Rich Lehmann’s Councillor’s Report March 2025 24 March 2025 / 24 March 2025 by mlaytondesign The deadline for Kent councils to submit their interim proposals for Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) has now passed, with a joint submission being sent to the government on 21st March. While this marks a key milestone in the process, it has raised more questions than answers about how the transition will be funded and implemented. […] Read more »
Rich Lehmann’s Councillor’s Report January 2025 15 January 2025 / 15 January 2025 by mlaytondesign In mid December the government published plans to turn all remaining ‘two-tier’ council areas in England into Unitary Authorities over the coming years, and to install directly elected mayors across the entire country too. These plans, if they go ahead, will completely change the landscape of local government in Kent and the other remaining areas […] Read more »
Swale Green Party withdraw from the coalition at Swale Borough Council to take a stand for nature and for local democracy 16 December 2024 / 16 December 2024 by Miriam Layton Statement from the Green Party Group at Swale Borough Council . We have taken the difficult decision to leave the coalition, over our fundamental differences to the Labour Party’s approach to planning, housing, and environmental priorities. Our departure stems from Labour’s revisions to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), which fail to address the urgent need […] Read more »
Rich Lehmann’s Statement on the election of President Trump 18 November 2024 by mlaytondesign Rich made the following statement at the KCC full council meeting after the recent US election: Like many, I was disheartened to see the result of the US election. Aside from the fact that the re-election of President Trump is of huge concern to many (with more than half of the respondents to a YouGov […] Read more »
Rich Lehmann’s Councillor’s report november 2024 13 November 2024 / 13 November 2024 by mlaytondesign Land Drainage As Chair of the Environment Committee at KCC, I have been in touch with the Lower Medway Internal Drainage Board to investigate whether it would be viable to convert land currently drained using drainage ditches into salt marsh or some other habitat with a high biodiversity value. Swale’s estuary habitats are vitally important […] Read more »
Shock as planning decision is taken out of Councillors’ hands. 11 November 2024 by mlaytondesign Green Councillors Rich Lehmann, Alastair Gould and Terry Thompson were devastated to be told a few hours before the planning committee meeting on 7th November, that the planning decision on the enormous development, Highsted Park, South and East of Sittingbourne had been “called-in” by government. Swale Council’s planning officers had recommended refusal of the application because […] Read more »
COUNCILLOR’S REPORT OCTOBER 2024 13 October 2024 / 13 October 2024 by mlaytondesign Bins Firstly, I am relieved to say that, for almost all areas, the bin collections have greatly improved since the September route changes. If Suez do miss your bin, please contact Swale so that any problems can be remedied as quickly as possible. Use the online form here: https://swale.gov.uk/bins-littering-and-the-environment/bins/report-a-missed-bin, or phone the council on 01795 […] Read more »
CHANGES TO HOUSING ALLOCATION IN THE LOCAL PLAN 26 September 2024 / 28 September 2024 by Miriam Layton I am very sorry to report that there has recently been a significant change to the housing allocations proposed for the emerging new Swale Borough Local Plan. This new plan for housing in the borough was proposed by council members from wards to the West of the borough, who also carried the vote to bring it forward […] Read more » Boughton under Blean Development Faversham Goodnestone Graveney Hernhill Housing Local Plan Swale
FAVERSHAM AND VILLAGES WATER QUALITY TESTING GROUP 2024 UPDATE 26 August 2024 / 26 August 2024 by Miriam Layton The Faversham and Villages Water Quality Testing Group, FAVWAT, has been testing water quality in and around Faversham; including The White Drain that comes out at Seasalter, The Westbrook, Thorne Creek, The Cooksditch and Faversham Creek itself. Our aim, to ensure Faversham Creek and surrounding waters are clean and healthy, for people, for fisheries and […] Read more »
COUNCILLOR’S REPORT JULY 2024 20 August 2024 / 20 August 2024 by Miriam Layton This month’s piece is a little more functional than usual, and is primarily an update with the latest on the bin situation. Waste UpdateAt the Environment and Climate Change Committee meeting on 16th July, the committee agreed to undertake a Scrutiny Review of the Suez contract, which will examine the performance and implementation of the […] Read more »