The council’s changing faces
WE can expect to see several new faces at Maidstone's first coun- cil meeting after the May elections, writes Peter Erlam. There may even be a different party in control - but that issue is
very much in the balance. About a third of the council's seats will up for grabs, and some es-
tablished members will not be seeking re-election. They include cabinet member Ben Sherreard (Con, Loose); John Horne (Con, Detling/Thurnham); and Colin Parr (Lib Dem, Coxheath/Hunton). Meanwhile, the popularity of several senior Tories will be gauged
at the May 5 ballot. They include deputy group leader Malcolm Greer (Boxley), last year's mayor Peter Parvin (Leeds), cabinet member Marion Ring (Shepway North) and planning committee chairman Richard Lusty (Staplehurst). Lib Dem leader Fran Wil- son will also be among those aiming to woo the voters.
Proud of borough’s renaissance By Cllr Chris Garland, leader of the Conservatives
MAIDSTONE Borough Council has now been run by the Conservative Party for the past three years, the longest any single party has done so in the past 30 years. In that time, Maidstone has gone from strength to strength and is now being head- lined as one of the top destinations for peo- ple to live, and businesses to invest and trade in. During these three years, despite the re- cession, Maidstone borough - both urban and rural - has gone through something of a renaissance. I am proud to have been a part of that change with my Conservative colleagues. This means that Maidstone will prosper and grow for the benefit of the children in the borough and for fu- ture generations. Maidstone council must change rapidly over the next few years
as the spending cuts begin to come through following the difficult task of clearing up Labour’s financial mess. But I believe that, painful though this will be in some areas of
the council’s work, it will produce a council more in tune with what the residents of Maidstone want. Under Conservative ad- ministration, it will be even more efficient in the delivery of those services you rightly expect and depend upon. Maidstone council must nowaccept that it cannot do everything
it used to do and must be honest about this. Conservatives are de- termined that Maidstone council continues to make the most of each pound of ratepayer’s money in the delivery of key services, facilitating economic prosperity through regeneration and pro- tecting Maidstone’s rich historical and environmental heritage.
Last May's election, also involving a third of council seats, left
the Lib Dems still one short of threatening the Conservatives' over- all majority. There are currently 27 Tories, 22 Lib Dems, four Inde- pendents and two vacancies - one caused by the death of Helen Langley (Con, Bearsted) and the other through the ill-health retire- ment of Patrick Sellar (Lib Dem, East ward) . So, there is everything to play for. However, the Lib Dems will be concerned about their humiliating sixth place in the recent Barns- ley Central by-election, losing their deposit in the process. The To- ries had nothing to smile about either - they finished third, with just over 8% of the vote, behind the UK Independence Party. Downs Mail asked each of the borough council's political groups to state why their candidates should get a cross against their name.
‘Greenest borough in a decade’ By Cllr FranWilson, leader of the Lib Dems
IN these challenging times any administra- tion running Maidstone Council will have to make tough choices. This is a local election and must be de-
cided on local issues. Maidstone’s Liberal Democrats have worked hard over the past year to be a re- sponsible opposition to the current Conser- vative administration. We have been proved right over the multi-
million pound High Street re-paving proj- ect. The Conservatives have finally been forced to admit that doing the scheme in its entirety is unafford- able without plunging the council into debt. If you choose the Liberal Democrats you will get a united team dedicated to ruthless cutting of council waste. We will not take the council into debt with vanity projects and we believe in pru- dent housekeeping. Emphasis will always be placed on keeping council tax down
and providing excellent front-line services: street cleaning, waste collection, recycling, sports facilities, parks and play areas. It is our intention to make Maidstone the greenest borough in
the country within a decade. We believe this makes good eco- nomic as well as environmental sense. We will ensure our planning policies deliver affordable high-
quality homes, protect our beautiful countryside andwildlife, and create the conditions to protect and broaden the job market for local people. Despite these tough times we believe if our council works with local residents and businesses it can deliver excellent and affordable services.
‘We are the only alternative’ By Cllr Mike FitzGerald, spokesperson for the Independents
THE aimof an Independent coun- cillor is to safeguard and promote the interests of the local commu- nity, both individually and col- lectively without being dictated to by any particular political party. They are free to ask difficult questions and keep asking them until they get a proper answer and during the past year the Inde- pendent councillors have done just that. They have challenged and called in deci-
sions, including calling an extraordinary meeting of the council to seek justice for
parish councils. They have challenged the ro- bustness of any CCTV move, and objected to the cut in chil- dren’s playground funding and sought a phasing of the High Street improvement to progress at a pace that would not take us all into debt. All these actions resulted in some change or amendment
being made. We are passionate about road safety, a se-
rious health inequality in Maidstone and continue to fight for ‘safer speed makes
THESE were the three main parties’ declared candidates shortly be- fore the closing date for nominations, as Downs Mail went to press. Allington Cynthia Robertson* (LD); Barry Ginley (Con) Bearsted (two seats) Val Springett (Con); Pat Marshall (Ind) Boxley Malcolm Greer* (Con); JohnWatson (LD) Coxheath/Hunton David Stamp (LD); Dennis Collins (Con) Detling/Thurnham Nick deWiggondene (Con); Geoff Licence (Ind)
Downswood/Otham Gordon Newton (Ind); Gary Cooke (Con) East (two seats) Dave Naghi* (LD); Martin Cox (LD); Scott Hah- nefeld (Con); Tony Denison (Con) Fant Fran Smith* (LD); Alistair Black (Con)
4 South
safer roads’. We give an independent voice to local
residents and champion the protection of local countryside and putting people first. We have an important role to play as pub-
lic health and NHS changes provide new commitment for the council, and we have to challenge changes in police reforms par- ticularly where they impact on anti social behaviour. Most people, 99% in fact, aren’t members
of a political party and are independent. I ask you to come out in force and vote Inde- pendent, the only alternative at this year’s elections.
List of candidates looking for your vote at the ballot box on May 5
Harrietsham/Lenham Tom Sams* (Ind) High Street FranWilson* (LD) Leeds Peter Parvin* (Con); Juliet Maddocks (Ind) Loose Susan Grigg (LD); Gordon Gove (Ind); Steve Shepherd (Con)
Marden/Yalding Annabelle Blackmore* (Con); Carol Jacques (LD) North MervynWarner* (LD); Jeff Tree (Con) Shepway North Marion Ring* (Con); Geoff Samme (LD) South JohnWilson* (LD); Mike Hogg (Con) Staplehurst Richard Lusty* (Con); Ralph Austin (LD) Sutton Valence/Langley Paulina Stockell* (Con); Sue Austin (LD) * Denotes sitting councillor
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