Maidstone Borough Council 3 Maidstone’s cabinet 2012-13


Maidstone’s Executive Cabinet provides leadership at the top level of the council and decides the council's priorities. It is responsible for the overall business of the council and makes most decisions. All decisions must be in line with the overall policy and budget frameworks set by the council and its decisions are subject to scrutiny by a different group of councillors.


Chris Garland (Conservative) is the Leader of Maidstone Borough Council.


Following the borough council elections, in May, the council now has 30 Conservative, 19 Liberal Democrat, 5 independent and 1 Labour councillor. Fran Wilson (Liberal Democrat) is the Leader of the Opposition. As the Leader of the Council, Chris Garland is responsible for the sustainable community strategy, strategic plan and medium term financial strategy. He is an ambassador for the council and represents it on national and regional bodies such as the Kent forum. He has expanded his cabinet for 2012-13 to include a new portfolio dealing with planning, transport and development. The full cabinet is:


Cllr Malcolm Greer (Conservative) – Cabinet Member for Economic and Commercial Development (Deputy Leader)


Responsible for economic development, the visitor economy, Hazlitt Arts Centre, Maidstone museums, regeneration, commercial services, sustainable construction and Maidstone market.


Cllr Eric Hotson (Conservative) – Cabinet Member for Corporate Services


Responsible for people strategy, customer service, corporate finance, legal advice, information technology, property and procurement, council tax and housing benefit, and democratic services.


Cllr Marion Ring (Conservative) – Cabinet Member for the Environment


Responsible for waste minimisation and recycling, air quality management, climate change and carbon management, cleansing services, environmental health, licensing, Maidstone crematorium and cemetery, local biodiversity action planning and Cobtree Golf Course.


Overview and scrutiny


Maidstone’s overview and scrutiny committees challenge and inform the cabinet to ensure that the council is run in an effective and efficient way and in the best interests of residents


Get involved Overview and Scrutiny Committees look at services and issues that are important to local people. Councillors can refer any matter affecting their ward to Overview and Scrutiny. · Is public transport an issue in your rural community? · Would you like to join the discussion on community buses and rural transport? · Would your community like to be involved? We can come to you and hold a meeting in your community and get the right people around the table to achieve results.


Reviews in 2012-13


· The council’s capital programme, investigating areas including: asset management, borrowing and lottery funding.


· The visitor information centre and the use of the Town Hall.


· Empty properties.


· The impact of the reduction in Police numbers. · CCTV.


· Community buses and rural transport. · Youth services.


· Council tax and benefits and the impact of welfare reforms.


· Housing and housing associations. · Water and waste water.


· The night time economy and anti-social behaviour


Meetings are held in public at Maidstone Town Hall and in locations throughout the borough.


We welcome views and input - contact Orla Sweeney or Clare Wood on 01622 602491/602524 or via email, orlasweeney@maidstone.gov.uk/ clarewood@maidstone.gov.uk. Look out for opportunities to be involved on Maidstone Borough Council’s facebook page: www.facebook.com/maidstoneboroughcouncil.


Cllr John A. Wilson (Conservative) – Cabinet Member for Community and Leisure Services


Responsible for strategic housing management, community safety, community development, parks, open spaces and allotments, leisure activities, community engagement, and allocation and monitoring of grants.


Stephen Paine (Conservative) – Cabinet Member for Planning, Transport and Development


Responsible for the Local Development Framework , Development Plan Documents, Development Management policies and development briefs, Integrated Transport Strategy, Infrastructure Delivery Plan, planning enforcement, land charges, building control, parking, park and ride, and public transport initiatives.


Councillor David Burton (Conservative) chairs the Regeneration and Economic Development Committee, Councillor


Fay Gooch (Independent) chairs the Corporate Services Committee and Councillor Annabelle Blackmore (Conservative) chairs the Communities Committee.


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