Letter to the Editor

In a letter to the local newspaper Cllr Chris Garland, Leader of Maidstone Borough Council has put the record straight.

Read his letter to the editor here...

Dear Editor,

In your recent coverage of the possible overspend on the museum you question whether taxpayers’ money is in safe hands.

Firstly, the extension of time requested by the contractor has not yet been agreed by the council’s contract administrators, and there is already a separate legal claim ongoing by the council against one of the parties involved in the project. It is too early to ascertain the extent of the overspend and the council will assess in detail whether the contractor’s claim is justified or not, and will take appropriate action in order to protect taxpayers’ money. In addition, whilst we are not happy with the overrun on time of the museum, 95% of such public projects across the UK face similar delays. However, I can assure you that this council will take all action necessary to safeguard public money.

Secondly, with respect to your wider point on the safety of public money, you did not mention that this council has made savings over the past three years of some £4m of public money, and will save another £1.8m for the next financial year. We have ‘balanced the books’ every single year and delivered a 0% increase in council tax for this financial year. Maidstone council, unlike many in the UK, is not having to borrow and remains debt free.

Moreover, the External Auditors have given an unqualified opinion on our accounts and have said that our financial planning framework is robust to deal with the financial pressures that face local authorities for the next few years. What’s more, they have said that the three major capital projects – the high street, museum and Mote Park regeneration – are good examples of a proactive council and represent value for money.

Maidstone council, under Conservative control, is ambitious for Maidstone yet will always be sound and prudent with public money and our record to date, as well as the External Auditor’s opinion, demonstrates this.

Yours sincerely,

Cllr. Christopher Garland

Leader of Maidstone Council