Voice of the Leader
Medway Council Leader Vince Maple on the state of the roads, recognising care experience, and upcoming elections
Every quarter, Medway Council Leader Vince Maple and Conservative Leader of the Opposition Adrian Gulvin write an exclusive column for Local Authority. In this edition, Cllr Maple talks about the state of the roads, recognising care experience, and upcoming elections.
Voice of the Leader
by Vince Maple, Leader of Medway Council
This last Voice of the Leader of the municipal year comes after a full council where both main groups had colleagues absent who were recuperating from medical procedures. I wish them all well in their recovery.
Since the last council meeting, the issue of road conditions in Medway has been an increasing talking point, whether on the doorsteps whilst canvassing, in emails or indeed in the council chamber.
As regular readers will be aware, Medway Council has had huge financial pressures, not least due to the 91% cut in our revenue support grant since 2010 – that impacts on a wide variety of council services including road maintenance.
That is why Simon Curry and I wrote to the Minister for Roads asking for a meeting to discuss the options available moving forward both regards potholes and wider roads maintenance. We included the figure of £50m based on the figure previously given in an overview and scrutiny report of around £35m recognising the impacts of inflation.
It is hugely regrettable that the Minister quite clearly chose to take the cost of the overall potential road maintenance and divide that by basic figure of potholes shared in the letter. In my view he is either simply not on top of his brief or choosing to make mischief when Medway residents deserve a minister who is willing to meet with both senior professional officers and leading councillors who want to put our community’s case for appropriate resources.
The current estimate is across England there is a £16bn bill to bring roads up to scratch – rest assured your Labour & Co-operative Council will continue to fight for the resources we need.
Early in April we held the first Medway Business and Skills showcase. More than 200 people attended from small and medium businesses as well as those starting on their business journey and others from organisations who stand ready to support those on that journey.
I want to pay tribute to my Cabinet colleague Lauren Edwards for her political drive and determination to get this delivered alongside our brilliant council officers. This was another practical example of the Labour & Co-operative Council delivering on the FSB Local Leadership Pledge which was signed in the very early stages of our term of office.
One of the most remarkable points on the businesses of Medway is their diversity – from milliners to drone pilots, a vast array of food and beverage outlets to body slamming professional wrestling, as well as key professional services like accountancy & HR to support other local businesses and so much more. There is no doubt from speaking to those in attendance that the Labour & Co-operative administration are on our way to fulfil our pledge around job creation.
I was pleased to see unanimous support for the upcoming work on the issue of recognising care experience as a protected characteristic.
For those who have care experience, both here in Medway and across the country, the sad reality is they have too often had many barriers that impact on them throughout their lives.
Despite the resilience of many care experienced people, society too often does not take their needs into consideration. Care experienced people often face discrimination across housing, health, education, relationships, employment, and the criminal justice system.
As corporate parents, Councillors have a collective responsibility for providing the best possible care and safeguarding for the children who are looked after by us as an authority.
OFSTED last year said, “Children Matter in Medway” and this clear unanimous decision shows the priority to ensure those words match the reality for those who have care experience.
I look forward to seeing this work go through the democratic process of O & S and Cabinet before returning to full council for ratification. Importantly it will also send a clear message to other organisations in Medway that we would hope they will follow our lead before any national legislative changes make this a statutory requirement.
On May 2nd, Medway goes to the polls – for the vast majority of residents they will have a single ballot paper for the Police and Crime Commissioner for Kent & Medway. Using my postal vote, I’ve already supported Lenny Rolles for the change, with his experience as a senior official at a national charity focused on animal welfare as well as being a cabinet member in neighbouring Gravesham, I believe he will deliver the change people are looking for.
For a few thousand residents, they will also have an opportunity to vote in the referendum for the Arches Neighbourhood Plan. This plan is resident-led, community-driven and gives a clear set of principles when it comes to the future of that community. I live just a couple of streets outside of the boundary, but I would absolutely vote Yes if I had the opportunity to vote and would encourage those residents in and around the Arches Local area of Luton and Chatham to have their say.
Do not forget whatever vote you have – you will need your photo ID to vote in person.
I am writing this having just finished watching the National Theatre Live production of Nye at Chatham Odeon. It is a superb production with an outstanding performance by Michael Sheen alongside a stellar cast. I would encourage you to get along to one of the upcoming showings.
It feels very appropriate to watch that in the same week that we formally present the Freedom of the Borough of Medway to Medway Maritime Hospital. I’ve no doubt that everyone reading this will have their own reflections on the hospital. For me, the freedom will make me reflect on that building and the inspirational women and men who work there having the ultimate care and compassion whilst both my Mum and Dad took their final breath and my Son took his first breath.
This is an opportunity to say thank you to all those individuals and absolutely commit to defend and improve the NHS for the next 75 years and beyond.
Cllr Vince Maple is the Leader of Medway Council and Labour councillor for Chatham Central and Brompton.