19th November/20th November

Despite attending to emails etc and a couple of phone calls I had to be in Kings College Hospital today.

But I did manage to get to the Town Hall to attend a briefing with the Chief Constable and the Police and Crime Commissioner. I asked a question relating to the ongoing community issues reflecting certain members of Headcorns population and pertinent to the recent murder.

On the 20th I got a phone call from the Area Police Commander about my issues.  I will bring all the conversation  together for the Community Cohesion meeting on Friday.

I went to a Action for Communities for Rural England/Rural Kent meeting in Lenham in the evening. I was nominated to sit on the Board of Trustees. I can continue my RURAL CAUSE in this role. Thank you so much Eileen of Sutton Valence.

17th November/18th November

Today I attended a sub group of the Planning Transport and Development OSC-Scrutiny meeting at 10 am at Maidstone House and then went to an Open Spaces meeting of the Parish Council at 8pm, which went on to about 10pm. During the day I went to see Planning Officers to talk about Enforcement issues of places that concern and discuss an exercise of "Community Cohesion" in the area that I have been involved with. ( More on this elsewhere!)

On Tuesday morning the 18th I met members of Boughton Malherbe Parish Council to discuss a petition to present to Joint Transport Board. Grafty Green and Liverton Hill/Platts Heath has a narrow road on a sharp hill that has lots of spring water and heavy rain water movement. Lorries use this a "short cut or rat run" to get to the Lower Weald  or even as far as Hastings and Tonbridge areas. Its excessive, dangerous, awkward and the roads are not fit for that purpose, so the petition is to stop or at least control this activity.

A budget Group meeting followed in the afternoon in the Town Hall and then a Planning TD OSC meeting at 6.30pm to 10pm. I mentioned the problem with parking in Headcorn because of Rail users during a Rail Services Review. We resolved to request South Eastern Rail examine this and try to reduce parking costs and encourage rail user to park at the station. We then discussed other issues relating to transport where I again asked for cycling routes/walkways/buggy paths to be considered as a Section 106/CIL condition for plans.

11th November/12th November

I was back to emails and correspondence in the morning, which included more badgering of people over several matters. The Neighbourhood Plan grant must be paid - that was urgent. That required various emails, phone calls and responses.

I then had to prepare for a Scrutiny meeting (OSC/CEH) Community, Environment & Housing that evening.  This particular meeting was taking evidence from various parties about the state of Loneliness and Social Isolation in our communities. A great set of witnesses included the Community Warden service Area leader, Age UK and KCC specialists where they informed us about policy and their experiences. I was pleased to Janet from the Wardens as she represents the great work of our own Warden, without whom we would be less fortunate. We would miss him greatly if the service was cut back as the current consultation envisages. So any effort to promote their good work is worthwhile.

Sadly I had to leave after an hour to attend a Parish Council meeting at Boughton Malherbe/Grafty Green. This was a meeting that allowed debate to continue and thus gave all present opportunities to contribute.

The debate included the frequent and high usage of the local roads by large lorries up/down the hill to/from Lenham and issues concerning the traveller population, speeding and fly tipping, plus economic factors such as housing, employment, transport and community matters.  As a result it was resolved that I would work with the PC to present a petition to the Joint Transport Board to highlight the road and traffic problems, especially in view of the possible increase in local traffic.

I also sensed the concern over road deterioration that needed to be fed to the County Councillor and local ground water issues.

On my way home I noted movements at the Gypsy site - there were too many vans/mobiles all lit up on one site - I made a note to contact our Enforcement team the next day.


The next morning I got onto Enforcement Officers requesting an update on Gypsy sites and asking what actions are being taken. ( On the 21st Nov I met a new officer delegated to my special concerns).

More correspondence  during that day took me to Headcorn Parish Council in the evening and another late finish.

13th/14th November

I don't think I have mentioned in this blog that I do also work. I may have done but not in detail I suspect.

I have no full time work, as I cannot work in terms of physical capacity to do so, especially in relation to my previous roles. This is because of several major injuries and surgical procedures, of which the last two serious operations were 4 years ago. These ops rebuilt my leg and my arm. As a result of these issues I found long standing, walking and especially carrying activities within a job were virtually impossible. I had to give up tutoring at a College 4 years ago as I had to give up Senior Management in the Food and Catering world 25 years before.

So now I take roles that hopefully may help others in the Health and Social Care sector. I work for the Care Quality Commission. This work has to remain confidential most of the time as the content is very delicate and it affects major public sector services, businesses and people on a personal level.

These 2 days were spent on CQC business.

But emails still had to be dealt with!

6th- 10th November

For a few days I had little in the diary, so I planned to go away for a long weekend, but as it always does, issues crop up and have to be dealt with.

In the Tory ranks we do have disagreements, but they are not as serious as people make out, yet they have to be discussed. The Local Plan continues to be a subject of great disagreement as people "fight for their own corner" and as usual I fight the Headcorn one first, a general rural "pictured" agenda second and a Maidstone holistically next, then Kent and British bias as well.

I always try to contribute the Headcorn view to as many agendas, topics, issues as possible and my fellow Ward Colleague and I have definitely and defiantly raised that Headcorn profile this year! I see it as "Chipping away" and meeting people, lobbying and making my point. Much to somes discontent! We then have to resolve that. I have obviously upset a few, so I have to ameliorate, discuss, harmonise on several fronts, from fears that people are going to be finding housing somewhere, e.g that builders will move in tomorrow and build in the locality, to working up an alliance with a fellow member over an issue. This all takes time and energy, but various problems seem to happen just before or when I go away.

A full Council meeting was coming up too, so that  provoked matters.

There was also a "Cabinet Roadshow" in the village. I understand protesters attended at the weekend where 3 cabinet members got some abuse and saw for themselves the emotions of the area. No surprises there then! It was good that cabinet saw the emotion.

This all set up a chain of communications!

The Council meeting was set up only a few weeks ago and was NOT on the normal schedule, so I would be unable to attend as I was would be away. (We are not like MPs on salaries and expenses to pay for special flights! And I had paid a lot of money and had set up something special to do).

But some people would not accept those realities and demanded I attend.

I know that I do work over 25 hours a week on Council business, and attend many meetings, both formal and informal as well as walk round the offices and badger the people I meet on issues sometimes! I travel to do this, and I spend hours doing emails, phone calls etc.

But I have an ageing mother that needs support. I have my own special health needs that require me to visit Kings College Hospital in London on a regular basis, I endeavour to keep fit by swimming regularly (If I did not swim, I probably would not be able to walk in my condition, and I might be even more restricted), and I also need to work as well as do the normal things people do just to function in life and have a roof over my head and feed myself, plus have some private life.

So every so often I like a break to get away from it BUT people ring up and email at all times. From residents, Parish Councils, members of the Borough Council and not just my own party and about many issues, and sometimes they have to be dealt with, even from a foreign city.

My break was not that restful, even though I spent the bulk of the previous day clearing all the backlog of issues and clearing emails and calls with responses. One important issue was to check what I said at OSC-Scrutiny;has Headcorn been paid their grant money for their Neighbourhood Plan? If not why not, because they should have been. But I find all the relevant Officers away, either sick, on leave, or just nowhere to be found. This annoys me and I ask my fellow Ward Colleague to keep it in his agenda when speaking to Officers.

I get back from my break and find that issue still awaits an answer.

I also await responses on other issues I dealt with last week.

3rd - 6th November

A lot of emails and communications to deal with today. Lots of issues. The Neighbourhood Plan for Headcorn is ready to submit...wonderful. Some problems at the Parish Council, theres no clerk! Seemed to spend hours on the phone with Parish Councillors, local people and informed interests. Its raining, that means drainage issues usually!

I have a meeting with a Liberal member of the Transport Sub Group, we went to Croydon together,we get on well, we are both a bit maverick! So we meet a Transport consultant in the afternoon and tour the Town and its pinch points and examine the flows of traffic (to Headcorn) and all over the Borough.

I quickly meet the Chair of Planning and discuss some serious issues.

We go to OSC Planning and Transport from 6 ish to 10pm . Some of us discuss matters informally over a drink afterwards! We all have agendas! It was an across party social evening and we reached some common ground, far better than meeting in the Town hall. If I had met in previous "life" then I am sure some political opponents would have been dear friends! Common ground on issues NOT overall policy though!

