Council launches new forum for Sheppey

Swale council has axed its Sheppey area committee because not enough residents were bothering to attend.

But it is trying again by relaunching it under the new title of a councillors and residents’ forum.

Under the old format, only councillors could speak and vote. Members of the public were allowed to take part but only during a special section.

Council leader Tim Gibson (Lab, Roman). Picture: Swale Borough Council

Cllr Tim Gibson (Lab, Roman Ward), the leader of the council, said: “These new forums provide the perfect opportunity to discuss what matters most to you with your local councillors, providing local insight that can help guide the council’s decision-making.”

The forums will include free tea, coffee and biscuits and a chance to have “informal chats” with ward councillors where residents can suggest improvements to the area.

Cllr Gibson added: “Going forward, the meetings will also highlight how your feedback has made a difference, with regular updates on the actions we have taken to address your concerns or implement your ideas.”

Leysdown village hall

The first Sheppey meeting will be next Thursday (June 11) at Leysdown Village Hall, Wing Road, Leysdown, ME12 4RS, from 7pm, although councillors will be around from 6.30pm for “informal networking”. 

It will be chaired by Cllr Lee-Anne Moore (Con, Sheppey East) replacing Cllr Elliott Jayes (SIA, Sheppey Central). Vice-chair is Pete Neal (Con, Sheppey Central), replacing Cllr Dolley Wooster (Lab, Sheerness).

Cllr Lee-Anne Moore (Con, Sheppey East) is to chair Swale Borough Council's new Sheppey Councillors and Residents Forum

The agenda will include an update from Kent County Council on the amount of secondary school places available on Sheppey and updates on the Sheerness Revival project and Swale’s consultation on the future of the Island’s parish councils.

An attempt to call for one council to cover the whole of the Island has been thrown out because not enough Islanders voted for it.

Garry Ratcliffe, the new chairman of Pride in Place, which will spend £20 million og government money over the next 10 years on the eastern end of the Island, will introduce himself.

Empty spaces at Halfway car park after charges were introduced

Time has also been set aside to debate the controversial subject of car parking on Sheppey following Swale council’s decision, against public opinion, to introduce charges to five previously free car parks.

The decision has already led to businesses in Queenborough and Halfway reporting a drop in custom as drivers shun the car parks.

A council spokesman said: “These forums aim to improve the quality of life and council services in communities and to bring greater local insight into the council’s decision-making.

“In the future, members of the public will also be able to vote on certain items, agreed by the chair of the forum, and the topics covered will be shaped by local interests and concerns.”

He added: “An important function of the meetings is to engage with the public, parish and town councils and community groups about key local issues that matter most to the area’s residents; changes to council services and new policies and strategies; council-led projects in the borough and changes in government legislation which may impact residents.”

They will include more updates on the action “taken by the council in response to concerns raised by local people, to better show how residents’ voices are heard and help improve their community.”

The meetings will be broadcast online with “new audio equipment to make sure speakers can be heard clearly.”

The new forums will meet three times a year. The last Sheppey Area meeting was at the Criterion, Blue Town, on February 3.

Your 14 Sheppey councillors are:

Andy Booth (Con, Minster Cliffs)

Hayden Brawn (Lab, Sheerness)

Angela Harrison (Lab, Sheerness)

Elliott Jayes (SIA, Sheppey Central)

Peter MacDonald (Ref, Minster Cliffs)

Peter Marchington (Con, Queenborough and Halfway)

Lee-Anne Moore (Con, Sheppey East)

Peter Neal (Con, Sheppey Central)

Tara Noe (Con, Sheppey East)

Tom Nundy (SIA, Minster Cliffs)

Ashley Sheil (Lab, Queenborough and Halfway)

Mark Tucker (Con, Sheppey Central)

Mike Whiting (Ind, Queenborough and Halfway)

Island Forum logo

·       The Island Forum, which is a non-political group of councillors, businesses, organisations and individuals determined to put Sheppey first, will meet the following week on Tuesday, June 16, at 6.30pm, also at Leysdown village hall.