Fighting to stop local elections being cancelled.
You may have read news about whether the next local elections will go ahead and local democracy changing in a big way.
On Thursday 10th January, Kent County Council members discussed the Conservative KCC Cabinet's plan to ask the government to stop the 2025 local elections, create a "Mayor for Kent & Medway" and re-organise Kent’s 14 local councils into 3 or 4.
A mayor will lead to higher council tax and will concentrate too much power in one individual’s hands.
I did my best to speak up for everyone in Faversham, and people throughout Kent.
As Leader of the Lib Dem Group I submitted amendments:
- For 2025 local elections to go ahead so people can choose who represents them
- For maximum transparency in this whole process
- To prioritise the right outcome over speed and let the public’s views lead the process
We worked closely with other party groups and supported also supported an amendment against having a mayor (unless the public and asked and say they want one).
I was pleased my amendment on transparency, seconded by Mike Sole, passed, but we will hold the Council Leader to account to make sure that is honoured.
The other amendments were defeated by the Conservative majority (elected in 2021 on a minority of the popular vote).
There is a long road ahead in this work to get the best outcome for people – and one which people choose rather than having imposed upon them.
Antony Hook is Faversham's representative on Kent County Council and Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group.