not popular with ethnic minorities.
For many people Eastling is clearly an
attractive place to live notwithstanding its immediate lack
of employment and other opportunities; most residents are
here through positive choice. However, there has been little
new development in Eastling since the redevelopment of housing
at The Glebe.
As in the rest of south-east England,
house prices in Eastling have risen in recent years far beyond
the rate of inflation. Unless the village's future population
is to be almost exclusively affluent, provision will be needed
for affordable housing to accommodate those younger households
on their first rung of the housing ladder. Sites for large
developments may be limited. Modest new houses, flats formed
from larger residences, possibly with conversions of non-residential
buildings, could all play a part. |
