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for budget MAIDSTONE Borough Council’s budget has been passed, but not without a significant rebellion in the opposition ranks. The fiscal strategy went through by a single vote (23 to 22). The budget, which sees a 2% rise


in council tax, was largely pushed through by the ruling Liberal Democrats and independents. Some Labour councillors abstained. The Conservative group, many of whom are unhappy about hit- ting poorer families in the middle of a pandemic, chose to fight the budget proposal. Independent councillors Eddie


Powell, Tom Sams and Janetta Sams sided with the Tories. If Bearsted Tory Mike Cuming, who abstained, had voted with his party the casting vote would have been left to Conservative mayor Marion Ring. Had certain absen- tees been present, the budget could have been voted down. Conservative group leader John


Perry said: “Our members strongly opposed the 2% rise in council tax but the coalition held on. It’s bad for poorer people in the borough.”


downsmail.co.uk


Lockmeadow to get foodhall in phase 2


PLANS for the second phase of the council-owned Lockmeadow leisure complex have been given the go-ahead. Maidstone Borough Council’s pol- icy and resources committee agreed to a foodhall, a terrace and a chil- dren's play area.


MBC bought back the lease for the site in 2019 for £19m, in a hush-hush deal with Kames Capital. Since then, the complex has largely been shut because of COVID-19, but millions was spent on upgrading the Odeon Cinema. Some elected mem- bers questioned the detail of the plans, particularly for the foodhall which council officers claim will at- tract local restaurant businesses. Labour's Cllr Paul Harper warned


that "£900,000 is a considerable in- vestment" in one phase. Fellow Labour member Cllr Malcolm McKay said: "I want this to be a suc- cess...the restaurant/foodhall makes sense but what doesn't make sense is


why we want to do it in the midst of a pandemic."


Liberal Democrat Cllr Nick de


Wiggondene-Sheppard said: "This is now an existing asset and we have a responsibility to make it work in the long term."


He said there are plenty of en- trepreneurs planning start-ups, knowing there will be demand when the lockdown is finally lifted.


The meeting on February 10 agreed to proceed with phase two of the project.


Critics of the council’s purchase of the Lockmeadow site warned if it fails commercially, the council may convert it into high-rise flats. Conservative Cllr Karen Chappell-


Tay said more use should be made of “our beautiful river”. Letters, pages 45 & 46


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