"Medway Conservatives vehemently disagree with the four council proposal for local government reorganisation (LGR) as announced by Medway Council this afternoon, which breaches a number of red-lines for us as a Group.
This map, which we understand was presented to the Kent Leaders meeting today with no consultation, does not have the buy-in of authorities across Kent nor the opposition of Medway Council. This map seeks to impose vast changes to existing district boundaries across the entire county, as well as breaking up parts of Medway. Most of all, this map does not consider existing communities nor the views of their elected representatives, and is seeking to impose a model which we believe is not consistent with the aims and objectives as laid out by the government for LGR. I am most alarmed that this map has now undone the cross party work of all fourteen Kent councils and the leading role Medway played in that process, which up until this point had been working collaboratively.
We will not support this proposal and we fully support the concerns raised by other leaders across the county, including particularly those made by my friend and colleague Cllr Matt Boughton, Leader of Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council."
ENDS
For press comment please contact Harry Noble: [email protected] or 01634 332517
