Voice of the Leaders

Editor's note: After a summer of record temperatures, we approached the leader of each political group on Medway Council for their views on what Medway Council can and/or should do about climate change and net zero.

Vince Maple, Labour leader of Medway Council, and ward councillor for Chatham Central and Brompton

With all the talk of LGR, Devolution and everything else local government structures – looking at this question is so important because without meaningful progress on this issue, frankly everything else is irrelevant.

Nobody can see or experience the climate change which is already happening and not recognise there needs to be a continued, robust, joined-up programme of work regarding this.

I’m proud it is our current administration which has truly been leading the way on this matter.

I want to place on record my thanks to both our brilliant portfolio holder, Simon Curry, who has decades of professional experience in this area along with unconditional determination to make a difference – we are also incredibly lucky to have a dedicated climate change team whose collective work is essential in playing our part in this global crisis.

There are the obvious things which you would expect any council to be doing, reducing use of single-use plastic, more energy-efficient items being used such as LED Street Lighting, beginning the EV Charging points across Medway.

It is also supporting residents as they play their part too, and I know the Climate Change team has spoken to thousands of residents at community events over the summer.

However, it is not just about having a brilliant climate change team (although that does help!).

It is about embedding the culture of positive activity and thinking across the council and beyond.

And it's about making sure that it isn’t just the council who are leading the thinking on this.

A couple of great examples spring to mind.

Our brilliant eco hubs, led by the community and making huge positive contributions – my thanks to residents across Medway who have given their time to make the eco hubs the success they have been and continue to be.

We have also seen great co-production between the council and the wider community through the Community Climate Working Group. The working group supports key messages and initiatives on carbon reduction and climate resilience, and directly influences and shapes the council's work on climate issues.

Working Group members have a passion for supporting the climate emergency, and work to share their community’s sustainable practices with the group. In 2024, a Medway Community Energy Project Working Group was set up by members of the main working group, supported by council teams and Simon Curry. This group aims to act as an enabling body to facilitate and support local community energy initiatives.

They're focusing on solar, anaerobic digestion and knowledge-sharing opportunities for retrofit and energy efficiency.

In terms of climate change resilience, trees are one of our most important assets. Over the last few years we have planted thousands, and there is more to come. We also have a dedicated team of Greenspace experts responsible for managing our existing trees and woodland.

And Medway has been recognised internationally as one of those councils that has committed to the UK City Net Zero Declaration – that commits us to work with public and private organisations, creating strategic partnerships that will deliver a transformational programme of green growth, bringing billions of pounds of investment to the UK economy.

I’m also incredibly proud that our work was recently recognised in New York - Medway participates in the Strategic Energy Partnership Programme (SEPP), emerging from the Local Net Zero Delivery Group. Through this, the Chatham Maritime Heat Network was included in an investment prospectus during New York Climate Week, demonstrating Medway’s role in attracting private investment for net zero delivery.

I would encourage Local Authority readers to come along and be part of the conversation at the showing of the National Emergency Briefing on 14th October at the Glassbox Theatre.

I’m incredibly proud of the work in this area both Medway the Council and the Place has done in this critical area – of course, that is with the backdrop of some ill-informed politicians referring to this as “Stupid Net Zero” – I would argue the only thing stupid is trying to deny there is an issue and not recognising the key role local politics has in tackling the climate emergency.

George Perfect, Conservative leader of the opposition, and ward councillor for Rainham North

I’m very pleased that within my Shadow Cabinet Cllr Habib Tejan has the shadow portfolio for climate change. He is absolutely committed to the issue and learning more about how local authorities can play their role in dealing with climate issues. The role of Medway Council in tackling global climate change is however limited. Medway Council already has ambitious climate targets, and that is built into its policy platform, and this was put into motion by our Group when we ran the Council. We are very fortunate that the Conservative Environment Network has supported us in the past with a range of research which helps us develop ideas and solutions to climate within the Conservative tradition.