I had to challenge the Special consultant during the evidence gathering session at the Scrutiny meeting. Why have the already submitted Neighbourhood Plans not been seriously responded to? Well his answer was that they were not fit for purpose!  I found that staggering. As the person that went through the process to set up the Headcorn Neighbourhood Plan/NP funding and the conditions to fulfil to progress the Plan with nominated expert guidance, then how can the expert guidance that was offered to any other NP be so incompetent?  I cannot believe members of the Royal Town Planning Institute give out useless advice. Or does this prove that the interpretations of any Local Plan and the law of the National Planning Policy Framework are actually so different from one expert to another? That worries me.


4th November..... I meet another Parish Council about some common issues regarding flooding and drainage. I don't know enough about my new role on the Drainage Board yet, but theres clearly more issues to raise and lobby about.

5th November East Sutton Parish Council with some issues to discuss, very important ones. They could set precedents in rural matters throughout the Borough; 1) living and "joint" working units 2) homes in rural settings. Planners oppose both,I support SOME IN certain circumstances with certain considerations.

Key issues I believe. I dont want loads of builds for any reason but proper businesses in the Rural areas need good workers and well built "nice designs" in MINIMAL developments could and should be acceptable IN SOME cases. 2-5 Houses HERE are being denied, whilst 270 Houses THERE seem to be accepted in my LOCALITY. If Localism means anything, surely my opinion as a Ward member counts for something? I am not a NIMBY opposing all! There is no ONE SIZE FITS ALL!

But surely I have a view that should be given more consideration and that "Planning Law" and its MANY interpretations should consider the voice of the Locality?

The trouble is I am only 1 in 55 and I am not on the Planning Committee.

Review of October 2014

I knew it was going to be busy in October, but had no idea actually how busy I'd be.

Lets look at the Committees I sit on: Its also important to be involved and participatory and attend sub groups too, and keep the issues "revolving" by talking to people and meeting relevant people and badgering some more!
Scrutiny: OSC (Overview & Scrutiny Committee) for Planning Transport & Development
Scrutiny: OSC Community, Leisure, Environment (including Housing)
Scrutiny: OSC Economic & Commercial Development (as a Substitute, but attendance really helps anyway, to keep abreast of things!)
And because Planning and the LOCAL PLAN is so important to MY WARD:Headcorn, and its so contentious too, then other committees relate or complement to that subject so I attend those when I can. This includes Joint OSC meetings where we look at overlapping issues and integrating work.

As a Parish Council member I try to attend those meetings too and there are important issues with the Parish too, where I attend Staffing, Communications, Open Spaces and Council itself every month. Sadly I have missed some meetings because of Scrutiny needs.

I also am a member of Licensing Committee.

I believe in taking any training offered.

I have been appointed on several "outside bodies" too. I chose some because it may help MY needs, hopes and aspirations for my Community, but the knowledge I gain may help others, and such gains can help the rural communities I care so much for, or young people, or the elderly and disabled, or law and order and many of my keen interests.

The Outside bodies are the Upper Medway Drainage Board, Kent Youth Group, Maidstone Town Centre Management (yes I am a ruralist, but the Town Centre affects the rural areas in terms of people movement, people, jobs etc).  These groups require communications often, in terms of phone calls, emails and meetings. We are official consultees and statutory bodies in some respects for various decisions.  So its all hard work!

I also have 3 other Parish Councils to relate to and try to attend their meetings.

There are several OSC sub committees/working Parties, and these are truly real work and not talking shops. Transport affects Planning and jobs, so I sit on the Transport sub group and this involves setting up meetings with people like Bus Companies or User Groups, thankfully we have an excellent Scrutiny officer, a team, that do a lot of this work, but we still need to be involved.
We are examining all forms of alternative transport and so I am passionate about cycling & walking too.

Then on Community OSC I am working on aspects of loneliness, to the young, the old and because of various reasons and experiencing many manifestations and that means work with the voluntary sector, the County, the Health providers, Churches and so many more.

And of course the Council is a Corporate body, it functions with personnel, it has finance to manage, it needs to train, organise, provide legal services, have IT and comply as well as provide services. That all needs managing. Officers do the graft, but members do contribute. Some of the internal services are managed by an amalgam of Councils working together called Mid Kent Improvement Partnership/MKIP. Its got its problems and one of them is PLANNING support, the activities of seeing through a Planning application as well as IT, Legal services and Audit. If it affects Planning I want to know!

So I have a lot of reading too!

That usually involves writing in response.

I also have a duty to my Party. We have regular meetings to decide direction and policy. Of course the Local Plan is a big matter and issues close to it that relate or are part of it.

Thats some of it.

And most meetings are in Maidstone so that involves travel there. (2 or 3 times a day some days spread from 9am starts to 11pm finishes).

And why do I do it, as a Volunteer, for NO PAY? ( I get a small allowance, you can check that on the MBC website). Because I care about Headcorn and I try my best.

Sometimes I wish I hadn't bothered.

October made me realise how much work I put in and also how much abuse and stress I get for it.

Working part time, for lousy pay might be better, especially when I see how little commitment others put in! But I MUST SAY there are others who do put in a lot, and that includes not just the work in the Council House and with officers in Maidstone House, but also "on the street". Thats a key role and some do it better than others.

I wont bore you too much, but it is a review!

Now you have the gist of the areas of work I do I will not verbatim ramble on about the activities, the attitudes and frustrations, I'll just list the diary of activities and please assume theres a lot more to it. Then you may understand why I actually get hurt when abuse and rude gestures suggest we Councillors do nothing, at least some of us really do work at it! And very often I articulate views and DONT just nod, grunt and moan at meetings!

On the 6th I met the Senior Planning team and Cabinet member to discuss Headcorn with Parish Council members. Obviously it was quite charged!
The 7th I went to attend a Licensing Hearing as a Sub member, and was not needed. So I attended a Transport review Sub Group of OSCin Maidstone House. I then met Officers in Headcorn to attend an Aerodrome Consultative Group meeting at the aerodrome. I am hoping to develop opportunities at the Aerodrome.
I then returned to Maidstone House for an OSC meeting briefly before going back to Headcorn to meet the Neighbourhood Plan "Headcorn Matters" group.

The next day the 8th I went to Croydon to meet people called the Business Improvement Development Group to see the process that supported local businesses to set up a tram system. Its more complex than that but I found out! And of course we went on the tram!

I then had a choice, Cabinet of MBC or Headcorn Parish Council, I went to the PC meeting.


9th: OSC Review Group, more emails etc and then join the Mayor with Parish Councillors and friends to promote Headcorn at a Curry Night. It was a lovely evening though.

10th I met a business to discuss a Planning application in East Sutton in the morning and then attended a Conservative Group meeting in the evening.

11th Parish Surgery and Cabinet roadshow in Headcorn.

13th Meet DHA the Developers behind the contentious housing site proposals behind the school to discuss their plans and with County and school people to look at a way forward. Not an easy meeting!

Then meet with a mother and with the County Councillor to discuss schooling issues for a child.

14th meet a business with aspirations to grow and attend with an Officer. I set up the meeting. Its important to support local business.

15th I prepared all day. I presented a petition to the Joint Transport Board to "calm" a hot spot in the Headcorn area. I took a Parish Councillor with me.

The 16th I attended a Planning Meeting of Maidstone BC. The Junction 8 proposal that is so toxic was discussed and defeated, for the 3rd time, but "re-invented". It haunts us! I had worked with other Council members to present a Rural case. Bearsted led. Sadly I missed a Parish Communications meeting for this.

The 17th, another OSC review Group in Maidstone, and then I visit many others, mainly officers in Maidstone House, "having a go" about issues!
20th: Housing Workshop
21st: I had to go to hospital in the morning and then meet the Mayor to celebrate the success of our local Ghurkas at the recent Invictus Games. Then off to a joint OSC Planning and Econ Dev meeting. It went on till 11pm. It was a long tiring day. It was also controversial where we discussed a Strategy. The Econ Dev strategy that is tied into Transport/Roads and Planning/Homes!
22nd and I'm tired, really tired, but have  Financial Ombudsman Training at 9.30pm
At 7pm the KALC group met, the group of all Parishes across the Borough. Another challenging meeting! Planning! Junction 8! Transport, Jobs!!!!
23rd I've got IT problems on the MBC site. I had to sort it out and access my emails. Then meet local School "leaders" to discuss what OSC really does. I love working with young people and helping them, We hoped to get them involved in understanding our "Loneliness" work.
24th Another Tory Group meeting.
25th meet a local volunteer that could help with some important work in view that the Parish Clerk has resigned and his experience is useful for the local business community.
27th  A MBC Budget meeting- critical for all, the Borough and Parishes. More topics came up. A number of opportunities arose, to make money and save money.They MUST be examined. I offered myself for some of the work! I actually understand some of it!

