The Alan Jarrett regime is over

Plus new brownfield homes make people angry, £700pcm to live in a shed, and, er, Sexy Chishti.

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Just when you think it’s going to be a pretty boring week of Medway news, a massive story pops up at the last minute. There’s plenty more beyond that too, with some frankly absurd bits and pieces further down. Not sure how busy next week will be what with the double bank holiday, but let’s see.

The Alan Jarrett regime is over

Cllr Jarrett giving a rousing speech to his colleagues

This week saw the announcement that Cllr Alan Jarrett, Leader of Medway Council for the past seven years, will step down from the role. This comes following a tumultuous period for the Conservative administration in Medway, with arguments over the Local Plan leading to sackings, deselections, and outright hostilities between the group.

Not only will Cllr Jarrett stand down from his position as leader, but he also will not seek re-election at next year’s local elections, choosing to dedicate more time to his writing (his novel is quite something), and his other main hobby, shooting birds for sport.

Cllr Jarrett has had a colourful time as leader of the council, presiding over children’s services being rated inadequate, failed bids for city status and City of Culture, and regular gaffes, like calling Black Lives Matter protestors “a lynch mob”.