Peter Sellars, Cllr Nina Bliss, District Councillors Susan Carey and Robert Bliss
Tuesday 7th July and I am at County Hall in Maidstone for the Chairman of Kent County Council’s Civic Recepion. With me are my friend, Peter Sellars from Hawkinge, District Council Leader, Robert Bliss and his wife, Sandgate Parish Councillor, Nina Bliss.
The chairman of KCC is John Davies and he has taken the theme of supporting Kent’s businesses for his year of office. He entertains everyone with an extract from a report dating from 1917 and lamenting the state of the County’s roads subjected to the fast new motor vehicles.
There’s a good turnout from the district council chairmen and leaders, the town mayors, KCC’s cabinet and directors. I ask the Mayor of Gravesham how many events she has now done (she was wll ahead of me when we last met). About 60 she thinks but this is well trumped by the Lord Mayor of Canterbury who reckons he has passed the 100 mark.
I am a ‘twin hatter’ serving on both Shepway District Council and Kent County Council and it feels strange to be at County Hall wearing my Shepway hat or rather my Shepway chain. I am not alone in this as at least three other County Councillors are at the reception in their district or town council roles. As a twin hatter I also appreciate just how different the roles are of District and County. and how important it is that we work together so that the public get seamless public services. And we need to do the same with the Health service, the Police and the Fire and Rescue Service. More about this at tomorrow’s event.