On the 28th I actually did MY PAID JOB and role. Its only consultancy, but I get an hourly rate and I needed the work!

29th I attended a Briefing. Water, flooding, drainage are important to Headcorn.This was an Environment Agency briefing. Naturally I set up meetings as a result and spoke to key people.

30th I met Planning people, Parish Councillors from Ulcombe, Grafty Green and the cabinet member to discuss Local Planning issues.  Another charged meeting! The Mayor and I do these meetings together and it works well.
31st another Tory Group meeting!!!!  (after a hospital consultation in the day).

And what have  we discussed? HOUSES, Planning, jobs, roads and the same old same old issues that affect all of the above:flooding, drainage, the Schools, Parking & Speeding etc! And every angle and new opportunity on these issues is taken up. We really do keep bashing away!

Its not an easy time, not a simple agenda and not a standard solution as we discuss SO MUCH.

And a REALLY IMPORTANT issue came up. The KCC Community Wardens are under threat with funding cuts. There is a consultation and petition. I want people to support this valuable service, so I mention it at KALC, OSC and any other meetings and most chance conversations.

More next month, as some issues "hot up".

4th October

Its a diary full of activity for this month and consists of much the same work, continually bashing away at key issues, lobbying and meeting people about the Local Plan and what I want and believe in.  The activities are more important that writing a blog. I need my time and energy for that, so I will get around to telling you about those meetings soon!

3rd Oct

Scrutiny Co-ordinating Committee at 10am led to a 2 hour meeting and an invite to attend the MKIP Task and Finish Group. This led on to 5pm. I then had to meet the Mayor, Cllr Richard Thick, discuss a few things and then discuss Political Affairs in the Conservative Group that started at 6.30pm. At the Group meeting we discussed the Local Plan. It was an energy charged meeting!

A 12 hour day by the end, so I was tired.

MKIP? Maidstone works with other Borough Councils like Swale to provide a shared service in certain functions. To ensure best practice and best value we have a group that examines the tasks and checks the results. Its not been easy, but we work at it, and it saves a lot of money, but we also need to check the quality of work.

Scrutiny Co-Ordinating? there are several OSC groups:Overview and Scrutiny Committees and I sit on 2 and act as a Sub on one. Their work is often inter-related, we do not want overlap and wasted time and energy or money, so we meet to co-ordinate.

A lot of correspondence the next day and then a break! 

2nd Oct

After being away on and off for a while, despite paying attention to most communications, I have only dealt with issues briefly. So from early morning I made phone calls and dealt with email correspondence in more detail. The Local Plan, specifically relating to some Headcorn issues, and the governance of Maidstone Borough Council had reared their heads in my absence and many matters needed addressing.

I needed to talk to my fellow Ward member first, and then co-minded Conservatives who have numerous concerns about the Local Plan and the way things are emerging and developing. I have a very good relationship with several Council members and my camaraderie with the Staplehurst member is strong. I needed to get an idea or a picture of the ways things were, are and may be.

I also spoke to some Members in other parties. Whilst I am keen to protect and defend MY WARD from aggressive development and use several rational reasons to do so, some of those reasons relate to other communities/wards. Staplehurst and Headcorn have much in common. Water, flooding and drainage problems are one very big common bond between us.

And Planning is not the only issue I have to deal with: The Community Wardens are "in consultation" about their roles, a business is under threat in the Ward, another business has drawn out Planning applications outstanding, there are illegal Gypsies encamped in an unacceptable site, a constituent has a problem admitting their child to a school, (there are many), I have some people in the Ward with Housing problems and I have a boundary dispute that is getting out of hand-yes its another one.

So after a lot of  communication I also needed to get to a meeting with DHA Planning; the company wanting to develop Hazelpits Farm, or its surrounds, in the afternoon with Cllr Richard Thick.  This has been and will continue to be the most contentious Planning application, probably ever, in Headcorn.

It was not a good meeting. I have to admit it became quite heated. Richard and I believe the developers need to know that not only the Parish, but the entire Ward are worried about this Planning application.

We stated some strong opinions and addressed the key issues of the School, traffic/roads, drainage/water/flooding and stated that the development proposals were such a shock to a community in terms of size, effect and the way it would affect the community that such emotive reactions should come as no surprise. We saw it as urbanisation and they did grasp that.

We left the meeting feeling we'd made an impact, but also felt that more work needs to be done such as more lobbying, more discussions with the main parties etc.

Richard and I then visited several Officers and discussed things with them continuing to campaign for RATIONAL proposals for Headcorn and not to allow Developers to be winning every battle and building for profit, rather than sense.

Richard and I then discussed our next moves.

I would then write some emails to various parties such as the Parish Council about the meeting and we would also contact our fellow Maidstone Members and our MP. We would continue with our sentiments in any way.

By this time it was early evening and we were tired.

Saturday 27th September-Weds 1st October

It was a long meeting last night that was followed by much informal chatting with Parish Members and fellow Borough Members. The Suttons are actually 3 Wards and 3 Parishes, but very close. It was not just housing we discussed, but traffic, roads, bus services and so much more.

I actually had a bad night too after the meeting (my home is being re-roofed and the overnight weather noises can be very loud, especially if it rains), so I took the morning easy , before setting off off to Birmingham.

And then it rained hard most of the journey and with contraflows on most of the M1 my journey took longer than I wanted. I found the hotel easily, but it had no parking available. It also had one lift not working and the hotel was very full. I'd chosen the cheapest hotel I could find that was also relatively close to the Conference, but there were 3 Roundabouts with many junctions that had subways to negotiate for every junction before you got to the Conference. With a car parked a long way away and a difficult terrain -with my walking and mobility problems- I was very tired before the conference started.

The hotel did not have a restaurant, in fact it had very little in terms of facilities, and the bedroom was very basic, even the mattress was only thin on a hardboard base, so I had  basic meal in a cheap Chinese, in Chinatown-it actually was a good meal-and then I had another bad night of sleep. I left the window open, and the hotel was to the side of  Bristol Street, one of the busiest roads from.......2am!
I took breakfast and met a few fellow Conservatives and walked to the Conference. Now I was not only tired and miserable, I was also very hot and sweaty.

Security was intense. I was lobbied by the usual type of people with genuine and proper concerns to the eccentric, as I entered. I thought the Flat Earth Society had evaporated, it was good to see it was still alive and well with the same sort of character you get at Speakers Corner!

I got through the security part quite well considering I set off the alarm system. My metal in my leg and hip looks like a sawn-off shot-gun! The other bits of surgery make me look unbalanced,as if I may be carrying something I should not. What made it worse was the dogs seemed to like me and get rather excited, so they had to check my medications too, so that took a while!

I'll keep the conference report to a minimum, but I did attend a lot of fringe events and challenged and spoke on the subjects that matter to Headcorn like Flooding, Planning, Schools and Building Policy-as per previous blog. In the process I met some interesting characters and relatively well known politicians and some less known! I also met some old friends and made some new ones.

My journey back was arduous in the rain too.

I had to get back for 6pm on the 1st, I had a meeting with Planning Officers, and after that a Staffing Committee of the Parish Council  which took me to my bedtime. That Staffing meeting was important in view of the Clerks resignation.

26th September

Today I agreed to a meeting with DHA Planners with my other Ward member to discuss the "Hazelpits Farm" proposal. It is still a proposal, but its looking imminent and Richard and I oppose it;such as it is or appears to be!

Richard and I are also concerned about the whole "flavour of things" concerning Planning at present, so we have meetings  throughout the day and with the Planning Officers this evening. Even the Chief Planning Officer is meeting us and representatives of the Parishes/Wards of the Suttons  (East, Chart and Valence), tonight at 5pm-on a Friday! Another one with Headcorn only is planned soon.This  can only be a good thing.  Keen liaison and interaction with key players must be essential in the current context of things. Breaking down barriers and realising concerns are also important. This must be two-way. I will assume the, any,  possible meeting with the DHA Planning people will at first be tough, but we have to start somewhere.

But confirming reality and being pragmatic with  honest senses and perceptions can also be  important; there are too many scaremongering tactics and hysteria based reactions appearing, and they all seem to lead to some wild accusations and pain for some. There could be something worth negotiating.  The fact that certain people accuse Richard and I of doing nothing offends us, but we chose to be the elected members and sought that office, and we are NOT shying away. In fact we are tackling it head-on. This involves lots of meetings and regular acts of "getting on peoples nerves" such as our own Council Members, of all parties, Officers, Agencies and key organisations, working up the next meeting, setting agendas and informing people that the Headcorn Ward matters to us.

