The council stands at Conservatives 24, Liberal Democrats 13, Tunbridge Wells Alliance 5, Labour 5, Independent 1. <> [1] Political control All 24 opposition councillors voted against Cllr Dawlings Conservative succession as leader but the vote was carried after new mayor, Cllr Woodward, used his casting vote to carry the motion forward. Pascack Press 4.24.23 - issuu.com [7], On 16 May 2022, the Liberal Democrats, the Tunbridge Wells Alliance, the Labour Party, and one independent councillor, Rodney Atkins, agreed to form a coalition to run the council. Are Any of the Walls of the Royal Victoria Hall Collapsing? Council control before election. Tunbridge Wells Borough Council - BBC News Cllr Dawlings emphasised that the bulk of the Council Tax collected by the Borough is passed onto Kent County Council, Police, Fire services and for Parish and Town Councils. News - Tunbridge Wells Green Party Conservative Tunbridge Wells Council Leader Tom Dawlings outlines key achievements and upcoming 2022 delivery in the Tunbridge Wells Times newspaper news article published on the 2nd February. In 2021, the Conservatives, who made significant gains across the country in that years local elections, continued to lose ground to the other parties in the council. All rights reserved. . This website and its associated newspaper are members of the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO), the Conservatives failed to secure the 10 seats they needed to retain overall control at the Tunbridge Wells Borough Council elections, Cllr McDermott survived a leadership challenge at the Conservative AGM. The budget will be addressed by the full council in February. As part of the deliberation process, the Administrative Committee has conducted extensive discussions and . The council is planning to draw on reserves to cover the budget shortfall caused by a loss of income from charges (as a result of the Covid pandemic) and rising costs of staff, utility bills, waste collection and parks maintenance. Cllr Chapelard is the ward member for St James' and Liberal Democrats Council Group Leader. Over the next five years if we dont do anything about it we will have another 20 million hole in the council finances. Tunbridge Wells Council Leader calls for "Collaboration" between The council is working to improve its energy efficiency and catch up with a backlog of maintenance including repairs to the leaking roof and repainting of the windows. Placemaking is fundamental to the Council and as the new Planning Policy . Cllr Dawlings also says he wants to look at improving the refuse services in the area. TBD. The Government insists that this is [], Read More from A Green in the Room Makes a Difference, We hope everyone had a good Christmas even if their water had to be trucked into Tescos carpark for collection Water played a big part in shaping a year [], Read More from A fairer and Greener New Year. The seat returned to Labour in 2014, bringing the party back to the council. The Conservative leader of Tunbridge Wells Borough Council has been unseated by a UKIP candidate. <> "Despite the initial rebuff, I hope the opposition group leaders will now be prepared to discuss establishing good working relationship because that is what our residents and businesses both need and deserve.". "We are all interested in what's best for the people of the borough.". He says he feels all opposition parties are united in wanting what is best for the area. The leader of The Alliance on Tunbridge Wells Borough Council hopes the ABC cinema site can be put to community use until development takes place. Among the issues fought over were plans for traffic calming and widening the A21. The pandemic has seriously impacted on the Councils income so there are some major financial decisions to take to balance our revenue budget and replenish reserves. After last week being appointed the new Tory leader, Cllr Dawlings, who represents Benenden and Cranbook, said he contacted the leaders of the Tunbridge Wells Alliance, Labour and the Liberal Democrats on Thursday morning. The Conservative's 23 council seats are now outnumbered by the 25 seats held by opposition parties. %PDF-1.7 But in the balanced state the Council is now in (24 Conservative Members, 24 Opposition Members) working more closely together is all the more important. However, the Liberal Democrats lost their majority before the next election due to defections, which emboldened the optimistic Conservatives during the local election campaign of 1998. Speaking to the Local Democracy Reporting service, Cllr Chapelard said: We all know from Calverley Square the councils reputation has been absolutely savaged by residents and we need to rebuild that trust. We will be taking cabinet on a tour to meet residents so we can be accountable to them. It is all change as a new leader of Tunbridge Wells Borough Council and a new mayor have been elected. Tunbridge Wells Borough Council Plan I would like to