Report 1 - May 2023

Council

As you will be aware the local elections were held on the 4th May 2023 with the result being declared in the early hours of the 5th May 2023. You can read our election report setting out the result for Hempstead and Wigmore and with links to the full Medway results.

On the 9th May Andrew and Jim with other new Councillors picked up their laptops, logged into their Council email accounts and had pictures taken for the Council website. Later they attended a 'Market Place' event to meet with Officers who provide the 140 different Council services. Andrew and Jim were able to spend time with the Head of Planning discussing the challenges facing Hempstead and Wigmore residents including Lidsing and Gibraltar Farm.

Andrew and Jim have attended a number of Council training events, Conservative Group meetings including the Conservative Group AGM where the new Leader, Deputy Leader and Whip were elected.

On the 24th May the Council held it AGM at which the Mayor, Leader of the Council and Committees are appointed. The full meeting is available online via YouTube. For the 2023-2024 Municipal Year Jim will be sitting on the Health and Adult Social Care Overview and Scrutiny Committee and Planning Committee. Andrew has been appointed to the Business Overview and Scrutiny Committee. Additionally, Andrew and Jim have been appointed to a number of outside bodies.

Community

• 5th May 2023 - After a few hours sleep Andrew and Jim attended a tree planting ceremony in memory of long standing Chair of Hempstead Residents Association Brian Warner.
• 21st May 2023 - Hempstead Village Fayre - Jim is part of the organising committee, Andrew will be helping out in 2024.

Casework

Andrew and Jim have been helping residents and organisations with casework: -

• Fairview Primary School with a traffic issue
• A resident, whose dog was injured on Hempstead Playing Fields
• Jim spent time with Planning Officers and convinced then to attend a recent public hearing on Lidsing Garden Village.
• Chasing up Litter Pick in Pear Tree Lane
• Dealing with a complaint about a property in Hempstead
• Discussing a planning application in Wigmore to do with a mobile phone mast

Your local Ward Councillors are available to help with any matter to do with he Council, please do not hesitate to contact us.