25th September

I have been supporting the campaign to address the problem of excessive speed and overtaking in the village. Its been especially bad on Maidstone Road with too many accidents lately. As a Speedwatcher I know that this stretch of road affects Millbank. You only need to see the cars brake and suddenly sink on their front axles to realise that they were speeding before they see us in our hi-vis tops with a speed recording sign! Its a problem I want to address.

I can only try, and I will do what I can. Firstly I will present a petition to the Joint Transport Board.  The residents have done a brilliant job getting locals to sign a petition. So I will do a 3 minute presentation to all the County and Borough members as the petition is presented.

And today I will do a photo shoot for the KM.

I am so proud of the residents of this Ward, so I must support them when the issue is VERY IMPORTANT and one I support and have been keen to address.


The article was published and despite the KM rarely getting things right and too often missing key detail, I have to say the reporter did a pretty good job especially as it got onto the front page and got a half page inside. Congratulations to the KM on this one!

Back into the grind!

Having got back home I had a lot of mail/post to deal with and  some home/domestic matters-as we all have after a holiday-but my mother has a habit of providing more than the usual problems and most of them are simple matters, but they become major ones to deal with.

I'd organised a care service during the holiday and she stopped them coming in after 5 days. On holiday I had numerous calls from all parties about it. But I had a bill to pay and a mother to sort out!

I had a few Doctors and Hospital issues to sort out too. Apparently I am not well, with poor blood counts, low iron, etc but I am still alive! I just feel tired all the time.And I have to live with pain, thats normal with my broken skeleton and injuries.

Some of the emails and other communications have taken up a lot of time and effort. Nothing seems simple! And so many people love to make mountains out of molehills;I thought we Politicians were supposed to be good at that, but others are so  much better.

One of my Headcorn Residents has sought better housing, she has had loads of issues to deal with and she's had a neighbour problem that should not happen, but I am pleased to hear that she is now due to move into another Community Housing Home with her young ones. Maybe my discussions with the Housing team and Chief Officer helped. Sadly there are other people with other problems to sort out.

As most people who know me know, I am keen to promote Headcorn business and find ways and means to support it. On the 24th Sept I attended South Maidstone Business Association networking meeting with my friend Sohail Zafar-a Management Accountant & Consultant-and we hoped to meet others to network with. I have to  say that it was good event and I can only admire and support Alan Readings efforts to make the SMBA succeed. It was hosted in Headcorn Natural Health Centre, and Anna and Jill, and it was great to meet so  many people. I just wish more Headcorn businesses would appreciate such an opportunity. ( I have always had a problem with the High Street businesses who do not seem to want to unite and form an alliance of some sort).

Most days involve lots of emails and phone calls these days, from 8am to 10pm, but why do I still get people trying to enquire about PPI, accident claims and doing a survey? They really get in the way.

And most emails and calls mean I contribute to important dialogue on Parish or Borough issues, so such calls really do annoy me.

I have been concerned about speeding and dangerous driving (and a lot more) in the Headcorn Village area, so I was especially pleased to be involved in a photo shoot on the 25th Sept to support the residents of Maidstone Rd and Millbank as I will present a petition at Joint Transport Board.  The residents have worked so hard to get loads of signatures. And quite frankly the cause/problem is really important; we have a possible major threat to life with such dangerous driving and excess speed in the area.

Its been a baptism of fire on my return to public life after the holiday consisting of:
 A Borough Council and Conservative Group, in administration, with major Local Plan issues and management problems,
A Parish Council where the Clerk has resigned and many issues need sorting,
A mother with numerous care issues,
And a roof on the home that is being replaced! In fact the house has no roof!

I have a lot of communicating to do to sort out or deal with matters.

And I go to the Tory Conference on Saturday 27th, I shall target fringe events to raise issues such as:
Localism isn't working, Neighbourhood Plans could be a LARGE waste of public money,
Local Plans-before they are confirmed allow developers a free-for-all,
Why are some Water Authorities allowed to be so dismissive and ignore local problems?,
What actually does "sustainable" mean- its interpretation seems to suit different people in differing ways!, when walking to a school or doctors surgery should be encouraged, but in reality people will still drive there, (so why can't houses be built in several rural settlements rather than DUMPING 100s in one place?),
Urbanisation of rural areas is happening, why do larger rural villages have to be targeted and CROWDED out with dense stereotypical town houses, whilst smaller rural villages and communities die or become the preserve of 2nd homes?
Why do large developers and builders benefit all the time, what about the smaller master builders and self build projects?
Why are so many politicians Gung-Ho about building and find it easy to blame certain people as NIMBY, when they may actually want homes built, but better ones that consider rural environments and infrastructure, design standards, schooling etc.
The NPPF may have benefits, but PLEASE examine the problems and seek solutions, rather than BULLY on!

Any angle, any event could be a way to focus the above agenda

A Holiday where I tried to switch off and didn't

After intense and daily activities involving getting selected for the Borough candidature, getting elected for the Borough and then taking on the role and embracing many roles as part of that responsibility plus continuing my duties as a Parish Councillor-and there are a few commitments there too- with a number of major issues to handle, then I needed a holiday. The recent abuse towards me personally, usually as a result of the contentious Local Plan and probable housing applications, plus the intensity of issues at the Parish Council together with concern for the welfare of my mother accentuated by my tiredness and stresses really made me cry out for this break.

The Local Plan and its possible effect on the Headcorn Ward really worries me. I support some more Housing, but not the way its emerging. Its being targeted for the wrong places and/or the wrong density and/or for the wrong reasons and with the problems of the local area being ill-considered.

Its a complex issue, but I'm trying to address it in all aspects and at as many points as possible: government policy and its interpretation (The NPPF) has to be directed at the Conservative Party and the Westminster politicians. The numbers, the Plan has to be directed at MY Administration  Tory Group, and Officers, and the Neighbourhood Plan matters at the Parish Council and its Headcorn Matters team. Then agencies, organisations and so many others need working on! I have worked on most of them, if not all! I am tired. My partner is too. My partner Eileen has actually been brilliant. I know I am  usually too tired to appreciate her wonderful companionship, so this holiday matters.

After the Joint Transport Board meeting on Wednesday evening, where some interesting developments came about in terms of developing  possible roads with houses between County and Borough and some important petitions were presented, I made a getaway to join Eileen so that we had a good ferry the next morning. It was important we had a ferry that allowed us to get some distance southward the next day. I had booked a hotel in Troyes.

Thank goodness it went to plan. We made Troyes for a lovely dinner; the most important part of my travels in France! The next day we went to see the Vercors; a beautiful plateau in mountains near Grenoble and stayed in another good hotel with a good dinner. Then the next day we drove to our destination for the next 10 days. It was just north of Grimaud about 10 miles from the Mediterranean coast. The roads getting there were mountainous and windy and when we got there we were a bit later than expected. The hosts had left! They had left the wrong key too. Eventually we got a neighbour to let us in. We unpacked and went to the town of La Garde Freinet for our dinner, it was our local town for the next 10 days.

There were 5 or 6 restaurants to choose from. We examined every one of them before we finally chose it. It turned out to be a great choice. Terrific simple Provencale cooking-rather than the ordinary pasta, pizza and plain dishes served elsewhere, judging by the menus-and after 10 days it certainly proved to be the best one! We ate there 5 times. The service was good too.

Anyway briefly we packed a lot into our 10 days: perched and medieval villages, Grasse and perfume, mountains, swimming in the sea, St Tropez, Cannes, Nice, Monaco  and meeting my dear friend who supports Toulon Rugby Club.

Then we went to Paris. Gosh its gone downhill. Poverty is to be seen everywhere and rich overt and ostentatious  wealth too. Politics was obvious every day whilst we were in France. Its not just the UK that has an opinion about the EU. The French are not as supportive as we all think. The Euro has hurt them and Hollande is the most unpopular President in French history. Perhaps we can expect a revolution any day! We stayed just outside Montmatre and people were sleeping on mattresses in the street and there's more I'd rather not mention.


And I watched my emails all the time and dealt with many.

I also noted that a lot of  action was taking place in Headcorn to oppose the Local Plan.And let it be said I applaud such manifestation of feelings.

The trouble was I was being insulted more and certain people were winding it up! It was direct and indirect, it was on the street with people shouting at me and various insults being used.Twitter was an area of abuse. And coincidentally many abuses were removed when I got back to check them out.

