At the Kent County Council Budget meeting last Thursday Conservative councillors voted down two Liberal Democrat proposals to fund urgent repairs needed to deal with increasing safety risks on Kent's Public Rights of Way and Country Parks. The money was to come from the £130 million of Government grants given to KCC for any extra costs of work needed to recover from the effects of Covid-19.

At Kent County Council's 2021 budget meeting on Thursday 11th February the Liberal Democrats (the largest opposition group) challenged the fairness of the council tax system and called for council tax to be abolished.

The Liberal Democrat amendment was proposed by Faversham councillor Antony Hook. It called for Kent County Council to write to the Government to ask for council tax to be reviewed and an alternative system used.

Today at Kent County Council's budget meeting, the Liberal Democrats, the largest opposition group, challenged the fairness of the council tax system and called for council tax to be revised.

The amendment called for the council to write to the government to ask for council tax to be reviewed and an alternative system of council tax bands and charging rates considered.

Earlier today, Baroness Jenny Randerson brought a Regret Motion to the House of Lords which challenged the Government's use of Special Development Orders (SDOs) for their proposed Lorry Parks in Kent, including on the White Cliffs site next to the AONB at Dover.

The SDOs enable the Government giving itself planning permission with no obligation to consult the public or produce an environmental impact assessment.

Commenting on the decision to increase council tax by 7.4% to pay for the Policing in Kent, Graham Colley, PCC candidate for the Liberal Democrats said:

"I could achieve cheap political points by immediately criticising my opponent at the next election for the increase. No one wants to pay more than they did! However, at the same time, for the people of Kent to have a caring and safe community and the maxim "you get what you pay for", must also be considered.