On March 1st 28 Conservative councillors voted to continue to improve Medway for the next year.
One of the more revealing ways of showing the public how elected members behave—rather than what they say—is what we call a Recorded Vote. When this is called for each councillor has to support or not support a particular motion.
In an astonishing debate in which the Conservatives proposed half-price bus fares for school children, a 5-year programme of alleygating, improvements in Walderslade, new pavements in Rainham and a new community centre in Rainham—together with a mass of other improvements—not one opposition politician voted in favour.
The following councillors voted against half-price bus fares for school children: Bowler, Davis, Mrs Gilry, Godwin, Griffiths, Harriott, Jones, Last, Mrs Murray, Mrs Shaw and Wyper.
The following councillors refused to support any of the improvements proposed: Burt, Mrs Griffin, Guichard, Juby, Kearney, Luckhurst and Kieran Magee.
But fortunately the Conservative majority prevailed, with the following councillors voting in favour: Andrews, Baker, Mrs Janice Bamber, Kenneth Bamber, Brice, Buckwell, Mrs Diane Chambers, Rodney Chambers, Mrs Chitty, Chishti, Doe, Mrs Etheridge, Fearn, Filmer, Mrs Haydock, Hewett, Hicks, Hollands, Hunter, Jarrett, Maisey, Mason, Mrs Prodger, Mrs Purdy, Royle, Ward, Wicks and Wildey.
So now we know who supports improving Medway and who supports doing nothing. In the year ahead the Conservatives voted to improve youth and library facilities at Hook Meadow, to spend over £350,000 on CCTV across Medway and to continue with the yellow bus scheme for school children.
There will be big improvements to roads and pavements, and more investment in measures to combat anti-social behaviour. There will be more spending on schools and looking after the vulnerable elderly and those with disabilities. Isn‘t that what we all want?
Wouldn‘t it be nice if just for once opposition politicians put party allegiance to one side and voted for what the people want and deserve. But perhaps that would be asking too much.
On May 3rd you will have the opportunity to chose between a Conservative party that is trying to improve Medway, and opposition parties that seek to do nothing other than play politics with people‘s lives. You can decide for yourselves which you prefer.