I guess I ask for that; I take the role, I have to take the responsibility. I also take the additional work too and try very hard, but seemingly I will still get the abuse and insinuation. If I was to explain every hour and every action with every person then I'd be writing this for more hours than it actually takes to be effective! Driving to Maidstone, sometimes 2 to 3 times in a day that is interspersed with meetings in the Ward takes up enough time as it is!

And now I was back to this intensity.

September 2014

1st-Off to Parliament with Dr Rebecca Driver for a sub-committee to tell MPs that the NPPF is being interpreted too heavily in favour of development against many good and rightful interests.  The case of Headcorn was made plain. What was clear many others have the same problems:no confirmed Local Plan, no 5 year land supply, and too many developers taking advantage with blinkered and urgent plans.

More work to follow on this!

And after following up on the meeting in Parliament I have a 3rd Sept  Joint Transport Board/JTB meeting, purely as attendee to see the "pitch one needs to make" when presenting a petition. In a few months time I hope to present a petition to them about the excessive speeding and overtaking in Headcorn, especially on Maidstone Rd and Millbank. As I am a Speedwatcher I see it too often.

Before I go on holiday I have asked, with Richard, for a meeting with Planners and Developers of the Hazelpits Farm proposal for when I am back. I dont know how much weight I can bring, but I MUST TRY to at the very least modify such blinkered proposals and address many concerns.

After JTB I go on holiday.

Then I will return to attend the Tory Conference and tell them about the mess that is Local Planning and how it emerges in places like Headcorn.

I will update in 3-4 weeks now.

August 2014

After a June of settling in and a July of setting up, August has to be a month for getting to grips with things.

I realise especially I have a big agenda to cover , with one issue that takes up a lot of time. That one issue - The Local Plan - has so many strands.

So far we have:
poor communications,
A Local Plan that fails to recognise important factors like drainage, sewage, culture, roads, the school, traffic and more,
A Planning Process-the on line planning portal-that is abused, badly managed and is ineffective,
A Plan that encourages migration to overrun the community, with too many implied Community housing implications of the wrong type, and not enough bungalows and homes for the elderly,"our own" and key workers, (this means the Housing policies too!)
An emerging Neighbourhood Plan that is not being recognised,
and seemingly applications coming in that are wholly abhorrent, with excessive density and the dumping of urbanisation on a rural community with no due regard for important considerations.

I therefore have a lot of badgering to do.  I have to pursue this as per last months blog.

I also have other agendas. Tourism, Business, Gypsies and travellers, Policing, Traffic and speeding and much more.

I have avoided paid work for  several months so this month I must take some, to pay for a holiday, as I am getting very tired and run-down. My partner needs a holiday too.  My mother needs care, so this must be arranged.

The start of the month started with a shock. Developers have put in a pre-application Environmental Screening Application.
I have to respond and I have to support Headcorn Matters.
See

http://pa.midkent.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=documents&keyVal=N7PV7PTY0NN00

Just as I did and promote responses to the full Local Plan consultation in May we need responses to this one!

The developers have exploited the weakness in the on-line portal too by leaving it late and during holiday time.

I also need to speak to many people about this. So much of it is ridiculous.

Many of my fellow Councillors agree, but I will work actively with the Mayor;the other Ward member, where we can. Richard has been very active on this front and has directly challenged members and officers on numerous occasions and he continues to do so.

I admit this blog is weak because I am keeping very busy on this matter.

Nonetheless the diary consists of:

1st Another follow up meeting with a Parish Council Chair

3rd Respecting the start of the First World War

4th Licensing Committee

5th I had to do some paid work, but I attended the Neighbourhood Planning Team/Headcorn Matters meeting. 

6th Go to Maidstone Street Cleaning Depot  and meet street teams and in the evening attend East Sutton Parish Council,

7th Late afternoon Member, Employment and Development Panel, then in the evening a Kent Association Of Local Councils meeting (the grouping of all Parishes in the area) where we discussed many issues such as the Local Plan and set up some actions.

8th Meeting at the Aerodrome to set up a flight-previous options were cancelled due to weather or because I was simply too busy. I also went to Hi-flight.

9th I attended Parish Surgery and met the public at the Farmers Market. The topic of Speeding and Local Plan arose. I then took a flight over the Village and got some useful photos.

11th I went out "on the bins" with the Refuse team in the village. It was a learning experience and a dangerous one at times.

12th Licensing Training at Maidstone House followed by an evening meeting of OSC CLE 

13th I had to go away for some work, but returned for a Headcorn Parish Council meeting. 

14th I attended the Parish Councils Summer Playscheme and provided some Boxing Training, and needless to say discussed many village issues.

15th I had to write reports and do a lot of phoning and emailing.

16th I just had to see the Lancasters in Headcorn.

17th I met with many Council members informally at the Mayors Cricket Match in Headcorn.

18th I had to do some follow-up work and report writing, research etc.

19th Licensing Training at Maidstone House in the morning, then some informal meetings about some residents problems I am following through, then OSC Planning and Transport for the evening.

20th I spoke with several MBC members and Parish Councillors today to prepare for a Consultation. We have responded to a consultation, but we plan other actions. I agree that a petition is a good move, but it has to be worded correctly, we need to prepare for battle, one that may go to finish up being used as admissible evidence in legal proceedings. It cannot be vague, it must be specific and backed up by evidence. Thankfully  Headcorn Matters has that evidence.

21st The consultation for Hazelpits Farm arrives in the Village hall. It is appalling. It consists of lies and assumed verdicts of other people that simply do not exist. As consultations go it was badly communicated with content unacceptable. A good turnout tells the developers what the village thinks. Many people saw me and talked. I indicated the reasons to object. The developers didn't want me imposing, but I did! None of them actually tried to talk to me though!

I then met residents to support a petition to address the speeding and overtaking on Maidstone Rd and Millbank. I will go to a KCC meeting with it to represent the Ward.

22nd Richard and I meet with the Leader of Council about the Local Plan and the dreadful plans for Hazelpits Farm Ulcombe Rd at 9am. I actually think the developers have got a lot wrong. It just smacks of dumping houses, not very good ones, badly conceived on the village that affects Ulcombe too.

Richard and I went to meet Planners about Gypsy site enforcement. It was productive.

Richard and I then have meetings with the Leader again later and then with the Police about local anti-social behaviour in the village. We asked for a presence that sends a message! That evening 6 Officers and a dog walked around and issued several cautions including for handling drugs.

On the 26th I attended a Headcorn Matters group meeting where we discussed many issues and the concern for the recent set of Planning Consultations  (last week and this week) and what we could and should do. I will continue to lobby and get more sense.

Then during that week Richard and I had several meetings with Planners, and Political Group meetings where we both took the opportunity to discuss matters with Sir Hugh Robertson MP. We asked for his support and help to ensure some COMMON SENSE can be used. Officers at the highest level need to be TOLD that Headcorn must not be subjected to such targets, and badly thought out ones!

I also took the opportunity to speak to close allies in other Rural areas namely Staplehurst. We need to ensure the Rural Alliance is taken seriously.

I toured the Headcorn Aerodrome with cabinet Member Malcolm Greer. on Friday morning the 29th. This gave me a chance to get the message across that Headcorn is not a sleepy village and a truly lovely yet inspiring place to live, and we need to look after it and nurture it and develop the the right things for the right reasons.

On the Friday evening Members of cabinet heard from Cllr John Perry-Staplehurst-and myself where we debated the Local Plan at length, together with other concerned members. AND NOW I sense the urbanists may think we might have a few points worth making.

 
I can assure you Richard and I are not idle.

July 2014

If June was about building awareness-two way:others getting to know me as I got to know the places, processes and people etc-then July was about setting my purpose and establishing my priorities.

I choose to be proactive, not reactive like some. I have taken a back seat on my other work interests, be they professional -that put the roof over my head and feed me as I need to top up my minimal pensions-and I have a time when my youth work falls into holiday mode. My Parish work should continue and at times run alongside Borough roles, though the work is quite distinct and discrete with many specific remits.  I was minded, and still am, to cut back on the Parish roles, as again I am not the reactive one that just turns up to nod and groan! I actually take part in several of the Parish Committees and Working groups, some of which have major work responsibilities.

So in July as I go to Maidstone House or the Town Hall, or other bases, or Village Halls, where I meet many and use every opportunity to talk to people before and after a meeting, the days are full and sometimes long.

And bear in mind theres emails, phone calls, letters, reports, agendas, informal discussions and more that can take up time. I also read background papers and do a lot of research. Many meetings, especially formal ones, are in the evenings, whilst informal ones and working parties/sub committees can take place at any time. Emails come in 24/7, and I tend to deal with them in batches at all hours.

