There was further chaos at last Thursday’s Regeneration, Culture and Environment Overview and Scrutiny Committee as Medway’s Conservatives once again demonstrated the lack of unity and leadership required to deliver key infrastructure projects. These are vital projects that will shape the future of all our communities in Medway.

Cllr Simon Curry, Medway Labour and Co-operative Group Spokesperson for Regeneration, Culture and the Environment said:

“We are extremely concerned that the Infrastructure Delivery Plan and Schedule for the new housing developments on the Hoo Peninsula has stalled. This is because the Conservative cabinet has failed to deliver a clear plan on how over £75m of this quarter of a billion pounds worth of projects will be funded.  Because of their lack of a credible plan, the public consultation which we all want to see move forward will undoubtedly be delayed.”

“Alan Jarrett and his cabinet colleagues are too busy arguing with their own backbenchers and each other to deliver on these priorities for Medway.”

Cllr Vince Maple, Leader of the Medway Labour and Co-operative Group added:

“This is an issue of such serious importance and urgency that it must be discussed at a special meeting of Full Council, and thanks to Labour & Co-operative votes last Thursday this will now be happening.

“At the last Full Council meeting, we saw millions of pounds of capital funding being approved without any clear idea as to how we can afford this despite Labour calling for far more detail and transparency which was rejected by the Conservatives. We’re seeing the same again now in relation to the Housing Infrastructure Fund, worryingly with much larger sums involved. It is clear that following the most recent chaotic Cabinet meeting and further chaos last night that the Conservative administration has lost control of Medway’s finances. Medway taxpayers deserve better than this – we need a change in the leadership of the council.”