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.