I have also had a few personal at home problems to resolve too, but I won't detail them.

So my diary this month includes :

A meeting about Solar Farms on the 1st. I think the plans for the area that were initially proposed are wholly over the top and disproportionate!
2nd: A KCAP meeting about Youth and the problems of under-age drinking, drug abuse etc in the local villages. Then onto East Sutton Parish Council meeting.
3rd: A sub group meeting of the OSC PT in the morning at Maidstone House to discuss transport issues. Again I put up the RURAL agenda, with bus services in rural areas barely understood by many and the concept of cycling and walking hardly grasped!
4th: A meeting with the Environmental Health/Street Cleaning teams at the Park Wood depot. I had a number of issues I wanted to raise.

7th Finance Meeting of Headcorn Parish Council.
8th meet with Chief Officer of Housing regarding some social issues in Headcorns community housing,
9th meet with leader of MBC to state concerns with Planning matters, at which time a Gypsy matter is raised to follow up, followed by a Member, Employment and Development Panel Meeting, then attend Headcorn Parish Council,
11th meet with Chair of Planning followed by a Meeting with the Chief of Housing concerning Planning matters and Gypsy and Traveller issues. This meeting was also attended by a cabinet member and 2 other officers including Director Zena Cooke.
12th I attended the Parish Surgery in the Village Hall and met many of the public both formally and informally at the Farmers Market.

14th Meeting with a Parish Councillor fully explaining the need to understand all the finer points of background in respect to Planning, so we can defend the Parish and Ward against excessive and bad building. In the evening I did a "walkabout" with the new Police Community Support Officer giving him my viewpoint about our village issues and needs.
15th I had several meetings in Maidstone House and had to deliver some paperwork for "outside bodies" in respect that I have to formally apply for such roles. I then had a OSC for Community, Leisure and Environment on which I am a committee member. A sub-committee was alluded to and guess what? I was on it! Its about Old people, loneliness, care, the concerns, how we could address it and what we can actually do.
16th Today was the Mayors Summer Garden Party, a bit of a break and in the sun, but it was still a chance informally to get on trumpeting about the rural cause. Getting sympathy and support is still a problem in a Council so strong on urban based members.
17th/18th I was concerned about a number of Gyspy & Traveller matters that I seemed to be on the phone or emailing most of the days. This extended into the weekend.

21st This was one of those days when the diary was double booked with several meetings spread out and some clashes of timings. In the end I attended meetings with Officers in Maidstone and had informal talks with several members, before meeting with the Conservative Group to discuss many issues and where the Local Plan dictated the discussions.
22nd started with a meeting with Director Zena Cooke at 10am. Here we formalised a review of all the things that make Headcorn and its area a Gypsy and Traveller centre with some problems. We examined Planning issues, enforcement, crime, community cohesion, education, perceptions, parking, fly tipping and much more, This will be on-going work.

I continued throughout the day with various informal conversations with many that ranged from the Tourism business-I really think more could be done for Headcorn in this respect-to many Planning based conversations. The evening rounded off the day with a OSC PT meeting that took us to after 10pm.
23rd Another long day that started at 10am with a sub group meeting for OSC members and Cabinet members of all parties, where we resolve issues jointly and seek solutions jointly. This was then followed by several informal meetings, after lunch, where common issues and special agendas were discussed. A number of rural Wards/Parishes are now forming a bond, regardless of political party where we all want some rethinking and better communication.
Then we had a Council meeting that took us into the evening. Invariably several informal meetings take place after that, in a pub!  I joined a group made up of several different political  persuasions, and again we debated the need for change in terms of the Local Plan.
24th I had a meeting with the County Councillor today, we had a long agenda, from fly tipping, to Policing, to Speeding/Traffic and the Local Plan. Meanwhile a by-election was taking place in Staplehurst. The Lib Dems won...just!
25th I was out on Speedwatch duty on Millbank in the morning to observe a much slower day than usual. Its usually very bad, but the schools were now on holiday. Then back to more emails!

I had intended to be in Paris this weekend, for the Tour de France finish, as I love the sport and the race, but challenges in this new role meant I cancelled it at the beginning of the week. So the weekend continued with more conversations with MBC members, Parish Councillors, the County Councillor and residents. I also went to the Aerodrome to support all the wonderful things that go on there. The Museum is developing and they do such a great job there, and I wanted one of my regular youth group members to be a volunteer for them. It would be good for them and him.

28th I am keen to promote Tourism, I am also keen to support business in Headcorn, so I visited Hi Flight at the Aerodrome. I set up some further meetings to support their development.
29th I joined the OSC pre-meeting, but this was for Economic and Commercial Development. I am a substitute member so it pays to be in tune with what they do, and I do have a motivation to be involved as I want rural business recognised for its contribution and supported better. I then attended the full meeting and contributed. I actually made some recommendations and they were supported.
30th I met with a Parish Council Chair in the morning and then attended Planning Training in the evening.
31st I arranged some Flying. Yes it was a bit of pleasure, but with a purpose, to photo all the fields, rivers, streams, houses, Gypsy sites etc throughout the ward, to get a good picture of the ward. Then I would use it to present.
I had a Parish Council Staffing Committee in the evening.

So a busy month.

I also set up meetings for following up the above. One critical meeting is to attend Parliament.

I have to keep on campaigning about the Local Plan and how it might affect Headcorn and the surrounding communities. Some of the proposals outrage me, some should be modified, some may be acceptable if amendments and conditions could be opposed (see my consultation responses). This can be discussed at Conservative groups-we are the administration! Some issues should be discussed informally. Some more forcibly. Some suggestions should be made. Some re-thinks are called for. This can be done in Maidstone with Officers or Members and Chairs. Attendance at Committees will be beneficial, though politics tends to move processes and not attitudes at such meetings, so other avenues are more preferable. Plans, new ideas, constructive strategies, major responses take more than just a committee meeting. So I will pursue all those avenues.  I will also question anything that is I believe wrong for Headcorn. That may call for immediate responses by phone or email or meeting in person.
I have to work in a multi layered way. This must also include working with the Headcorn Matters Team that is doing so much good work in respect of an emerging Neighbourhood Plan/NP. That NP must be seen as the positive and constructive acceptance of rational planning with a measured approach.

And Parliament? It pays to do your research and grasp the bigger picture, rather than just react  at ground floor level I believe! This gives ammunition and a better defence from both a "top down" and "bottom-up" stance. Parliament have a sub-committee examining the NPPF, the National Planning Policy Framework. I have submitted a response to them together with Dr Rebecca Driver about the situation Headcorn faces. What is emerging at our Village level is down to an over arching National Policy, interpreted and acted out by builders/developers and Planners, that needs some sorting out!  So Rebecca and I are off to a meeting in September. We have responded  explaining our position and the sub-committee want to see us.  You can view the background on
http://www.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-a-z/commons-select/communities-and-local-government-committee/inquiries/parliament-2010/national-planning-policy-framework/

Naturally I am keeping in touch with all the key players both in Headcorn and Maidstone about the Local Plan, but I will also attend the Conservative Conference at the end of September to make my views known.



The meeting of the 4th June was about this!

Now we have this!

I hope thats better!

10th June onwards into the month

I had attended my first Committee meeting, but since I wanted to get "stuck-in" and be an active Council member I attended Cabinet-the new Cabinet on the Wednesday 11th.

I then attended Licensing Committee on the 19th that included training.

On the 23rd I and many members attended the Mayors and MBCs tribute to Armed Forces Day.

OSC PT occurred again on the 24th June, IT Training on the MBC system and some other in house training took place on the 25th that was followed by Planning Training at 6.30pm to 10ish!

I also attended a number of Parish Council meetings over the month dealing with Staffing  as well as general Council matters, or representing the Parish in terms of the possible Broadband in the community, and accompanying the Community Warden to a presentation in London, where he got an Award.
(I also went to Kings College Hospital twice for check-ups).
I did one Speedwatch session.
I attended the final Boxing and social evenings for Headcorn Youth Forum-before they close for the summer holidays and some of us demonstrated Boxing at an event in Biddenden.

Plus I met with 3 members of the community with various problems to sort out that meant several phone calls, emails and in one case a meeting with a Council Officer and a another meeting with the County Councillor.

I also liaised with the Mayor on several occasions about the Ward and the 4 Parishes we serve.

Whilst the above may outline some activity it does not indicate the other work I did. I frequently went to Maidstone House to discuss various things with Officers or Members and members of the Parish Councils.

