Voice of the Opposition

,Editor’s note: Each month, we present 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, for our latest Voice piece, we welcome Medway Council Leader of the Opposition George Perfect, who talks about Medway’s emerging Local Plan.

Voice of the Opposition

by Cllr George Perfect, Conservative Leader of the Opposition at Medway Council

Happy New Year! I am delighted to be starting 2026 off with the first Voice of piece for the award-winning Local Authority — and what a few months we have ahead. I wanted to focus on this piece, as we start 2026, with my concerns about the coming months, and particularly next month, when the administration will bring forward its Budget for 2026-2027. 

Last year, I warned of the significantly challenged financial position facing Medway Council at the Budget meeting in February. Whilst acknowledging the structural challenges facing Medway Council’s finances, brought about by its lower council tax rate, lower levels of government grant due to its authority type, and high level of need, I made clear the Council was heading in the wrong direction. The administration pressed ahead with unaffordable above inflation pay rises for all staff, significant increases to children’s services spend above inflation levels with the vague aim of getting “outstanding,” and a lack of willingness to take difficult financial decisions to deliver financial sustainability. All of this funded through the mechanism of “Exceptional Financial Support,” in other words, borrowing to fund day to day spending – to be paid back by future Medway taxpayers.

Since February’s Budget meeting, this position has got worse and worse. The current Budget is out of control, with the Council now £11m overspent on this current financial year. Decisions have been taken with huge revenue implications too, with the recent approval of a care home which will cost £44m, and add an additional £3m in interest payments to the taxpayer towards the end of the decade. All with a vague promise that at some point it will help with demand. Alongside that political decisions have been taken to spend £105,000 of taxpayer's money on the Medway business case for Local Government Reorganisation, something which doesn’t even meet the government’s criteria. These decisions will have consequences.

Last month, the administration updated its plans for the Budget for the next fiscal year from April. Of course, this time is going to be difficult enough for families in Medway following the recent Budget from Labour Chancellor Rachel Reeves. What the papers revealed should worry us all. A budget gap funded through borrowing for next year of around £26m. Yes, you have that right, £26m, around £8m more than they borrowed to set the Budget for this financial year. What’s even more worrying is the council’s latest medium term financial statements show that that figure will just increase every year until the end of the decade, when it is set to be around £55m worth of borrowing every year in order to pay for everyday spending. 

Despite the Labour rhetoric, Medway Council’s financial position is set to get worse every year under this Labour administration. But of course, the administration knows that. Because by the end of the decade, Medway Council will no longer be in existence. The administration have given up taking difficult decisions in order to reduce the budget gap, and instead, is more worried about returning councillors to the shadow authority in May 2027, than they are in ensuring that current children in Medway, Swale, Dartford and Gravesham pay lower levels of council tax. As a Conservative opposition, we don’t just believe that this is wrong. We will fight it in every bone in our body, because we are the only party that stands up for fiscal responsibility, and will always put the public before playing party politics. 

I would urge everyone in Medway to pay attention over the coming weeks and engage with the Budget process ahead of the February Budget Council. My Shadow Cabinet will lay out a comprehensive response, and an alternative. Not just because we are a strong and effective principal opposition – but because it is morally the right thing to do.

Cllr George Perfect is the Leader of the Opposition at Medway Council and Conservative councillor for Rainham North.