So I have just done a blog to explain and update and then realised so much has happened since 2021 when I did an Annual report!
My Conservative Group were in opposition at the Council - it changed! At the time we had One Third Elections of Council 3 out of every 4 years.......and then we an Election that secured Conservative Leadership of the Council of 55 Members.
We changed a few things: starting with the Constitution that set up FULL Council Elections every four years. That saves a lot of money in Election costs, but makes ONE big Election very intense for candidates and officers and the democratic "machine" behind it all. We also reviewed the size and make up of Wards and reduced the number of Council Members. In my case Headcorn Ward got bigger with Sutton Valence added onto the 4 parishes plus in those areas there were another 1000 houses too. More demands, more problems!
But what a lovely place to have them!
And we decided to have a Leader and Cabinet system of governance, where a Leader and several key Cabinet members would lead the key areas and directions of Council and its work, as opposed to the Committee system that gave direction to Committees where Chairs were the key leaders and all Members contributed to governance. Personally that was a wieldy and time consuming long winded process so the Cabinet system allowed quicker decisions, responses and better direction. Saving time often saves money and cuts down on process.
Initially I was made a Chair and then served in an interim Cabinet, then when all these new governance systems were put into practice I had a full Cabinet role. As Chair I had Recreation, Parks, Museum, Theatre/Culture etc in my remit and then I had Waste and Environment including Cemeteries/Cremations in my Cabinet role.
But in Cabinet you get involved in all decisions as well as your own! It was a major drain on time ...and frankly, even in a "fellow political party" team it was a challenge..at times it was strained.. Those precious matters of time and energy had an effect on not just my time, energy and health, but also my entire MO. (Modus Operandi)
I also had some big personal issues. In 2021 my mother was on "her last legs" and by 2022 she had passed. My love for her and my intense need ...and guilt ... to provide the best was a strain.
So in 2023 I quit Cabinet.
I had a bit of space..... then 2024 came along and the previous posting should now make more sense when read with this!
AND that may explain some of the gap between Blogs!
