Conservatives seek to hold on to power despite losses
The Conservatives look set to retain control of Maidstone Borough Council despite suffering losses in the local elections.
The Tories had spent most of last year with a slim one-seat majority until mid-April, when one of its members was dismissed as he hadn’t attended a council meeting for six months after moving away.
Their hold on the administration has been weakened further still following this month’s vote, after they made a net loss of four seats, securing 24 of the 55 seats available. It left no party with overall control and, in theory, a rainbow coalition could take control if the Lib Dems (12 seats) Labour (six) and Greens (three) worked together.
But they would still need the support of at least seven of the 10 Independent councillors and last year many of those consistently voted with the Tories. Even Cllr Clive English, the leader of the Lib Dem group, was predicting the ruling Conservatives would still be holding the reins when the council’s annual general meeting takes place on Saturday.
Under the terms of the council’s consitution, Tory leader Cllr David Burton will automatically remain as council boss unless he loses a vote of no confidence.
He could include one of the Independents in his cabinet in order to secure their support. Another alarm bell for the ruling Tories will be the victory of Independent Vanessa Jones in
Boxley Ward, which is traditionally a blue stronghold.
Cllr Jones secured a comfortable 228 vote majority over the sitting Conservative councillor Anne Brindle.
The chairman of Bredhurst Parish Council has been one of the prominent campaigners against the borough council’s own plans to build a 2,000-home garden village in Lidsing.
Cllr Jones said: “I was successful because the residents of Boxley are not happy with the amount of building going on in the ward. I’ve also had strong support from the Against Lidsing Campaign.
“We need affordable housing in the right place and with the right roads, but Lidsing is not the way to go.
“The people of Boxley have spoken. Everybody is so concerned with what the Conservatives are doing at Lidsing and at Lenham (where there is a 5,000-home garden village proposed) – it’s just not right.” One bit of cheer for the Conservatives was the election of
Cllr James Reid for Coxheath and Hunton Ward, who saw off competition from Green and Lib Dem candidates.
The Lib Dems had held the seat last time, although their sitting member Richard Webb did not seek re-election.
Aged only 20, professional sports coach Cllr Reid will certainly stand out in the council chamber.
He is the son of Cllr Lottie Parfitt-Reid, who also represents Coxheath and Hunton.
Cllr Reid said: “I’m hugely honored that the residents of Coxheath and Hunton have put their faith in me.
“I do feel that there’s often a lack of young voices being heard, and there’s often criticism of younger people for not being engaged.
“I’m a big believer in having a positive attitude and always encouraging people to do and be their best rather than criticising and putting people down, I see a lot of the latter in politics and hopefully I can be that positive voice.”