Ahead of the 2027 local elections, the Medway Conservative Group has announced a number of forthcoming retirements from Medway Council.
Councillors Howard Doe, Barry Kemp, Matt Fearn, Adrian Gulvin and Alex Hyne will all stand down from the Council at the local elections in May 2027.
Councillor Howard Doe will retire after more than fifty years of public service. First elected to Gillingham Borough Council in 1972, he served until 1995 before being elected to Medway Council in 2000. During his time on Medway Council, he served for seven years as Deputy Leader of the Council.
Councillor Barry Kemp was first elected to Medway Council in May 2007 and has held a variety of positions during his time in office. He currently serves as Opposition Chief Whip and Vice-Chair of the Kent and Medway Fire Authority. From 2019 until 2023 he served as Chair of the Children and Young People Overview and Scrutiny Committee, leading accountability and scrutiny of children's services from inadequate to good. He was also Mayor of Medway from 2014 until 2016 and chaired the audit committee from 2015 until 2019.
Councillor Matt Fearn was first elected in 2003 to represent Rainham Central, serving until 2007. He returned to the Council in 2015 as the member for Cuxton and Halling and most recently served as the Opposition Spokesperson on licensing matters.
Councillor Adrian Gulvin first served on Rochester-upon-Medway City Council from 1983 to 1995 before being elected to Medway Council in 2011, representing Walderslade. He served as Leader of the Opposition from 2023 to 2024 and has also held a number of senior portfolio positions during his years in local government.
Councillor Alex Hyne was first elected in May 2023 and has represented the residents of Princes Park since that time. He has decided not to seek re-election but will instead continue to serve his local community in other ways."
Following the announcement, Councillor George Perfect, Leader of the Medway Conservative Group and Leader of the Opposition of Medway Council, said:
"It is always a sad day when we say goodbye to good friends and colleagues who have dedicated so much of their time to public service.
Councillor Howard Doe will have served the people of Medway and its predecessor authorities for more than fifty years by the time he retires in 2027, making him one of the longest-serving Conservative councillors in the country. Throughout his career, whether as a portfolio holder, Deputy Leader or ward councillor, he has always been a passionate advocate for local residents and has consistently worked to secure the best outcomes for our communities.
Councillor Adrian Gulvin has also given many years of distinguished service, both on Rochester-upon-Medway City Council and Medway Council. As a former portfolio holder and Leader of the Opposition, he has made a significant contribution to local government and to the residents he has represented.
Barry, Matt, Adrian, Alex and Howard have each played an important role within our Group and in serving their communities. While they will be greatly missed, they leave behind a strong legacy of public service of which they can be enormously proud."