Through the LGA’s sustainability improvement programme, as a Group, we want to continue to see the Council implementing best practice and building efficient and industry-leading practices into everything we do. Most of this is happening as we speak and done with minimal cost implications to the taxpayer. Habib and our team through the Climate Change Advisory Group will continue to challenge the administration on this area. 

More widely though, we have to get serious. We have some of the most stringent climate change targets in the world, and under the leadership of Kemi Badenoch, we are clear that this is having implications on other areas of the economy. Our energy is the second most expensive in the world. The price of energy just continues to rise. As Conservatives, we want to see a move away from binding climate change targets, in favour of economic growth and cheaper energy. We know that these two issues are of the upmost importance to people in Medway. 

Labour promised to cut energy bills by £300, but because they entered government without a plan, energy bills have instead increased by £294. The Conservatives have been working on a serious plan to turn that around, by cutting green levies through our Cheap Power Plan, including removing VAT for three years, to cut energy bills by £200 and 20% for business, Get Britain Drilling in the North Sea and build more nuclear.

Only we have the leader with a backbone, the clear, detailed plan and the expertise and strong team to deliver on climate, whilst protecting the economy and reducing the cost of living.

Michael Pearce, leader of the Independent Group, and ward councillor for Hoo and High Halstow

Medway Council cannot lecture residents about climate change and net zero while simultaneously pursuing a Local Plan that threatens to permanently damage the Hoo Peninsula.

The Council talks about reducing carbon emissions, protecting biodiversity and responding to a climate emergency, yet it is proposing around 6,000 new houses across the Hoo Peninsula, much of it on productive, high-grade agricultural land and close to some of our most environmentally sensitive and internationally and nationally protected habitats.

That is hypocrisy!

You cannot claim to be protecting the environment while concreting over countryside, destroying farmland, increasing traffic and placing still greater pressure on habitats that should be protected for future generations. Once productive agricultural land and irreplaceable natural environments are lost, they are gone.

The Independent Group supports sensible and proportionate environmental action that delivers real benefits and value for money:  improving energy efficiency, better public transport, flood resilience, tree planting, renewable energy in appropriate locations and prioritising brownfield development. But net zero must not become a convenient slogan that is wheeled out when it suits the Council and forgotten when thousands of houses are being allocated.

If Medway Council genuinely believes there is a climate emergency, then its Local Plan must reflect that.

Protecting the climate means protecting the land, wildlife, habitats and natural resources we already have. The Council cannot have it both ways: it cannot declare a climate emergency with one hand while destroying the Hoo Peninsula with the other.

David Finch, leader of the Reform Group, and ward councillor for Rochester East and Warren Wood 

After a summer of high temperatures, Medway Council should focus on practical action, not costly gestures in the name of net zero.

Before talking about planting thousands more trees, perhaps we should properly maintain the trees and vegetation we already have. Before announcing new flood-prevention schemes, let’s make sure our existing drains and gullies are regularly cleared and kept working properly.

Too often councils are attracted to announcing something new, while the less glamorous job of maintaining what taxpayers have already paid for gets overlooked. Good maintenance is climate resilience too.

We should also ensure our schools, care homes and public buildings can cope with hot weather and cold snaps. Where energy-efficiency improvements genuinely reduce council bills and save taxpayers money, they make sense too.

What Reform UK will not support is climate change being used to justify expensive vanity projects, restrictions on motorists or additional costs for families and businesses.

Medway Council cannot control the global climate from Gun Wharf. But it can control whether our drains are blocked, our infrastructure is maintained, and our communities are properly prepared for extreme weather.

Every proposal should face a simple test: what measurable difference will this make to Medway residents, how much will it cost, and is it good value?

Our approach is straightforward: maintain what we’ve got, fix the basics, strengthen our infrastructure, protect residents and spend taxpayers’ money wisely.

Infrastructure first. Ideology second.

If you have a question you would like us to put to the group leaders of Medway Council, email Steven.