Transport job is county’s political dead-end street

There is one political job at County Hall that really ought to come with a “proceed with caution” sign. It’s the role that involves looking after roads and transport in the authority’s Conservative cabinet.

After the previous holder Matthew Balfour got his marching orders, the job has gone to Cllr Mike Whiting.

So, why might it be a political poisoned chalice? Well, if you look at the previous five holders of the post – who left for various reasons – none have returned to the cabinet in any other capacity.

Maybe it is a political cul-de-sac…

We rather liked the soundbite of Green county councillor Martin Whybrow on the sacking of Matthew Balfour. “Being KCC cabinet member for transport is a bit like being the England football manager – it never ends well.”

Kent County Council has been in protracted negotiations with the government over recovering some £4 million it says it is out of pocket because of asylum-seeking children who have reached the age of 18 and cost the authority more.

So it might not be best pleased that it will have to pick up the negotiations with new minister Caroline Nokes. There is one upside though: her father is Roy Perry, the Conservative leader of Hampshire County Council – so she may have already an insight into the challenges facing councils.

The climbdown by KCC over those controversial bus cuts has seen a scramble to claim the credit. Kent MP Charlie Elphicke was quickly on the case, saying it was the joint letter signed by 10 Kent MPS that secured a climbdown. “This is a huge victory for the joint action of Kent’s MPS. It’s very welcome news and the council deserve great credit for listening to the concerns of people across Kent.” As they say, success has many fathers but failure is an orphan.

So, with £53 million in KCC’S budget needing to be saved, surely there must be cuts to services in the pipeline? Not according to Conservative leader Paul Carter: “Just because you are spending less money, doesn’t mean you cannot spend that money in different ways.” More for less, rather than less for less, perhaps.

Follow Paul on Twitter @ Paulonpolitics for all Kent’s political news and gossip.