praise my predecessor, Alan McDermott, who was appointed Leader in May 2019. Show only. Councillor Dawlings (Cons), ward member for Benenden and Cranbrook,. Ousted council leader says building offices "still a good proposition He said the cabinet system of running councils meant that after the full council appointed him for a four year term as leader last May, he then appointed the cabinet, which is responsible for most day-to-day decisions in the council. At the Annual Meeting of Tunbridge Wells Borough Council on Wednesday 25 May 2022 Councillor Ben Chapelard was elected as Leader. Ben Chapelard of the Lib Dems, the party with the most councillors, will now head up the council. Debs previously worked in main government, then local government. As Leader he has played a full role in the measures the Council has taken so successfully in supporting residents and businesses during the pandemic - it has been a very difficult time but our Conservative-run Council has performed with great distinction. Leader of Tunbridge Wells Borough Council Tunbridge Wells Borough Council May 2022 - Present1 year Tunbridge Wells, England, United Kingdom Student Voice/Communicating for meaning. Cllr Chapelard is the ward member for St James' and. m8#KL.$]s58r5mreW#V>mpOay[`c:\Clt=P#GEV The leader of Tunbridge Wells Borough Council said the draft Local Plan will not be derailed by Boris Johnson's comments against house building on "green fields". Vibrant Focal Point or Plastic Lunch Box? Members of the Council elected Councillor Tom Dawlings as new Leader at a meeting of the Full Council on Wednesday 26 May. Cllr Blackwell 2: Plans for Hub Theatre are Very Unrealistic, Cllr Blackwell 1: Cllr Oakford is incorrect on State of Victoria Hall, Shock Resignation of Conservative Town Councillor, Cllr Oakford 2: Tunbridge Wells Assembly Hall to Run Hub Theatre, Cllr Oakford 1: Confident of Overcoming Sport England Objection. Last week I approached each Leader of the Opposition Groups. A new Tunbridge Wells council leader has been elected after the conservatives lost their majority for the first time in 22 years. The major issue now confronting the council is the budget. Mike Calvert writes climate breakdown is the most important challenge we will face in our lifetimes. 53m of covid recovery grants sourced from central government distributed to local retail and businesses to support recovery post pandemic. About TW Social. x]o8=@EDIInqe,$B')N"KCpC_U~7U/j:{b*;im~v=}$`>%iOlyzryszr`"`7w'3"p8T7 :fktzy'a?NOFG-X8 H!OYp ZI\ '|!v.\M39K+G,|6bv3 GkS"y0]L1S;CY8cL(yG}BApz+SIxwM[LF$KY8Y/vY tI17S=sxq ce. Wxr/?p{EOx&vVk5},\L3zj08z|)smC)~._:Xcq1sufksCF j)cFA*p ~r&BD()RG)d4u_}9|y. He said this was less damaging than adding more houses to existing villages where the infrastructure was already overloaded. David Jukes lost out to Lucy Willis of the Tunbridge . The Conservatives have all seats on the cabinet, all committee chairs and all committee vice-chairs. Leadership and Governance - Wells Fargo TUNBRIDGE WELLS BOROUGH COUNCIL CABINET MINUTES of the meeting held at the Council Chamber, Town Hall, Royal Tunbridge Wells, TN1 1RS, at 6.30 pm on Thursday, 20 April 2023 . <>/ExtGState<>/XObject<>/ProcSet[/PDF/Text/ImageB/ImageC/ImageI] >>/MediaBox[ 0 0 595.32 841.92] /Contents 4 0 R/Group<>/Tabs/S/StructParents 0>> Bob Atwood, who was elected leader of the council in January 2011, lost to Piers Wauchope of. At the same full council meeting today, Chris Woodward (Con), the deputy mayor, was elected as mayor of Tunbridge Wells. Following the local elections on 5 May the Liberal Democrats held 16 of the 48 seats making them the largest Group in the Council. Hub plans win over Tunbridge Wells Planning Committee, Multiple Errors of Fact in Planning Officers Report supporting Hub, say critics, Southborough Society Pledges Full Support for Council Hub Scheme, Key Planning Decision Next Week as Hub Project Team Ignore Petition, Petition Against Current Hub Plans Reaches 1,000 signatures: Local Priest says pay attention, Heritage Asset Status awarded to Royal Victoria Hall But Only Just, Soccer Club on Ridgewaye says Trust in Hub Project Team Has Evaporated, Backstage Pictures Reveal Secrets of Condemned Royal Victoria Hall amid New Delay to Planning Verdict, 84% of Planning Comments Still Oppose Hub Plans, Tunbridge Wells Theatre Boss Calls For Old Southborough Theatre to be Demolished, Hub Project on Track says Southborough Council, Six Reasons to Save the Superb Royal Victoria Hall, Sport England says No to Hub building plans. The partnership is made up of Liberal Democrats, Tunbridge Wells Alliance (TWA) and Labour councillors, and the independent councillor for Paddock Wood (East). Nick Pope (pictured below) emphasised the recent slide in Conservative support, pointing out that just 3 years ago, the Conservatives had a massive majority, holding 43 out of 48 seats on the Borough Council. We pay our respects to Kent residents who have died in recent weeks. