In Council - May '23
May saw local elections in Maidstone, new councillors returned and a new Mayor. With the changes in the council this saw very little business done committee meetings, but rather the administrative side of setting councillors to sit on which committees and who will act as chairman and vice-chairman on those committees.
May 23rd saw most councillors attend ten back-to-back committee meetings selecting chairs and vice-chairs. The Conservatives and the Independent Group councillors voted to ensure that apart from the protected chairmanship of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee that the leader of the opposition (our Cllr. Clive English), all other positions handed to either Conservative or Independent councillors. Councillor English said after the meeting:
“At the elections, the public voted to remove the Conservative’s majority. Consequently the Liberal Democrats, Labour and the Green Independent Alliance suggested that the committee chairs be shared on a proportionate basis among all the parties, including the Conservatives.”
“This was rejected and the Independents voted with the Conservatives to freeze out everyone else. This has led to a situation where one single Independent councillor (Cllr Munford) is vice chairman of three committees, so keen were these two groups to monopolise the roles for themselves.”
“This is profoundly unhealthy for democracy and unwise in principle and practice to try to run a hung council as if it were one with a majority administration voted in by the public, and to exclude a wide range of other viewpoints.”
More can be read on Kent Online: https://www.kentonline.co.uk/maidstone/news/it-s-a-stitch-up-tories-and-independents-accused-of-free-287697/
Tony Harwood and Clive English attended the 2nd stage examination of the Local Plan Review to put the case against a number of specific allocations, including Lidsing and to speak on a number of general policy issues including highways and, the lack of affordable housing. Further written comments have been made on several other issues including the allocation at Invicta barracks, which we continue to believe allocates far too much housing for the site.
Further submissions have been made to Maidstone Borough Council (MBC), regarding the draft Design and Sustainability plan. Specifically, the suggestions concern the subdivision of houses often to form HMO’s, in often very unsuitable road where there is insufficient or no parking.
With Kent County Council (KCC), looking to make savings by closing or reducing services Tovil Tip has come under threat. Councillors across the group have been making their feelings known in the press and have set-up a petition to stop KCC causing an explosion of fly-tipping by closing the service at Tovil. More can be read about this: https://www.maidstonelibdems.co.uk/news/article/lib-dems-fight-to-save-tovil-tip
May also saw various bus routes scheduled for closure or reduction in service. Cllr. Richard Conyard contacted the Commercial Director of Arriva UK to see if a solution could be found specifically for the cancelled 55 route to Ringlestone. Whilst unfortunately unsuccessful Richard has put forward a proposal that public transport and the decreasing levels of service be addressed by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee (decision to be made 20th of June).