My aim and objective over June was to get acquainted with the many key areas and people and spread the message that RURAL areas are important to Maidstone and that they must be valued. I actually upset a few people on that front!  But they got the message!

It was apparent that some work was needed though.

9th June

I spent all the weekend going through old background of committees and researching the brief of those committees as I had been given several committee roles. I had also been invited to sit on several outside bodies and had to get the appropriate paperwork done.

My first Committee was Overview and Scrutiny Committee, Planning and Transport OSCPT at 6.30 9th June. Officers had set up a pre-meeting to establish what our priorities were, so many of us attended a forum to identify areas we needed to examine. The work was actually quite extensive and demanding at times. The start of the actual meeting had to be delayed. I have to say the Officers worked very hard and at times suffered some awkward moments, but we finally got the meeting underway. Details of that work will be published on the MBC website.

It was a long day and evening. Like all "first meetings" and starting a new regime we had to elect Chairs and Vice Chairs and that meant lots of processes and politics, but after that we got along happily!

OSCPT was going to be the most challenging I suspect. It was clear others meant business!

2nd June-7th June

Mondays are always-term time-when I set up and organise a Boxing Group for young people in the village. We actually get people from as far as Marden attending, but they are still welcome. So I usually attend the evening in the Scout Hut. I also try to find volunteers to help me and a professional ABA training coach. I have one very good one at present, but her time is limited.

On the 3rd I had another introduction to MBC in Maidstone House. This was a much fuller induction rather than the brief oversee of 28th May. We had a few more processes to go through and more people to meet and some more forms to fill in! Then we had a tour of people and places throughout Maidstone House, the Town Hall and the Museum. It was a long day. It was a lot to take in. I was not going to remember all the names and the places to find them, but we got a map of the buildings!

On the 4th we had a Conservative Group meeting to de-brief after the election again and go into our political strategy for the AGM of Council on the 7th.

Incidentally I have other jobs and roles. I have small pensions from former roles in teaching, local government and industry as a result of my enforced retirement (as a result of injuries sustained from a Road Traffic Collision), but I still have a need to earn a living. I also have care responsibilities for a 82 year old mother! And I continue my Youth work and Parish Council roles. But I had a working day in London on the Friday, as a member of the Care Quality Commission Inspection teams.  And the phone constantly rang whilst I was trying to engage in Care Inspection work!

The AGM of Maidstone Council finally came. June 7th was to be the inauguration of Richard Thick as Mayor -he is the other Headcorn Councillor- and the election of the Council leader.

The meeting is very much a pomp and ceremony affair for some of it. Electing the Mayor is a very civil and civic matter. All parties applauded Richards new role as we all thanked Clive English the out-going Mayor.

Later we would all dress in robes and go to Church together,  I accompanied an Independent and a Lib Dem in a line together and it was very amicable. Then I'd sing hymns with a Labour member!

And bearing in mind us "newbies" had already started getting to know each other in our inductions and we had already formed some friendly rivalries or indeed genuine common interests.

But the Leadership vote would be key. The Lib Dems insisted on a named vote so that each individual member would make their vote known for the record so the Chief Exec asked for each member by name and then each member would say who they wanted as Leader. You can not be anonymous!  The new UKIP members asked to abstain. So with some members absent and only marginally a few more Tories than Lib Dems, it all hung on Labour and the Independents to swing the vote. 2 Independents voted for the Conservatives and Annabelle Blackmore was elected as Leader.It was fairly tense though.

Then we got papers from officers giving us our committees and roles. Officers had clearly worked out all conceivable options from that vote and gave us papers accordingly after the vote.

Then we were all nice to each other!  But the Lib Dems did not like UKIP!

May 30th

Political organisations and activity can be either full-on, foul, fallow or feast or famine!  It was busy before and tonight would be interesting as a Tory.

We decided to elect Annabelle Blackmore as Leader of the Conservative Group for Maidstone Borough Council. Others were nominated, but it was fairly unanimous. It was very cordial in the end.

Now we had a Tory leader, but would we lead the Council administration?

The meeting continued as we discussed the key issues. The Local Plan was the big issue. I actually said that my political adversaries were not my problem at the polls, the Local Plan was! Most others followed that tone. 

May 28th - May 30th

After my thrills at Brands Hatch in the morning, I went to Maidstone House and then attend the first induction at the Town Hall.

There were several of us, of all political creeds, all newbies, plus some incumbents to meet, greet and induct us. Many officer were present, so we met the Chief Exec, Chief Planning Officer etc. They explained their jobs, roles etc and legal foundations and we asked questions. Incumbent members handed out some advice, non of which was political, it was just plain good sense!

Having been on a Parish Council for years I have to say that I pretty well already knew the "players" and the processes. Others present clearly did not!

So after 3 hours I had my induction, I then had to get a pass to get into the building and a car pass to park the car and follow a few simple mundane admin processes in the next few days and return with forms duly filled in. I had a vague idea about some of the people I would need to be involved with, at an officer level, if I was on certain committees, but I had no idea what I was actually going to be involved with in terms of agendas and likely committees and I did not know who my own leader would be, nor how the Council would be led. There was no Conservative Leader and no Council Leader. There was no cabinet or people assigned to committees. This would be the case until June 7th at the Council meeting where we would confirm the Mayor and vote for a leader. As a Conservative there would be various meetings and communications to resolve our own leadership in this time, as I am sure there were meetings of the other groups, to work out many "what ifs" and who would do what. It really depended on a vote for Council leadership at the Council meeting, once we resolved who the Conservative leader would be.
A few emails and telephone calls came my way on the subject of who might lead the Tories. They were not just from fellow Maidstone Council members. Many people were keen to influence me. I made it clear from my point of view: whoever does the job MUST have rural sympathies and a proven record of understanding rural communities. My vote may not count in amongst many, so I admit I lobbied others in favour of certain candidates that emerged. My other fellow Headcorn ward member shared my convictions. We both wanted our Local Plan issues taken seriously and FAIR consideration given to our lovely ward. We had rural issues we wanted taken seriously.

So the next 48 hours was made up of lots of uncertainty and working up to a Conservatives meeting on Friday 30th. It was quite busy!

28th May 2014 - the morning.

I had a good nights sleep beforehand, thank goodness, for today. I had another R&R activity to achieve. I had booked driver training at Brands Hatch, specialist training to spin, skid, drift and control.

After a driver briefing and introductions to our driver mentors we set about doing the actual driving. It was a miserable day, for a change, quite wet and somewhat chilly compared to previous days this month. A special skid pan had been set up for us. We had to take turns to have a go.

This was just the morning 8am to 2pm and I have to confess after the initial thrills and ruining the clutch I found it a bit boring after the 3rd time having mastered figure of 8s!

Maidstone Borough Council Induction

The evening of the 28th May was the new members Induction. It was basically the introduction to Chief Officers and some ways, means and processes. Having been a Parish Council Member for some years and a community and rural activist for many of those years I was aware of the names and positions and their roles they fulfill together with many of their functions and processes. It was nice to meet them directly and get to know where they work in the building. It was also good to meet my new fellow members from all parties. I had hoped to get away for another meeting, but this one lasted from 6pm to 9.30pm and the other one was only in the opposite room in the Town hall, but it started later and finished much sooner.  It was a KALC meeting, where the Kent Association of Local Councils includes Borough and Parish Councillors   discussing wide issues affecting all across the county. It is often meaningful and full in its exchanges. There are clashes that are more than politics! Its important to be there stating you case and in my case its about Rural communities getting a fair hearing when so many turn deaf ears to rural areas. We don't have the critical mass-enough numbers-to make certain things worth while so some say! I disagree, we need rural communities and all the different things and values they offer and have. Headcorn more than any other has great assets, opportunities and qualities I need to expose to others and find ways to optimise them, as well as counter the demand for the ruination of green fields in various guises. I DO appreciate the need for housing, but under MANY terms and conditions with limitations!

I started my induction as I mean to go on-promoting rural identity and its values. I fear I may have to spend a lot of time and energy on this and tackle it across many aspects and then once awareness is roused and they know me, then I can make a difference.

I need to be on or attend key Committees. I need to let the leaders know I will be more than a "nod, grunt, moan and attend" type member. But first we don't know who our leaders are! The Leader as of pre-election has resigned. As Conservatives we need to elect a leader and then at Full Council we need to do so too. The next few days will be politicking in many ways until a vote at Council on Saturday June 10th.

Many meetings loom!