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. Councillor Woodward has represented Broadwater since 2006. To be responsible for the Rough Sleeper Initiatives operating in both TW and T&M council areas and effectively direct and co-ordinate the various projects/activities, ensuring that use of the initiatives are maximised for the benefit of verified rough 1.1 The report relates to the Council's commitment to become carbon neutral by 2030 and promote and carry out positive actions for the conservation and enhancement of our local environment. It is all change as a new leader of Tunbridge Wells Borough Council and a new mayor have been elected. #GrubbyGreg . The SER line to Hastings passes through Tunbridge Wells; here there was once a further branch connection south-eastwards to Groombridge, and at Paddock Wood is the southern terminus of the Medway Valley Line to Maidstone. Common Council | Summit, NJ This is something that I was never expecting to have to write: @GregClarkMP has written a newspaper article that is full of lies. The Full Council elects the. The content is clear and concise and you do not need to wade through a load of reading. Tory Tunbridge Wells leader Bob Atwood loses seat to UKIP The Conservative leader of Tunbridge Wells Borough Council has been unseated by a UKIP candidate. After 1976, when the council was re-elected, the Conservatives controlled of seats. Announcing a new cabinet he revealed that four seats had gone to the Lib Dems, while both Labour and the TWA will have two each. APOLOGIES CAB155/22 Plan meals, try new foods and explore cuisines with tested recipes from the country's top chefs. Nick Pope said: It is up to Tom Dawlings, the Leader of the council, to decide what he should do. Alliance - Labour coalition's first term running Tunbridge Wells Borough Council. It comes a month after the conservatives lost nine seats in the council elections leaving no party with enough councillors to rule with a majority. This caused the Conservatives to lose their majority, creating a minority administration. They remain the biggest party on the council, with exactly half the seats, but secured only 37% of the overall vote, meaning no party holds overall majority. In a major upset for the Liberal Democrats, the Conservative Party won every single seat that the Lib Dems were defending in the election, providing the party with a majority in the borough, which was seen as traditionally pro-Tory, once more. Ooi, erstwhile the representative for Southborough and High Brooms ward, had distanced himself from the national Labour government during his campaign, calling on the electorate to support a continued opposition to Tory rule in the borough. It means a deal needs to be struck somewhere but this still has not yet been done. In 1994, the council came under no overall control (NOC). Western Assistant Team Leader Ruth Chambers Assistant Team Leader Claire Thompson Principal Planning Officer Lynda Middlemiss part-time Senior Planning Officer Nancy Redgrove "Tunbridge Wells Borough Council members will be electing a new leader at the annual meeting of the full council on Wednesday, May 26," a council statement read. There's a fantastic opportunity for a planning specialist TWBC. :D6hs%#^_G1NG.2S\)me{u Having brought the building up to a high standard, the council would be renting out unused space to bring in new income streams and reduce costs for the council. He said: "I got an early indication they wanted a meeting. The Conservatives were displaced as the largest party by the Liberal Democrats following the 2022 election, with Mayor Chris Woodward losing his seat and Leader of the Council Tom Dawlings seeing his majority significantly reduced in his ward. "It has been a very, very difficult two years with Covid," he said. It comes after the Conservatives failed to secure the 10 seats they needed to retain overall control at the Tunbridge Wells Borough Council elections earlier this month. RLL E(hr&I&OIK%V#S+:){))| w In 2007, the Labour Party was completely pushed out of the council after losing its last councillor, Ronnie Ooi. Planners Want Evidence from Public that Royal Victoria Hall has Historic Value, TV Architect Ptolemy Dean Condemns Hub Design as Poor, Theatre Experts are Concerned About Southborough Hub Plans, Parking Zone May Be Way Forward in Pennington Road, Apathy as Royal Victoria Hall set for demolition, Southborough Doctors Will NOT Move to Car Park for Now, Southborough Doctors Confirm Move to Car Park, Councillors Still at Odds over New Southborough Hub, Hopes and Fears over Hub as Scheme Heads to Planning Stage, July 11-17: Final Hub Public Consultation, Southborough Society calls for Town Museum and debates Library, Local Election on Thursday: Party Pledges, Lloyds Bank Southborough: Closure Seems Inevitable, Town Council says its Intention is to Preserve Remaining Ridgewaye Fields, Labour Supporters Ask for More Protection for Remaining Ridgewaye