Voice of the Leader

Editor’s note: Each month, we publish a guest column from one of Medway’s elected representatives, rotating between our MPs, council and opposition leaders, and the Police and Crime Commissioner. Today, we welcome Medway Council leader Vince Maple, who discusses Labour Party leadership, local government reorganisation, and Medway's charities.

Voice of the Leader

by Vince Maple, Leader of Medway Council

Part of the challenge when writing a column like Voice of the Leader is events keep happening which you feel you need to include – so let’s start with the small matter of the leadership of my party and our country. 

As long-time readers of Local Authority will know, we have welcomed Keir Starmer to Medway on five different occasions – all of which sit vividly in my mind.  The most recent was launching the General Election campaign at Priestfield Stadium, with Labour colleagues from around the country there on the hallowed turf in ME7. Previous to that, Keir launched one of our five missions – to break down barriers at every stage – an important mission to ensure vocational education is given parity of esteem.

The other three visits were all at key points of our historic 2023 local campaign, at our campaign launch at Gillingham Labour Club, at the Sunlight Centre with Angela Rayner on the eve of poll and probably most famously on the morning of our victory, where I welcomed “Keir on the Pier” to Labour-controlled Medway.

Keir Starmer has been a strong supporter of our mission to increase pride in our community, not least through the programme which meant our three MPs securing £60 million for Medway in the Pride in Place Programme. 

I take this opportunity to thank Keir for his service to our party and the country, and although I have said previously I didn’t want to see a change of Prime Minister, I respect the decision he has taken.

At time of typing, the leadership contest hasn’t formally begun, but what is increasingly clear is that Andy Burnham will be our next Labour Party Leader and Prime Minister. It’s interesting to recall that Andy made more visits than any other shadow minister to the Rochester and Strood by-election back in 2014, with the NHS a key campaigning issue.

Since then, of course, he has served as an outstanding Greater Manchester Mayor, bringing forward dramatic changes to issues like skills, tackling homelessness and improvements in public transport.  I am hopeful he will continue and enhance the matter of devolution so communities like Medway can access those key areas and resources we most definitely need.  I look forward to working with him and his new cabinet members to bring improvements to our community here.

This will be the last Voice of the Leader published before the publication of the outcome from MHCLG for Local Government Reorganisation for the region of Kent and Medway. As readers will know Medway, alongside Ashford and Canterbury, submitted option 4D alongside 4 other options. As I have said elsewhere, I am hopeful about government choosing our bold vision, but if that is not the case, I won’t be spending taxpayers' money on any judicial review. I believe this has been a fair and open process and to waste taxpayers' money on what would be, in my opinion, an unsuccessful challenge seems flawed.

Clearly, there is plenty of work to do, and, of course, from a democratic perspective, residents will be able to vote for the leadership of the new council in May 2027, ahead of the official launch day on 1^st April 2028.

One of the biggest pleasures I get as council leader is to see amazing charity and not-for-profit organisations doing outstanding things for our community. In one single week recently I got to see many different examples. On the Saturday I joined Medway Samaritans for their 60^th anniversary celebrations – who knew that they started their existence in what is now the Central Theatre? With their home now in Strood, it was great to speak to some of the volunteers who have given decades of service.

From an organisation with six decades of history to a charity which is very young in comparison, as on the Sunday I was honoured to speak at the unveiling of Sofia’s Throne in Halling – remembering Sofia who passed away at just seven years old of a rare brain tumour.  The whole village of Halling had been there to support the family not just on this day but on every day of this journey.  I have no doubt their next phase of this project will be a success.  

On Tuesday I visited two charities who are making a difference. Thrift and Thrive have taken on the former Gray's site in Intra that previously hosted Gillingham Street Angels, which has now closed down. The Thrift and Thrive team are moving forward with a number of projects and, importantly, having a focus on collaborative partnership working, which is a great approach.  I also visited the new main site for One Big Family, speaking to staff, volunteers and service users – they are a trusted local organisation who are there for those without a permanent home. They are bringing back their London to Medway overnight walk fundraiser this autumn.

At the last Medway Matters Live, one of the volunteers from Medway Street Angels said I should come along and see what is happening with their weekly work. I was pleased to join them on the Wednesday night to lend a hand with the food kitchen in the car park in Chatham and chat to volunteers and guests who made use of the services. It was good that the manager from the council’s Crisis and Resilience fund was also there speaking to the organisational leaders to see what additional support may be available. Unsurprisingly, they were at pains to say they were not anything to do with the former charity mentioned above with a similar name, and I’m pleased to reiterate that here.

In all these cases across this particular week, I wish these charities didn’t have to exist, but Medway is a stronger, more resilient and compassionate place for them existing, and I’m grateful to all of them sparing time with me and sharing their experiences.

A huge thank you to the volunteers and leaders of these organisations and all charities making a difference across Medway every single day.

Cllr Vince Maple is the Leader of Medway Council and Labour councillor for Chatham Central and Brompton.