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Budget approved with 1.99% council tax hike


MAIDSTONE Borough Council’s budget has been approved with a 1.99% increase in council tax. A Tory-led amendment, which


called for a contingency fund to bol- ster planning enforcement,was de- feated at a meeting of full council on March 1. The Lib-Dem led administration


was forced to defend its decision to continue funding the Maidstone Museum amid accusations that the money could be spent on the front line.


Leader of the Conservative group, Cllr Annabelle Blackmore said: "Conservative Maidstone Bor- ough Councillors wanted a contin- gency fund for escalated planning enforcement action in the most seri- ous of cases. “Instead, the Liberal Democrat


cohort backed additional money into the museum, which already re- ceived in excess of £1,000,000. “Howcan this be right or allowed


to continue? The Conservative Group fully support the principle of a local museum, but not at the detri- ment to other frontline services.We believe funding for the museum should be sought from alternative streams. "Liberal Democrat councillors


have left us to look at eyesores across our borough and it is totally unacceptable. This Liberal Democ- rat-led borough council must make difficult choices relating to budgets. Do all services provide value for


Politics | News Tories accused


of about-turn ANALYSIS by FranWilson, leader of Maidstone Borough Council


AT FULL council meeting the Con- servatives voted against budget pro- posals for 2017/18, including an amendment to accept the Govern- ment’s offer to increase planning charges, both of which they had ap- proved earlier in the evening. They appeared to


make this about-turn in a fit of pique be- cause their budget amendment had been rejected. This had suggested set- ting up a fund for accelerated en- forcement action by raiding the council’s modest savings and taking £50,000 from the budget of the mu- seum.


Cllr Fran Wilson While there is cross-party agree-


Cllr Annabelle Blackmoremeets the public (above) and right, Liberal Democrat candidate Emily Fermor


money? The Conservative group, who do not control the council, want to protect frontline services for all residents and not pay huge sums for an entity whose footfall is reducing." Defending the budget decisions,


Lib Dem Cllr Emily Fermor said: “I completely understand the prob- lemswe face with enforcement and the need to review that part of the borough council, as it’s not work- ing at the moment. “There is a review going on at the moment in the planning depart- ment as to what money is needed and where. The Tory idea was a sticking plaster without a long- term solution for the future.


“As for


the mu- seum, I be- lieve that funding should stay in place as we have a rich history and must stay open, free at the point of use.” Tory councillor Matt Boughton


said that the museum was at the bottom of residents’ priorities, ac- cording to the council’s own sur- vey.


The Tory amendment was de-


feated and the budget was passed. The council raised the council tax by 1.99% – as high as it is allowed to without triggering a referendum.


ment that improvements need to be made to planning enforcement, the other groups thought this was not theway to go about it. Even members of the Tory back


bench were astounded when their leader voted against the budget she had earlier in the evening voted for. As a result some of the Conservative councillors did not vote with their leader. However, the majority fol- lowed her like lemmings. Were it not for the combined ef-


forts of the Lib Dems and the three smaller groups, the council would have been left in the ridiculous posi- tion not only of having no agreed budget for 2017/18, but also having to refuse the government’s offer of giving the borough the ability to lever more funding into the plan- ning department – the very thing To- ries had said theywanted to achieve!


KCC 2017: Analysis Lib Dems’ Tory target


THE Kent County Council elec- tions in May are set against a back- ground of momentous change in domestic politics which will leave none of the candidates taking any- thing for granted. Ironically, it was the 2013 result


which arguably triggered that change. Had Ukip notwon 17 seats in Kent – as well as many more across Britain – the then PM David Cameron may not have felt com- pelled to offer an EU referendum. He took a gamble and lost. Premier Theresa May’s unyield-


ing approach to leaving the EU may harm Ukip but could play into the hands of the pro-European Lib- eral Democrats, who some local To- ries fear more than Labour. This Tory administration must


stand over its record. And an unpalatable, cheerless


menu it is too – council tax on the rise, cuts everywhere and pressure on social care. The leadership will


rightly blame the government squeeze but it must be wary the voters do not end up blaming them for austerity measures. Ukip remains bullish, publicly.


Privately, members know the na- tional party’s in disarray with an unprepossessing leader. They must hope their local candidates carry personal support as well as party favour. Labour – which won 13 seats -


will have to work hard and come up with a potent message to make headway. Simply not being the Tories is not enough and the party is at its low- est ebb since the 1980s, despite a surge in members.Apositive result in Kent might indicate broader public support. The ones towatch will be the Lib-


eral Democrats, with time served for the tuition fees fiasco, who ready for a scrap.


Simon Finlay Maidstone Weald April 2017 33


THE Liberal Democrats feel the tide is turning for them post- Brexit and hope to make signifi- cant gains on May4. There are two divisions ob-


servers will be looking out for - Maidstone south and the rural wet division. The Lib Dems expect heavy pressure from the Conservatives in Maidstone south,where Brian Clark is the member. Lib Dem Maidstone central member Cllr Rob Bird said: “The Tories are talking big about Maidstone south and I suspect it is their number one target seat because they think they are stronger in Shepway north. Ukip have a presence there too but, honestly, what have Ukip got to offer post-ref- erendum?” In Maidstone rural west, held by the respected Paulina Stock-


ell, Lib Dem candidate, former mayor Brian Mortimer, must feel he has a good chance as a result of boundary changes and a change in his party’s fortunes after Brexit. Cllr Bird said: “The arithmetic


says it will be tight. I think we can do quite well there and I ac- cept the boundary changes will probably help us.” One Tory source told Downs


Mail: “We might be lucky to hold onto Paulina.We know we are in a scrap to hold onto that one. The Lib Dems will be fight- ing that one really hard and, frankly, you cannot blame them.” Cllr Bird added: “After a num-


ber of positive result across the country and in the past year or so, we feel we have got the tide with us and the opportunity to make a few gains.”


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