Fields, Refurbishing the Existing Theatre is Cheaper Option, Insists Save RVH Campaign, Glenn 3: Demolishing the Royal Victoria Hall. What's for dinner? Thats why Ive created a cabinet post for government and transparency (David Hayward) so we look at how we govern. Tunbridge Wells Borough Council | LinkedIn Matthew Sankey (pictured below) won the Speldhurst and Bidborough seat last week for the Tunbridge Wells Alliance Party by just 58 votes with a 50% share of the vote. "Councillor McDermott was elected leader in May 2019. In the 2016 European Union referendum, Tunbridge Wells was the only district in Kent that voted to remain in the EU (54.89%). Borough of Tunbridge Wells - Wikipedia "Nominations for the new leader will be proposed at the council meeting on Wednesday. Plan meals, try new foods and explore cuisines with tested recipes from the country's top chefs. After last Thursdays by-election defeat, the Conservative leader of Tunbridge Wells Council has called for all political parties to work together in collaboration in the interests of the Borough. Dont take my [], Read More from A Green In The Room Will Make The Difference, We were delighted to welcome Carla Denyer to Tunbridge Wells last Saturday to help us launch this years local election campaign. Since the last boundary changes in 2002, 48 councillors have been elected from 20 wards. He argued the plans for Kingstanding Way on the North Farm Industrial estate provided: wonderful business and employment opportunities.. Councillor Ben Chapelard Title: Leader of the Council Party: Liberal Democrats Ward: St James' Other councillors representing this Ward: Councillor Rob Wormington More information about this. The Conservatives, who were the largest party and leaders of a minority administration prior to the 2022 election, have 13 councillors. 2 0 obj Despite the strong campaign against development around Capel, Cllr Dawlings continued to argue the case for satisfying central Government housing demands by developing a new settlement and including new infrastructure for road improvements, new schools and medical and recreational facilities. The new deputy mayor is Godfrey Bland (Con), ward member for Hawkhurst and Sandhurst. We also may change the frequency you receive our emails from us in order to keep you up to date and give you the best relevant information possible. The district was formed on 1 April 1974, by the merger of the municipal borough of Royal Tunbridge Wells along with Southborough urban district, Cranbrook Rural District and most of Tonbridge Rural District. Is it a Hill or a Slope on the Northern Ridgewaye Fields? Posted in Local Elections, Tunbridge Wells Borough Council. Weve all come to serve our residents. Chapelard stated his intention to reduce the councils budget deficit, which he claimed would cumulatively amount to 20 million by 2028. Tunbridge Wells Borough Council elections - Wikipedia <>/Metadata 143 0 R/ViewerPreferences 144 0 R>> Carla met Geoff Mason our candidate in Goudhurst and [], Read More from Co-Leader Carla Denyer Visits Goudhurst, With less than 3 months to go to the May local elections, this year youll need to show photo ID before you can vote. At the Annual Meeting of Tunbridge Wells Borough Council on Wednesday 25 May 2022 Councillor Ben Chapelard was elected as Leader. Meanwhile, the Conservative leader Cllr Tom Dawlings said he wanted to look at new options for a cycle and pedestrian route linking Tunbridge Wells and Tonbridge. "It's not going to be Alliance-led, Labour-led or Lib Dem-led. More. from Tunbridge Wells Green Party is standing 16 candidates on 4th May a full slate! It felt like an extended family around the table all deciding whether they want to go in this or that direction. The council plans to increase its element of Council Tax by 2% (or 5 mimimum per household). "They want to wait until the full council meeting on Wednesday.". Since the last boundary changes in 2002, 48 councillors have been elected from 20 wards. In an interview with Southborough News, Cllr Tom Dawlings (pictured below) said he spoke regularly with the opposition group leaders. "Following elections earlier this month, there is currently no overall control in the council with Conservatives and opposition parties holding 24 seats each.". This page is not available in other languages. Cllr Dawlings also noted that the Borough Councils Local Plan covered more than housing. Cllr McDermott admitted it had been a tough two years in charge, dealing with the impact of the coronavirus health crisis. https://www.timeslocalnews.co.uk/tunbridge-wells-news. It was a decision which left Hugo Pound (Lab), leader of the Labour group, frustrated. PDF Adoption of Policy to Reduce Use of Pesticides . Your email address will not be published. endobj "It's not going to be Alliance-led, Labour-led or Lib Dem-led. This website and its associated newspaper are members of the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO), the