KENT TORIES SAY NO TO GENUINE LOCALISM 

Impassioned requests by KCC elected members from five separate districts across the county wishing to be genuinely involved in their respective local arrangements for the Kent Children’s Trust were completely ignored by the Conservative KCC Cabinet at County Hall this week. 

Despite the Labour Members' sincere hope to help and support children and families through membership of the new local co-ordinating groups in the areas of Kent for which they were democratically elected, Paul Carter and his Cabinet decided that no local KCC councillor representation was either wanted or needed.

Cllr. Clive Hart, Labour member for Margate & Cliftonville and a Shadow Cabinet Member for Children, Families and Education at KCC said: " The Conservative administration at KCC has made it quite clear from day one that the only role they see for local councillors is one of scrutiny. Put simply, local councillors can get involved when things go wrong. 

Our Labour members believe local arrangements across Kent would benefit from genuine local involvement at the grass roots so that mistakes could be avoided in the first place. 

This issue exposes a fundamental difference between our two political parties here in Kent. Labour members clearly feel they are elected to represent the interests of those they serve. Unfortunately, Conservative members often like to take the easy option, expecting others to run things and simply calling them to account when it's too late ! "   

Cllr. Christine Angell, Labour member for Dartford East and a Shadow Cabinet Member for Children, Families and Education at KCC said: " This is a lost opportunity for the Kent administration to bring forward the localism agenda, where those in power actually listen to the people! "

For more information, contact Clive Hart on 01843 298770