A couple of points to make this week which demonstrate that the Conservative administration is getting on with the things it promised to do.
Firstly let‘s take a look at Rochester Airport. During the election campaign we promised to retain flying, and this in the face of continuing attempts to force a closure from the other political groups on the Council.
Last week the Cabinet agreed to extend the current lease to Rochester Airport plc. for a further 18 months. This represents an important step forward, and is the first tangible evidence of Council support for the airport for a very long time.
In addition the Cabinet agreed to take immediate steps to see how we can put in place future arrangements for flying to continue in the longer-term. This has nailed the lie being put about by some that the Conservative pledge to retain flying at Rochester would not be honoured.
Then there is the introduction of American-style yellow buses for the school run. The original delivery date for yellow buses was scheduled for July, but the date has now been pushed back. A decision had to be made whether or not to postpone the pilot scheme or seek an alternative.
For the Conservatives delivery is important. This is in stark contrast to the Labour government who after more than half a decade in power have still to deliver on any of its 5 big election pledges made in 1997!
Therefore lack of yellow buses will not mean cancellation of the pilot scheme, rather it will go forward with an alternative.
The alternative will be white coaches, but the principles underpinning the scheme will remain the same. Not only will the scheme alleviate some of the congestion created by the school run, but safe travel to schools will be enhanced and the anti-truancy aspects of the scheme will also be brought to bear.
The second part of the pilot scheme will see the introduction of a 20p bus fare for some schoolchildren in Strood, and will follow on from the successful 20p scheme we introduced in our last administration.
This will give us two pilot schemes to improve travel to school during this autumn term, and provide a sharp reminder for those who criticise that the Conservatives deliver while others talk!