Ashford Borough Council is a local authority which provides services to residents in Ashford, Tenterden and a large network of surrounding villages. Our services include keeping the streets clean and collecting rubbish, renting out social housing (council houses and flats), providing leisure facilities and play areas and processing council tax and housing benefits. We deal with local planning applications for everything from a conservatory to major developments, and if you are buying a home in the borough we can provide you with a comprehensive land search service. We issue licenses for taxis and licensed premises, look after parks and open spaces, and parking around the borough. We are based in offices in Tannery Lane. Our customer services team are based at the new Ashford Gateway Plus, and we have a further office in Manor Row, Tenterden. In all we employ around 415 people. Our achievements have been recognised by the Government with the receipt of two Beacon Awards for excellence and innovation since 2005, the most recent for promoting sustainable communities through the planning process. The council is only one of four local authorities nationally to be given this award.