Passing of Cllr Wayne Mallard
It is with great sadness that, a number of weeks ago, we heard the news of the passing of Cllr Wayne Mallard, Labour Councillor for Snodland East and Ham Hill. Wayne was elected to Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council in May 2023, having previously served on Snodland Town Council for many years. He was a friend, a man of the people, deeply passionate about Snodland.
For several years, Wayne battled cancer, and it is a tragedy that his time was cut short. My thoughts are with his family at this difficult time. Wayne’s legacy will live on in the work he did and the people he touched. He will be sorely missed.
What’s next for Kent and Medway?
In February 2025, the government announced that Kent and Medway would not be included in the Devolution Priority Programme, a decision that is disappointing. We were united in our belief that devolved powers could bring significant benefits to our communities.
The focus for KCC and Medway Council is now reorganisation. The government has directed these councils to develop proposals for this reorganisation, with interim proposals due by 21 March 2025 and full proposals expected by 28 November 2025. While this shift from devolution is not what we had hoped for, it is a necessary step towards ensuring our region is better equipped to handle its own affairs in the future.
Devolution will happen. This is a delay, not a defeat.
Celebrating You
The finalists for this year’s Pride in Medway awards have been announced, and I’m pleased to see so many constituents and local organisations recognised for their often thankless work. Whether you’re a nominee, a finalist, or a winner, I’m proud of you all, you make our community what it is.
Whilst we’re on the topic of dedicated locals, a few Fridays ago during the school holiday, I joined Speedwatch volunteers in Wouldham to track speeding and push for data-driven changes. Despite KCC’s traffic-calming measures and no lead-footed school run, too many vehicles were still exceeding the 20mph speed limit. More work is needed to change attitudes towards speed and improve enforcement. Wouldham Parish Council and I are focused on making progress.
Business Backs Chatham
You may have seen the news that a new Aldi store could soon be opening on the former St John Fisher site. I hope you’ve all had your say, as the consultation period has now ended. The store may create 50 new jobs and add an estimated £7 million to the local economy—a significant boost for both employment and the retail sector. Whilst I’m clearly not a representative for the German supermarket multinational, I expect Aldi to take the feedback on board before submitting a planning application to Medway Council later this year. When that happens, you’ll have another opportunity to comment and make your views heard.
Building on the theme of investment, I was greeted by bright sunshine during my visit to Buckmore Park this morning. A true gem of the constituency, it has long served as a launchpad for racing legends and household names such as Jenson Button, Lewis Hamilton, and Lando Norris.
With ambitious expansion plans currently on planners’ desks at TMBC, I remain optimistic about a favourable outcome that will support local growth. As for me, I haven’t yet donned a helmet to test my racing abilities—though I suspect I won’t be receiving an invitation to their renowned 24-hour Grand Prix anytime soon!
Young Entrepreneurs
Very proud of our young students from Chatham Grammar who took their business skills to the next level this week, competing in the regional final of Young Enterprise at Old Spitalfields Market. They joined over 40 secondary schools to showcase their innovative businesses to the public, pitching their student company on a real market stall in one of the city’s most historic trading spaces.
Through Young Enterprise’s programme, students gain hands-on experience in setting up and running a business, supported by local business volunteers. Congratulations to the Chatham team for making it this far—I look forward to seeing where they take their venture next.
Beyond Politics
I wanted to write about the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill in my January update. But after a wave of rhetoric—some angry, others steeped in disinformation—I decided to let the immediate emotions die down before addressing it.
This Bill, proposes practical and urgent measures to safeguard vulnerable children: a register for those not in school, unique identifiers to improve safeguarding, strengthened multi-agency panels, restrictions on home education in cases of child protection concerns, and free breakfast clubs for all primary school children. These are immediate actions to improve children’s safety and access to education.
But instead of uniting behind these measures, a deeply cynical amendment sought to derail the entire entire bill. Cloaked in the guise of “protecting children,” this amendment proposed a UK-wide inquiry into child sexual abuse, an important conversation, no doubt, but one that does not belong as a wrecking ball against legislation designed to safeguard children now.
Survivors of child sexual abuse deserve justice. They deserve inquiries, systemic change, and accountability. What they don’t deserve is to have their suffering weaponised. As I said days before the government announcement, we can and should discuss broader inquiries into child sexual abuse, but let’s do so responsibly.
Improving Service
SEND casework makes up nearly a third of what comes through my office—parents at their wits’ end over progress, battles over EHCPs, or children left without the right support. Transport has been a growing issue, so, on your behalf, I took it up directly with Kent County Council’s Chief Executive and the Corporate Director for Children, Young People and Education.
As a former teacher and portfolio holder on Medway Council, I know just how tough this is. The financial pressures are enormous, and demand for SEND support has risen well beyond national averages. I don’t underestimate the challenge—but we simply can’t afford to get this wrong. Families need a system that works, not one they have to fight.
In the coming days, I will be writing to Catherine McKinnell MP, Minister for School Standards, to enquire about the progress of the two special schools for pupils with profound, severe, and complex needs that were announced for Kent in 2023.
Hello, Tristan?
I’m mindful that these updates can get a little policy heavy, so I’ve been tasked with ending this month’s on a lighter note. With that, let me introduce you to the Tristan plant—officially known as a calathea triostar—which my team brought into the office because of its fitting name. My first thoughts when I was presented with it: Solid name, good roots in the community, and a streak of red.
Lastly
If you need support, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me and my team using the contact details below. I also welcome any success stories—it’s just as important for me to know what’s working as it is to understand what isn’t, so that we can share best practices across the constituency.
