The Leader said:

“Madam Mayor, thank you.

As Leader of Swale Borough Council, there is, as always, a whole range of matters that I could report on this evening and of course many activities across the borough that I would ordinarily wish to highlight.

However, I am mindful of the significant and pressing items before Full Council tonight, and I believe that it is important that we devote our time and attention to the business requiring decision.

In that spirit, and out of respect for the importance of the agenda ahead, I will keep my statement deliberately brief and cover pertinent issues at December’s meeting when less constrained by time.

In the meantime I will touch briefly on a few pressing matters of particular relevance to our residents, notwithstanding what is to follow on this evenings agenda. Firstly, the continuing highways issues in and around the Sittingbourne area and secondly the pressures and difficulties within education provision in Swale, both of which are of course Kent County Council responsibilities. These challenges have a direct and daily impact on our communities, and I want to reassure colleagues that I am continuing to raise these concerns directly with KCC Leader and relevant Cabinet members, pressing for more effective action and clearer communication.

I also wanted to place on record my welcome for the proposed reopening of Faversham Cottage Hospital on the second of December having lobbied for its return. This is a positive step for local healthcare provision and for our communities in the Eastern part of the borough, and I hope to see this progress continue in collaboration with our partners.

To close Madam Mayor, I would like to conclude by expressing my appreciation for the continued professionalism and dedication shown by our officers during what are uncertain times. And to state that personally I remain committed to working constructively with all colleagues as we navigate the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.

Thank you Madam Mayor”.

In response, the Leader of the Conservative Group agreed that the disruption and impact on residents and the local economy as a result of the highways issues was appalling and spoke frustratingly at the lack of action to address it. He referred to the additional delays caused because of the change in traffic light frequency and priority at the junction of St. Michaels Road and Crown Quay Lane, Sittingbourne. He welcomed and thanked those involved in the re-opening of the Cottage Hospital, Faversham giving particular thanks to the Faversham and Mid-Kent MP Helen Whately. Finally he said that political groups working together efficiently made the Council better.

Referring to the traffic issues in the area, the Leader of the SIA Group was critical of the promises made previously to address it, with no changes. He said many residents had contacted him about the closure of The Appleyard, Sittingbourne and he asked the Leader if there was anything the Council could do? 

The Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group said the Faversham Cottage Hospital was a cherished community service and she thanked all those involved in lobbying for it to be re-opened, acknowledging that all political parties came together to push for its reopening.  She highlighted that the staff who worked there had been through an uncertain time.

The Leader of the Reform UK Group joined others in praising the collaborative efforts to reopen Faversham Cottage Hospital. Addressing highways issues in the Borough, he reminded Members that Swale Borough Council (SBC) was the local planning authority responsible for granting applications that increased pressure on the road network. He noted that Members of the Planning Committee had the discretion to refuse applications, even when Kent Highways and Transportation advised otherwise. He said other councils had taken this approach and successfully defended their decisions at appeal. The Leader of the Reform UK group said previous Governments had not invested into the road network and had cut funding to local authorities.

The Leader of the Green Group shared that he had previously worked at Faversham Cottage Hospital and highlighted its importance to residents across a wide area. He echoed others in expressing his pleasure at its reopening.

Other Members were invited to ask questions and make comments which included:

·         There were currently around 540 Year 6 pupils on the Isle of Sheppey who would need a secondary school place in September 2026, but only 330 places were available on the Isle of Sheppey. Kent County Council (KCC) appeared to be forecasting that the remaining 210 pupils would need to attend schools on the mainland. What was the Leader’s view on this?

·         thanked SBC for providing parents with a platform to raise concerns about the shortage of school places for Isle of Sheppey residents;

·         thanked Councillor Elliott Jayes and the Chief Executive for making space on agendas to ensure that parents were heard;

·         referred to the response received from the Cabinet Member for Education which stated that the issue was not their problem, and highlighted it was not the problem of the students needing a school place;

·         traffic issues were not just unique to Swale;

·         there was a lack of communication between those leading on developer-funded works to those leading on maintenance works, at KCC;

·         praised the hard work of all SBC Officers;

·         referred to the continual delays to the Grovehurst Road, Sittingbourne scheme, and how the concurrent closures impacted so many;

·         called for KCC to advise what fines and penalties had been issued against the contractors for the extreme delays on the Grovehurst Road project and for money to be spent in communities who had been particularly badly affected by the delays;

·         thanked the Leader for his efforts on the re-opening of the Faversham Cottage Hospital and praised its good service;

·         Sittingbourne was the largest area in Swale but did not have the health facilities it needed, what was the Leader doing to address this?; and

·         suggested that SBC should force developers to be upfront in their commitments to Section 106 Agreements.

In response, the Leader said he recently met with the Cabinet Member for Highways and Transportation at KCC and raised the issue of the traffic lights sequence at the junction of St. Michaels Road and Crown Quay Lane and for the box junction at the bottom of Bell Road, Sittingbourne to be remarked as a priority.  He shared with Members the explanations he had been given for the reason the traffic built up in that area.