Medway Council Cabinet meetings are where the majority of important decisions are made. With the Conservatives holding a majority on the council, the decisions taken at Cabinet become de facto council policy.
Rather unhelpfully, Cabinet meetings are held at 3pm on a Tuesday afternoon, and while these are in principle public meetings, they are incredibly difficult for the public to attend if they have basic things like, you know, a job.
We’ve tried to cover them when we can, but it’s been fairly few and far between. We can only afford to cover these meetings if our costs in doing so are covered. Last month, via our Ko-fi page, you called our bluff and put enough in the pot to send Jennings down to live tweet the final Cabinet meeting of the current administration.
Highlights of the meeting are below, and honestly, we use the term loosely:
Today, rather than complaining about Cabinet being at an annoying time, we will actually be there as you called our bluff and put enough money in the pot last month for Jennings to be able to take the afternoon off and go. So yeah, thanks for that. Live tweeting starts at 3pm. https://t.co/e55dcXt6Ik
— The Political Medway (@MedwayPolitics) April 9, 2019
We're here at #MedwayCounci Cabinet at Gun Wharf. Leader Cllr Alan Jarrett welcomes us to the final meeting of this four year period, and comments that "it brings a lump to the throat".
— The Political Medway (@MedwayPolitics) April 9, 2019
Full agenda for today's #MedwayCouncil Cabinet here: https://t.co/QYGWtnxR8m
— The Political Medway (@MedwayPolitics) April 9, 2019
First on the agenda is Cllr Mackness – in his final #MedwayCouncil Cabinet before standing down – introducing the Draft Medway Children and Young People's Plan 2019-2024, aimed at improving outcomes for young people. Cllr @MartinMPotter talks positively about it.
— The Political Medway (@MedwayPolitics) April 9, 2019
Cllr Brake speaks up, calling this a "good news story", and points out that the "children of today are our next generation". Huge if true. #MedwayCouncil
— The Political Medway (@MedwayPolitics) April 9, 2019
The proposal is agreed and will now go out to consultation to the public and relevant stakeholders. Cllr Mackness says "health partners" need to contribute more. #MedwayCouncil
— The Political Medway (@MedwayPolitics) April 9, 2019
Cllr Mackness is also introducing the next item on the agenda, new Proposed Safeguarding Partnership Arrangements. New arrangements have been created in partnership with Kent Police and Medway CCG, and will be unique to Medway. #MedwayCouncil
— The Political Medway (@MedwayPolitics) April 9, 2019
Side note: Why is every meeting room in Gun Wharf always hotter than the sun? #MedwayCouncil
— The Political Medway (@MedwayPolitics) April 9, 2019
This happened last year when the clocks changed. This year, the clocks have been removed from the walls altogether. Potentially even more of a metaphor. #MedwayCouncil https://t.co/x9SG9nuM7G
— The Political Medway (@MedwayPolitics) April 9, 2019
Unsurprisingly, Cllr @MartinMPotter leaps in to call this an excellent piece of work. Cllr Gulvin now calling it an excellent report. Excellent all round. #MedwayCouncil
— The Political Medway (@MedwayPolitics) April 9, 2019
Cllr Brake comments that this report is "no better way for Cllr Mackness to make his exit". That's one way of putting it. #MedwayCouncil
— The Political Medway (@MedwayPolitics) April 9, 2019
The proposal has been agreed. We're moving through things quickly. Cllr Brake now introducing a new report on the Better Care Fund. The report sets out better integration between health and care services. #MedwayCouncil
— The Political Medway (@MedwayPolitics) April 9, 2019
The Better Care Fund report is agreed, so now we're getting onto the exciting stuff.. #MedwayCouncil pic.twitter.com/dfrsxC5vqB
— The Political Medway (@MedwayPolitics) April 9, 2019
#MedwayCouncil are ending their waste collection contract with Veolia, with Medway Norse taking control. Veoila were originally set to pass their depot to Medway Norse, but have now changed their mind, so new one is now needed.
— The Political Medway (@MedwayPolitics) April 9, 2019
..and that's agreed. We're now onto a report about the Strood Waterfront – Former Civic Centre site. Cllr R Chambers refers to the site now being the "flagship site", but accidentally calls it the "flagshite" instead. Much laughter all round. Superb stuff. #MedwayCouncil
— The Political Medway (@MedwayPolitics) April 9, 2019
The Strood Waterfront development is set to become a prime residential development for Medway, and this report sets out the course for finding a developer for the site, with work aiming to commence in 2021. #MedwayCouncil
— The Political Medway (@MedwayPolitics) April 9, 2019
Cllr Jarrett says the route is the same as was followed for Rochester Riverside, says it's "not just about getting the right price", but the quality of the development too. #MedwayCouncil
— The Political Medway (@MedwayPolitics) April 9, 2019
The report on the site is agreed. Now we're onto a bit of a debacle involving a new free school site in Strood. Terms of a deal have changed since it was last discussed, locking #MedwayCouncil into a much longer deal than originally proposed. All a bit odd. pic.twitter.com/VA1WQCyQ0E
— The Political Medway (@MedwayPolitics) April 9, 2019
Cllr Gulvin says that #MedwayCouncil had no choice but to support the deal regardless, despite the larger financial risk. Cllr Mackness agrees, says risk is still minimal. Says the school places are needed, so this site – combined with another in Rainham – is important.
— The Political Medway (@MedwayPolitics) April 9, 2019
Report is agreed, so we're pretty much done. Final item is Cllr Mackness introducing a new home to school transport provisions, before he's suddenly introduced by a ship's foghorn outside. Seems fitting for his final item. #MedwayCouncil
— The Political Medway (@MedwayPolitics) April 9, 2019
The procurement is deemed as "high risk", but there is apparently no financial impact of the contract award. Cllr @MartinMPotter calls Cllr Mackness' work on this "excellent". Clearly that was on the Word of the Day calendar today. #MedwayCouncil
— The Political Medway (@MedwayPolitics) April 9, 2019
The report is agreed, and we're done within an hour. Cllr Jarrett thanks the Cabinet for "the work it has done on behalf of Medway's residents", particularly thanks Cllr Mackness in his final meeting. #MedwayCouncil
— The Political Medway (@MedwayPolitics) April 9, 2019
Cllr Mackness thanks everyone, including "the opposition for the laughs they have given me". Gracious to the end. #MedwayCouncil
— The Political Medway (@MedwayPolitics) April 9, 2019
Thanks for funding today's excursion to #MedwayCouncil Cabinet, even if it wasn't the most exciting one. We're 24% of the way to ensuring we don't run at a loss through May, so if you'd like to kick a few quid into the pot, it would be greatly appreciated: https://t.co/MqQy73junc
— The Political Medway (@MedwayPolitics) April 9, 2019
blah
All sounds like typical back slapping ! Still no cohesive traffic /transport foreatd planning with the bodging of Strood foremost, no strategic infrastructure consolidation, save a airy fairy mention of a delayed possible free school. Medical facilities, water, sewage, education,, traffic all need addressing immediately before the impending pressure of developments…..