Council Highlights and Policy Debates
The Budget and Council Finances
Much of the last quarter has been dominated by the 2026/27 budget setting. At the Full Council meeting on 25th February 2026, the Labour administration pushed through a Council Tax increase at the full allowable limit of 4.99%.
During my speech, I challenged the administration’s fiscal management. It is deeply concerning that the council continues to borrow to balance day-to-day spending. Shockingly, the Leader, Cllr Vince Maple, has had to request an additional £10M from the Government for the current financial year, and a further £10M for 2026/2027. This brings potential total borrowing to £62M—all of which attracts annual interest of around 5%—on top of an existing debt mountain of over £600M. This level of borrowing is simply not sustainable for Medway’s future.
I have written previously on Medway Labour’s Debt disaster.
Local Government Reform (LGR)
The reorganisation of local government across Kent remains a significant talking point. The proposal to abolish Kent County Council and the District Councils in favour of 3, 4, or 5 unitary authorities currently sits with Steve Reid MP, the Local Government Minister.
Given this Government’s track record of U-turns, it is possible LGR could still be cancelled. However, if it proceeds as planned, there will be no local elections for Medway Council in May 2027. Instead, existing terms will be extended by one year, and elections for the new North Kent Unitary Authority will be held in their place. Medway Council will cease to exist at the end of March 2028.
Neighbourhood Healthcare: A New "Pioneer" Approach
The Integrated Care Board (ICB) has proposed a major reorganisation focused on a “home-first,” community-based approach. Central Chatham has been designated as a “Pioneer Site,” intended to move healthcare away from being hospital-centric.
While the theory suggests more council involvement in healthcare oversight, I remain cynical. We have seen many “plans” from the NHS that failed to deliver meaningful change for residents. I will be dedicating a separate blog post to this subject later this month to dive deeper into the implications.
In the Ward: Hempstead & Wigmore
Resident Casework
- School Street Scheme: I have received a high volume of correspondence regarding this scheme. High levels of dissatisfaction remain, particularly regarding poor signage which is leading to an unfair number of fines for local drivers.
- Healthcare Access: I have been supporting a local family struggling to obtain a diagnostic appointment for their child regarding ADHD; a clear example of where the “system” is currently failing.
- Infrastructure & Planning: I am dealing with ongoing tree issues on Bredhurst Road and various planning applications across the ward.
Ward Improvement Fund
I am pleased to have requested a £1,000 award for the Hempstead Fayre Committee to contribute towards the cost of the Hempstead Christmas Tree.
I have a total of £2,000 available each year to distribute to local groups in Hempstead & Wigmore. If you run a local group and a small grant would make a difference to your work, please do get in touch at andrew.lawrence@medway.gov.uk.
Education and Trustee Work
My responsibilities as a School Trustee remain a priority. Over the winter period, I attended 12 meetings across the Trust (five in December, four in January, and three in February). Navigating the current educational landscape while ensuring our ten schools provide the best possible environment for our pupils is a task I take very personally.
Committee Diary (Dec - Feb)
My work on various committees continues to be the primary way I scrutinise council decisions:
- December: Shadow Cabinet, Appointment Committee (AD selection), and Group meetings.
- January: Meetings with the Director of Place, Shadow Cabinet, and a specific Seminar on Neighbourhood Healthcare. I also met with MHS Social Housing providers and attended the Regeneration, Culture & Environment Committee and Audit Committee.
- February: Health & Wellbeing Board, Full Council (Budget), Audit Committee, and further strategic meetings with the Director of Place.
As always, if you have any concerns regarding life in Hempstead and Wigmore, please don’t hesitate to reach out.
Thank you for taking the time to read this Councillor update. My next update will be published in June 2026.
Cllr Andrew Lawrence
Shadow Spokesman for Regeneration, Culture & Environment. Medway Councillor for Hempstead & Wigmore
