Damned if you do, damned if you dont!

One of the roles of being an elected member is making difficult decisions as you upset some whilst pleasing others. Our job is to listen and/or question, then make that decision.

Tonight I had to make some difficult decisions on the Planning Committee.

Some decisions were deferred, thats not because we are unable to make a decision, its because we need more proven and complete evidence. Even when one feels there is enough evidence, somebody can raise a key issue and then you realise "Yes, they are right, we need that"! When its unclear then it becomes necessary to defer.

Some decisions are unpopular, but simply put there isn't the evidence to support the popular route. In reality planning Law is clear that many applications should go ahead, unless there is good evidence against. And that evidence must be robust or it will end up in an Appeal and be granted anyway. Its actually very difficult to oppose an application when it comes to committee. If it has not been rejected by officers already then its either "maybe so, maybe not" or its highly likely to be approved.

But some decisions can be refused when there is some evidence  and then its "every decision is based on its own merits".

In my ward and village Costa Coffee wanted a site thats been empty for a while. Any empty shop is an eyesore, it suggests the place is run-down or boring. Headcorn is not that. But it dies at 4pm.

Headcorn is a great place, but it shouldn't be a pitstop and pass through, yes it should be that for some, but not that only, it should be more. It should be a destination and a place to go, stop and  stay a while and linger and enjoy. Its in the centre of the Kent, its halfway between Leeds castle and Sissinghurst Gardens. It has a lively aerodrome. Its 3 miles from Benenden Hospital, which has visitors from all over the UK,with patients visiting daily or seeing friends and loved ones. But Headcorn closes at 4.15! Other than 2 pubs and the food take aways, retailers and a very good Indian restaurant that opens later.

At weekends most places are closed Sundays and bank holidays. Yet in Tenterden a few miles away they turn away business or have queues so long at weekends.

Cyclists and walkers, fishermen and women, lions and tigers lovers, golfers, plane and flight lovers -of which we have many- are not able to use the village, especially in the light summer months when they gather, pass through or return at times. Tourists between the major destinations and at the aerodrome just pass through. Benenden Hospital visitors get upset.

I have had MORE contact from people saying they want Costa, it will be good for business and the community. In fact support has been overwhelming.

But there is one element of the community I will support and with a bias:young people around 8-18 years of age. They cannot enter pubs, and they dont want to do the shopping. They need a refuge. They dont want to hang around the take-aways either.

Many young people have told me this story: " My friends and I can't vote, but we are asking you to support Costa Coffee. We need and want somewhere to go after school to meet. Its horrible staying in Maidstone, but sometimes we have to, when we'd rather not. Theres nothing in Headcorn, theres no decent sports or play facilities for older children available most evenings and sometimes our parents are not home. We get off the bus and it would be so good to meet friends socially, especially the ones that go to schools in places like Tenterden. Some of us could have a meal or snack there, before we go home. So please support the Costa. "

And why do young people tell me this? Because they need to and because I used to run a youth group for some years and they know me!  They trust and respect me and ask.

I respect the need to support the independent businesses. They will survive and thrive if they compete in the same market. Make Headcorn a destination and NOT just a pass through pitstop! It can be both. Employing more staff over more hours with more service to cope will be good for all.

Advice is free from Rural Kent/ACRE, there are even grants and bidding opportunities, but who has contacted them for help? In fact is there a cohesive marketing and promotions strategy for Headcorn High Street?

Cranbrook nearby has to be a destination and works to market itself, or its by-pass wins!

Its a hard world and hard decisions have to be made.

WE TRY! We may not be right and we may not be right now, but we do try!

But we are damned anyway!

What do we do as Members of a Council?

The answer to that question is very long and onerous! Some members do more than others.

There is Ward work or case work: we listen to individuals problems and explain a reason why certain things happen, or we deal with the matter or pass it on. Knowing who to pass it onto can be difficult, but one must try. I feel I succeed in passing it on, but I'm not always satisfied with the response, so that may need more work.

In the last year I've dealt with Housing tenants issues from a roof falling in to excessively high bills and rogue cowboy builders for work done. I've dealt with massive high trees grown by a neighbour, and other border disputes.

Some sensitive issues have been dealt with too from Internet cons, Trading standards problems, noisy neighbours, child safeguarding matters and much more. Some of it is not very pleasant.

Fly tipping and pot holing reporting is a weekly activity & in the winter getting salt in road bins.

And there are some very specific problems that I work on from Oak Lane parking; yes I'm still trying, anti-social behaviour, other parking matters and MANY Planning issues and the Local Plan itself.

We attend Committee meetings and Council meetings. We try to attend Parish Council meetings and important community events.In my Ward I have 4 Parish Councils. Then we need to attend our political group meetings to ensure that we are "on the same track". Sometimes we are not. This needs further meetings with people.

There's regular training and awareness events to attend. We do need to know things!

Some just do the above and not all of the above but some do more. I get very involved in the political dimension, so does my Co-Ward Colleague. We lead, we inform, we steer and direct and take certain routes of policy. We NEED to do that to get others to grasp the RURAL dimension of our Ward.  We do that with our MP and neighbouring MPs and County Council Members.

I also sit on a National Committee for Rural Affairs that sits in Westminster, I am also a Trustee of several outside bodies like Rural Kent/ACRE: Council for Rural England and the Medway Drainage Board.

I can honestly say I have raised the Rural importance of Maidstone over the two years of my term so far. Its shocked many. The many "townies" now know my agenda!

The Council is still a democratic process. My Vote only counts if others vote with me. I can only influence if I have others on my side. So raising the rural profile is important work. I seek all ways to do that. If I am to be a good Council Member for Headcorn Ward I must promote and push for my community. I must seek opportunity and I must relish assets and protect what is dear, but I must also be fair and pragmatic to address changes and new innovations. Where there are problems, threats, weaknesses and difference I must seek solutions  or negotiate.

This means I must lobby and communicate with all. I do that often. I have to talk to other political parties too.

Yesterday I took a leading Liberal Democrat Member around Headcorns Gypsy sites. He had no idea what the reality and extent was of Headcorns situation, nor of the knock-on effects, that is also reflected in other parts of the south of Maidstone.

We then met Shellina-the other Ward Member:Cllr Prendergast - and had a discussion about what we could and should do about a situation that sees Headcorn overwhelmed with an issue that is affecting local social cohesion.

Now that needs some work!  So I'm on it!