Voice of the Leader
Medway Council Leader Cllr Vince Maple on the General Election, Local Plan, and what the administration has been doing
Editor’s note: Every quarter, Medway Council Leader Vince Maple and Conservative Leader of the Opposition George Perfect write an exclusive column for Local Authority. Following yesterday’s edition from Cllr Perfect, we hear from Cllr Maple today. He talks about the General Election, Local Plan, and what the administration has been doing
We should also note that this column was written before yesterday’s incident in Brompton. Cllr Maple has since issued a statement via Medway Council’s website.
Voice of the Leader
by Vince Maple, Leader of Medway Council
Welcome to the first ever Voice of the Leader with a majority Medway Labour & Co-operative Council working with Medway Labour MPs and a Labour Government.
I want to start by recognising the sad loss of two amazing individuals since the last Voice of the Leader article – Alderman Paul Harriott was an incredible councillor who represented the community of Twydall for 52 years. His passion for housing and, in particular, council housing was unquestionable. In tributes on social media, many local residents said their families call Twydall home as a direct result of Paul.
James Williams was Medway’s Director of Public Health who also was an armed forces veteran and represented Great Britain at multiple Olympics in the field of Fencing. I’ve no doubt there are people alive today in Medway due to the positive, engaging approach James took in communicating during the pandemic.
My thoughts continue to be with the family and friends of both Paul and James.
As mentioned, we have also had the small matter of the General Election, and I am delighted we have three Labour MPs.
Tris Osborne, Naushabah Khan and Lauren Edwards have all hit the ground running and I know they will be superb advocates not only for their individual constituents but also collectively for Medway. I thank them once again for their service as cabinet members since last May. Whether you voted Labour, for another party or indeed didn’t vote they will be there for you.
I also want to thank all those from other parties and independents who put themselves forward as candidates for election, as well as volunteers and election agents from all parties who gave their time in supporting the democratic process. I particularly want to give thanks to our three outgoing MPs for their service to our community and I wish well in their future endeavours.
Finally, elections are tricky, logistical processes, so my thanks to Medway Council staff who ensured smooth running throughout the election, which was undoubtedly earlier than most people across the country were planning for.
So, with three MPs being elected, that has led to three new cabinet members joining the team – Nina Gurung, Alex Paterson and Louwella Prenter, who again have hit the ground running with their first cabinet meeting within 48 hours of being in post!
Last week we had a full council meeting which covered a number of important matters.
One area is the Local Plan. This is your opportunity to have your say on the future for our community between now and 2041. There are several sessions remaining across Medway, having already had sessions in Hoo, Halling, Gillingham and Chatham. Future sessions are:
Tuesday 6th August: Rochester - Corn Exchange Princes Hall from 4pm - 7pm
Thursday 8th August: Rainham - St Margarets Church from 5pm - 8pm
Tuesday 13th August: Strood - St Nicholas Church from 3pm - 6pm
Thursday 29th August: Hempstead Valley Shopping Centre, outside M&S from 11am - 2pm
Tuesday 3rd September: Allhallows - Village Hall from 11am – 2pm
Wednesday 4th September: Innovation Centre Medway, Chatham - Darwin Room from 4pm-7pm
You don’t need to attend a session to have your say. Whatever aspect you want to comment on, you can do so here.
Not having an up-to-date Local Plan has meant repeated planning appeals being upheld despite on several occasions the planning committee, which acts not as a political committee but a legal quasi-judicial committee, voting unanimously to reject applications.
As well as the Local Plan consultation, we also signed off the Community Safety Partnership plan which is another example of strong partnership working.
We received important updates on the work of the Corporate Parenting Board which focuses on our children in care. We also agreed unanimously to adopt care experienced as a protected characteristic – once again sending the loudest possible message that children matter in Medway.
We also had a good feedback report on the positive work over the last year having signed up to the Councils for Fair Tax Declaration.
I was also able to update full council on upcoming inspections that Medway will be participating in, including youth justice and, for the first time, inspections as both a social housing provider and the new CQC inspections for Adult Social Care. We welcome external inspections to both highlight where the services we deliver can be further improved but also recognise the great work happening every single day.
Finally, due to the pre-election period where council communications are limited it has meant a number of things have happened but may have been missed so I was pleased to update full council on what had been happening since our last normal meeting in April.
Hosted Armed Forces Day and D-Day Commemorations in partnership with Historic Dockyard Chatham
Flew the Armed Forces Flag, D-Day 80 Flag, Pride Flag, Windrush Flag and St Georges Flag at Gun Wharf
Awarded 8 Green Flags with improved outcomes for Broomhill and Great Lines
Held Medway Mile with over 4,000 participants.
Held the popular Sweeps Festival
Medway Council were Winners of Rainbows over Medway award for LGBT+ Allies
Medway Public Health Department shortlisted in multiple categories at the LGC Awards
Held the Mini Youth Games
Launched the National Lottery Heritage Place 10-year programme
Worked with Medway Diversity Forum and FSB Kent to support small businesses
Signed the Docking Station Memorandum of Understanding with Historic Dockyard Chatham and University of Kent
Hosted the Armed Forces Covenant Conference at the Royal Engineers in Brompton
Held our 7th Child Friendly Medway City Hall
Held another Welcome to Medway event
Held the first ever Our Medway Live events, hearing directly from over 900 staff
Agreed the One Medway Financial Improvement and Transformation Plan
Celebrated Foster Care Fortnight
Launched the Wall of Shame
Gave Freedom of the Borough to our Hospital
Opened Cozenton Park Sports Centre
And on the day of Full Council, we received confirmation of the long-awaited Healthy Living Centre in Chatham, which will be named after James Williams.
As you can see, this Labour & Co-operative administration is continuing to deliver despite the financial challenges we inherited, and I am committed to every single day doing all I can to make everyone proud to be Medway.
Cllr Vince Maple is the Leader of Medway Council and Labour councillor for Chatham Central and Brompton.