Some rest and relaxation after Election May 23rd-27th 2014

I actually did not sleep that well despite being very tired and getting home at 5.30am. It was very light and there was lovely weather, as there had been for the bulk of the campaigning weeks. May had been lovely weather-wise for the most part of the month and my bald head was quite brown!
I told myself, win or lose at the election, I would do some personal "me" things to recover, rest and relax after the intensity of the previous month. If you know me I don't sit down for long and rarely visit the cinema and actually don't even enjoy that much TV! News and Sport and good dramas may grab me, but retro TV on ITV3 and 4 or History and Yesterday channels are likely to be on, probably when I am reading emails! So my time is Rugby time and other sports, like cycling, motor sport or old cars, canoeing, swimming, golf, tennis and many others to watch, but I do actually swim and canoe a lot and I have been known to jump off mountains with a paraglider or abseil down cliffs.
I set off for Cardiff at Friday lunchtime. I was going to watch my Rugby team Saracens play in the European Cup against Toulon. 10 hours later I arrived in Cardiff and I was shattered. I'd missed the Friday evening game that I had hoped to see before the Saturday game-The Amlin Cup. The traffic was awful. It took 3 hours to get over the Severn bridge and the M25 and M4 was slow all the way with many standstills. It was a Bank Holiday weekend too! I stopped at one service station and it took one hour to get back onto the motorway.
I wanted to eat. I went to Jamie Olivers restaurant. It was a joy after the bedlam of the day and pressures of the previous weeks. The food was great, the service even better from a French waitress.
The next day I wanted to savour the atmosphere. My hotel was full of Toulon supporters. When I went to the city, it was buzzing everywhere, but there was a lack of Saracens supporters in the morning and too many from Toulon! (Sararcens supporters were to come by the afternoon by car and by bus and many were late, very late and missed much of the game:The Severn Bridge...again!)
I met up with a Toulon supporter. We exchanged conversation and finished up sharing the rest of the day together, except his seat was at the other end to mine.  He and I had lunch, a few drinks and much conversation together until the game. We separated for the game, which Toulon won quite efficiently. We met after the game though and then spent the evening together until the early hours. It was one big party. Cardiff is the perfect Rugby city. We met other Saracens and Toulon supporters and we all partied and some of us had dinner together! Losing did hurt, but Rugby is more than a game, its not about being partisan all the time, its just for 80 mins and perhaps a bit more. Sharing time with others is such joy, when the "world in union" is so much fun.
My new Toulon friend and I exchanged email contacts and addresses and now I expect to visit him in France for the start of the Toulon season in September.
I was tired, very tired the next morning. It all caught up with me.I was not feeling alert enough to drive home. So I stayed another night in Cardiff. I then enjoyed the other aspects of the great City. I saw a Choir! Thats Wales! I went to see the Dr Who Experience and the Bay. I also went to the Welsh Assembly and I got a special tour of the whole place escorted with all the questions answered, I loved that too.
I had a simple meal and an early night.
The next morning I went home and I did it in a relaxed way. I stopped off in Royal Wootten Basset and took a scenic journey. It was still very busy on the roads as it was the Bank Holiday Monday.
On the 27th May I had to go to Kings College Hospital London to have one of my regular checks and a MRI scan. Oh dear it seems I have done some damage to my leg and my spine. All that walking! I wondered why it was more painful than usual. 

Election Night 22nd-23rd May 2014

I was up at the crack of dawn, not intentionally, but I was! I guess it was adrenalin.

It was going to be a long day and night so I made sure I had a good breakfast. I then went to Headcorn Polling Station to thank the Returning officers and clerks, then I went to East Sutton, Ulcombe, Grafty Green and Hawkenbury to pay my respects to those Officers also. I stayed on for a while at Hawkenbury with my fellow other Council member, as it was in a pub, so we had a drink! I drank J20 Orange. I then went to my friend and prospective Council member in Staplehurst for a while so I could wish him, John Perry, the best of luck. Naturally whilst I was at the Polling Stations I engaged with many and felt that I was getting a warm reception especially from the many people I knew.

It rained a bit, I got soaked at one point, so I went home to change and have a cup of tea and some food.

I returned to the Headcorn Polling Station and met many more people I knew throughout the afternoon and shared cordial exchanges with many. The UKIP candidate also showed up and offered balloons.It was a cordial exchange and we both agreed that "we do it for the ward".  He left whilst I seemed to be frequently engaged with the public. There was an absence of campaigners from the other parties however.

I kept this up for hours. I went home periodically for tea. and at 9pm I had a meal. I returned to the Headcorn Polling station at 9.30pm to see the last voters  before I had a short rest and collected the other Council member, not up for election, for the ward and we went to the count for about midnight.

Very little was happening, other than boxes arriving and the votes being emptied out until about 1am. It was also a Euro election so there was more scrutiny of events and times, but nationwide. It was delayed until somebody in Southampton approved. Something to do with ensuring ballot boxes were in the appropriate places! It seemed ages before there was  the go-ahead to count.  Finally results were announced.

I was announced in the early stages. Headcorn is often last! It was a tight vote with a low turnout, but I got in.  There were a few minor frictions during the night between rivals from political divides and despite that many of us shared experiences and concerns, especially with fellow Conservatives, but also with the opposition parties. It was all quite respectful most of the time. I stayed to support other candidates, especially the similar Wards to mine as they were declared far later and after me. It appeared to be a hung Council at the end of the night, with no overall majority. The Conservatives were only just the biggest party, but the Lib Dems were closely behind and with 4 new UKIP members plus 5 Independents and now 2 Labour, none of us could predict the future with any certainty. And we were all very tired and needed a rest. We then looked forward to meeting up to decide the direction of the Council and our own party.

It was going to be a busy time.

I needed some sleep, but  clearly there was a lot of work to do.

May 2014 1st to 21st

The Month on May 2014 led up to the 22nd May Election Day and Night. It was a lot of walking and door knocking plus my usual and regular activities of organising the Headcorn Youth Forum which entails ensuring I am available and/or I have other volunteers to run activities on 3 occasions per week at this time of the year.
Then I also have Parish Council roles, plus I am a member of "Locality" an organisation to build strength in local places and organisations that serves for the benefit of them. I am also in training to be a Care Quality Commission/CQC team member that takes up some of my time and I have responsibility for my 84 year old mother. So life is always busy. ( I also love some R&R with my partner Eileen, but that tends to involve visits throughout Kent; we just love our home county, but we probably have a bias to Whitstable, and other time out in France-well it is nearer than the rest of the UK!)
On Mondays we have Boxing in the Scout Hut - its actually Training, Keep Fit and learning techniques for 8 to 18 year olds. It keeps them fit and healthy, gives them some disciplines and is NOT aggressive contact sport, but gives them some fun especially when we "sash box" which is essentially competitive defensive movements to defend your sash and grab the other persons sash thats tied around them. (On Thursday the 8th May we joined the Beavers/Scouts and demonstrated sash boxing and had some fun for an hour with them at their invite and then as a result got invited to several fetes and fairs;all good promotion or fund raising activity!)
On Wednesdays we have a social evening, very little is actually organised so they can just mix and chat, but invariably we have some balls or badminton rackets and end up playing sponge football or rounders at the Scout Hut or on Hoggs Bridge Green.
And on Fridays during the summer months, once we have got light enough and weather permitting, we play "community"  football on the main village Days Green with the children from the primary school from 3.30pm until about 6.30pm, when the younger children have left and the group is mainly older ones. Though some young ones insist on staying! That means we need more vigilance and good volunteers.

Despite the need to get round the entire Headcorn Ward and either knock on doors and post leaflets for the Election I also had 3 hospital appointments at Kings College Hospital in London during May and that usually takes some time!

But I managed to get a few volunteers to help in Ulcombe, Grafty Green and Hawkenbury and some parts of the Headcorn village area whilst I'd work on all the "targeted voters". That still amounted to a lot for one person-with a very bad leg! Headcorn is a 26 sq mile Ward and there are many out-of-the-way places.

As the 22nd loomed I was getting desperately tired-and pained-but win or lose I did have some plans after that Election, all purely pleasure, knowing how much energy and stress it may cause.

The Election campaign brought up many issues that were mainly related to the Local Plan or issues around it. I have to say there were a lot of people who felt it was an agreed "done deal" and that plans were cast in stone, as per the Consultation evening that took place in the Village hall some weeks previously. I knew I had my work cut out as at this stage as it is a CONSULTATION that has some way to go before it is certain, and I personally have objections and concerns to the most part of it, where it affects the Headcorn Ward. I intend to play my part, if elected, to make my concerns well known.