Report from the Lib Dem Maidstone Borough Council Group – July 2025
Report from the Lib Dem Maidstone Borough Council Group – July 2025
As we begin our second year in administration with the Green Independent Alliance, we’re proud to share the growing list of achievements delivered on behalf of local residents. While some of these changes will take time to show their full impact, real progress is being made across many fronts.
Better Financial Management
One of our first priorities was to stabilise the Council’s finances. The previous administration had been forecasting a significant budget overspend. Thanks to our revised budget and sound financial oversight, we are now on course to deliver a budget surplus in our first year.
We’ve also tackled the poorly handled re-letting of the waste contract. The new arrangements are already performing better than the previous Biffa contract, and we continue to monitor and improve service delivery. Meanwhile, we’re actively pursuing grant funding and investing in our buildings and assets to strengthen the Council’s financial position further.
A Sustainable and Fairer Vision
We’ve completely updated the Council’s Corporate Strategy to focus on sustainability and the core themes of our joint manifesto. This new vision is already influencing key planning decisions:
- At the East Station site, we’ve reduced the number of housing units and secured space for a new urban park.
- At Springfield, we’ve achieved substantial design and sustainability improvements.
We are also taking a fresh approach to affordable housing by shifting the focus toward delivering genuinely affordable social housing, rather than the less affordable options favoured by developers and national policy.
Greening Our Borough
Greening Maidstone remains a top priority. Following enhancements in Jubilee Square, we will soon begin improvements to Earl Street and deliver a new pocket park at St Faith’s Street.
Work is also underway to establish new nature reserves and increase biodiversity across the borough, including planting schemes and wildlife initiatives at play areas and open spaces.
Arts, Events and Economic Regeneration
We are investing in the town’s cultural life and economy by supporting arts and events:
- The Creative Maidstone Art Hub will open soon, offering a vibrant new space for creativity.
- The number of public events in Maidstone is growing, helping bring life and footfall back to the town centre.
Cleaner, Healthier Streets
We continue to respond to long-standing concerns about fly-tipping, street cleanliness and air quality. Highlights include:
- New funding for street cleaning, including tackling bubble gum.
- Approval of a new Air Quality Management Plan to address pollution hotspots.
Fixing the Broken Local Plan
We are making steady progress in untangling the mess left by the previous administration’s Local Plan, which lacks many of the essential secondary policies needed to guide development.
Work has begun on important policies covering:
- Gypsy and Traveller sites
- Landscapes
- Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs)
We are also beginning to address the serious shortfall in local infrastructure, a situation made worse by years of misallocated or unused funding by the former administration and Kent County Council. This will be a major area of work going forward.
Team Effort
None of this would be possible without the dedication and teamwork of our whole Council Group. Special thanks go to:
- Cabinet Members: Simon, David, and Tony
- Committee Chairs: Rob, Paul, and Joe
- And our hardworking officers: Secretary Jeeva and Treasurer Cynthia
We are grateful for the continued support of residents, and we remain committed to building a fairer, greener, and better-run Borough for everyone.
Cllr Clive English
Deputy leader of Maidstone Borough Council & High Street Ward Councillor
