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Council elects new leader aer post-election resignation


THE new leader of Maidstone Council isAnnabelle Blackmore, from Marden. Cllr Blackmore (48) was elected


leader at the annual meeting of the council, prior to the mayor-making ceremony. She received 25 votes from fellow councillors, against 22 for Cllr Fran Wilson, leader of the Lib Dems. But shewas not able to form a coalition with any of the smaller parties and will lead a minority Conservative administration. After the May elections and Cllr Richard Lusty’s resignation aweek later, the Conservatives hold 23 seats, Lib Dems 19, Independents five, UKIP four and Labour two. With five members of the council


absent from the annual meeting to decide whowould lead the council and three UKIP members abstain- ing in the vote, the Conservatives retained the leadership. Cllr Paul Harper (Labour), who


was elected, said afterwards: “Is it any wonder there is apathy with local government when five coun-


cillors can’t even make it to the first council meet- ing?” The miss-


Annabelle Blackmore


ing quintet were Janetta Sams (Inde- pendent) who was at-


tending a fete, Christine Edwards- Daem (UKIP), whowas ill, Thomas Long (Lib Dem), and Richard Ash (Conservative), who were both on holiday. The fifth absenteewas Cllr Lusty (Conservative, Staplehurst), whose resignation has also had an impact on the make-up of several important committees, including planning, where the Conservatives no longer have a majority and a Lib Dem, Cllr Clive English, has taken over the chairmanship. Cllr Blackmore’s cabinet includes newly-elected Cllr John Perry, from


Five vie for Staplehurst seat


THERE are five contenders for a key seat on Maidstone Council when the people of Staplehurst go to the polls later this month. Cllr Richard Lusty stepped down


from his seat within days of Cllr Annabelle Blackmore being ap- pointed leader of the council fol- lowing this year’s election in May. Cllr Lusty resigned fromhis seat in


Staplehurst, leaving the Tories with 24 seats, Lib Dems 19, Independ- ents five, UKIP four and Labour two. His resignation also lost fellow


Tory Cllr Dennis Collins his seat as chairman of the influential planning committee, leaving too few mem- bers to retain Conservative control. At the time, Cllr Lusty, who served


16 years on the council, nine of them as planning committee chair-


man, said: “I believe I did not fit in with what Annabelle Blackmore wanted to do.” Although Louise Brice, from Fur-


ther Field, is standing in his place as a Conservative at the by-election on July 24, the Liberal Democrats have high hopes that their candidate Paulina Watson, from Barn Meadow, will succeed, particularly in the light of her high profile cam- paign on overcrowded – or missing – buses between Staplehurst and Maidstone. However, also in the running are


UKIP candidate Jamie Kalmar from Stanley Close, who also fought the last election, John Randall, fromSta- tion Road, standing for the Labour Party and David George from Cor- ner Farm Road for the Greens.


Staplehurst, who becomes cabinet member for community and leisure services. Two other councillors also join the cabinet for the first time: Cllr Steve McLoughlin, forMarden & Yalding, is responsible for corpo- rate services while the third mem- ber for the ward, Cllr David Burton, takes over planning, trans- port and development. Cllr Marion Ring is still in charge


of environment and Cllr Malcolm Greer continues as deputy leader and cabinet member for economic and commercial development. Cllr Blackmore acknowledges


she will have to appeal to like- minded councillors in other groups when it comes to the important is- sues in the year ahead. She said: “Last month’s elections


were dominated by the local plan. We will be taking a close look at the results of the consultation to see where we can make changes to meet the wishes of our residents.


MAIDSTONE Council is being urged to refuse a plan for 220 homes on the former Oldborough Manor School playing fields in Boughton Lane, Loose. KCC Cllr Brian Clark and Maid-


stone Cllr Derek Mortimer are op- posed to the proposed develop- ment on land adjacent toNewLine Learning Academy, off Boughton Lane, which includes a new road- way through the heart of Five Acre Wood.


Although Ward Homes is the proposed developer, the planning application for 220 homes has been submitted jointly by the Future Schools Trust, which runs the academy, by KCC and by BDW Trading. Cllr Clark said: “National plan-


“We will also be consulting resi-


dents on the council’s strategic plan to make sure it continues to meet the needs of the borough.” Cllr Blackmorewas elected to the borough council in 2003 but cour- ted controversy by moving to Ber- muda with her husband. She main- tained it was possible to represent herward from a distance, returning to the UK to fulfil the minimum at- tendance requirements. Since returning to live in the UK,


Cllr Blackmore has been on several committees, including the joint transportation board, and served as chairman of the community, leisure services and environment over- view and scrutiny committee. She is a former insurance broker and has two children. The leaders of the other groups


on Maidstone Council are Cllr Fay Gooch, Independent; Cllr Eddie Powell, UKIP; and Cllr Malcolm McKay, Labour.


Loose homes plan unpopular


ning guidelines give strong pro- tection to ancient woodland and Kent Highway Services has indi- cated that it would accept a single access to the site with adjacent emergency access. This would re- move the need to cut through the wood.” The current plan involves a land


swap between the developer and KCC, which is unpopular locally. The 1,500 residents who have signed a petition against the plan say the new development will ruin thewoodland and greatly increase traffic in Boughton Lane. Cllr Mortimer said: “With Kent Highways already considering the Loose Road junction to be ‘at ca- pacity’, this plan will add to traffic misery in South Maidstone.”


Richard Thick becomes mayor of Maidstone


THE new mayor of Maidstone is Conservative Cllr Richard Thick, from Headcorn. Cllr Thickwas conferred with the honour in a special Saturday cele- bration at Maidstone Town Hall at the start of a new civic day – the first of its kind in the borough. Congratulatory speeches were


followed by a parade through the town to a civic service at All Saints’ Church. Cllr Thick has been a member of Maidstone Council since 1998 and


New mayor Richard Thick with his wife on civic day Photograph: Andy Archer


has served on vari- ous committees, including plann- ing. He is also involved in volun- teer work in Head- corn. The mayor started singing in a church choir at the age of six and now sings with the Tongswood Chamber Choir based at St Ronan’s


School in Hawkhurst, as well as being a member of Headcorn church choir. He formerly sang with Sutton


Valence Choral Society along with his wife of 39 years, Rosanne, who still does. The deputy mayor is Cllr Daniel Moriarty, the Independent member for ParkWood. This year’s mayoral charities are


the Urban Blue Bus, Heart of Kent Hospice and Maidstone Mencap.


Maidstone South July 2014 23


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