Conservatives failed to secure the 10 seats they needed to retain overall control at the Tunbridge Wells Borough Council elections. The restricted area[clarification needed] immediately to the north and west of Tunbridge Wells lies within the Weald. Former leader of the opposition, Cllr Ben Chapelard (Lib Dem), was voted through with 31 votes in favour, but all 13 opposition conservatives abstained. Tom Dawlings, who led the Conservative group in the council, disagreed with Chapelards accusations of council maladministration and complacency and arrogance, naming as some of his administrations successes 54 million in grants distributed to businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic and the construction of the Amelia Scott building in the town centre. The Green Party 2006 - 2023 | Manage Cookies, from Debs Keech Hawkhurst and Sandhurst, from West Kent Radio Interview with Tunbridge Wells Green Party, from Making Paddock Wood Fairer and Greener. 1 0 obj Mike Martin on Twitter: "RT @ThreshedThought: This is something that Bob Atwood, who was elected leader of the council in January 2011, lost to Piers Wauchope of UKIP . The main roads through the borough are the A21 London to Hastings road and in the east, the A229, which runs from the A21 at Hurst Green through Cranbrook to Maidstone. His theme for the Mayoral year is The Rising Generation, the children and young adults who will become the leaders of the future. On 13 May 2022, the TWA released a statement claiming that negotiations with the Liberal Democrats on forming a new administration had not begun, rejecting claims by Chapelard in the Kent and Sussex Courier that discussions were ongoing. He said: Matthew and volunteers were out canvassing and leafleting every day for 3 weeks across the ward. PDF Job Description and Person Specification Conservative leader of Tunbridge Wells Borough Council Alan McDermott Tunbridge Wells Borough Council elections One third of Tunbridge Wells Borough Council in Kent, England, is elected each year, followed by one year without election. One third of Tunbridge Wells Borough Council in Kent, England, is elected each year, followed by one year without election. David Hayward has already been in touch with the company which last month announced, subject to planning permission, it was poised to buy the 1.5 acre site which has stood unused since 2000. Tunbridge Wells council eyes up buildings and car parks to sell as ju1GDcsl}P'JEcJI>M*bSF~}*FQbD*F~Byjze|c@ h{cqeD?lNSe.]71.\=AP.d We use your sign-up to provide content in the ways you've consented to and improve our understanding of you. This means that we may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. Even the former leader of Tunbridge Wells Borough Council said "I really don't know" if the Calverley Square scheme will survive the aftermath.. Work was timetabled to start in five months but with a Conservative majority now of just eight and opposition parties along with some Conservatives preparing to oppose the scheme, this day may never come. Tunbridge Wells Council votes in a new leader as Lib-Dem led coalition View the profiles of our Wells Fargo Board of Directors. Required fields are marked *. 5mo. About the Council | Maidstone Borough Council Browse Committees - Borough of Tunbridge Wells Cllr Dawlings said there was cross-party support for efforts to upgrade the existing Town Hall building. endobj Tunbridge Wells borough council (TWBC) took aim at Sunak's comments over the summer, when a video emerged of him speaking to Conservative activists in the area during the previous Tory . Kent areas with worst pollution amid controversial ULEZ expansion, Current plans would see the Ultra Low Emissions Zone expanded this summer, Arrest after man has neck cut in 'serious assault', Police are now appealing for witnesses and those with information to come forward. new Audience Development & Programmes Manager Tunbridge Wells Borough Council 4.2 Royal Tunbridge Wells 40,375 a year Council control after election. Tunbridge Wells, Tonbridge and Wealden councils respond after Boris As is customary the Mayor chooses a charity to support during their term of office and Councillor Woodward will be supporting Mental Health Resource, a local mental health charity. He said the idea was really exciting and could improve the attractiveness of the town. A good team leader able to build confidence in colleagues of all skill . Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. New Leader and new Mayor elected - Tunbridge Wells Borough Council The Council is composed of 48 councillors representing 20 wards across the borough. [1] This will be on the same day as other local elections . A string of villages lies across this plain, from Brenchley and Horsmonden to Benenden and Headcorn. In a by-election in Culverden ward held later that year, the Conservative Party lost another seat to the Liberal Democrats.
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