Councillor

Councillor Ann Cavanagh, who was elected to Swale Borough Council in May this year, as a Swale Independent representing Borden and Grove Park ward, has joined the Labour Group and will sit with Labour when the Council convenes its next Full Council meeting next week.

The balance of the Council will thus change to; Labour-16 seats; Swale Independents 12; Conservatives 11; Liberal Democrats 5 and Green Party 3. It will make no difference to the balance between the Coalition administration and the opposition, as Cllr Cavanagh is exchanging one coalition group for another.

The previous Mayor of Swale Colin Prescott has died aged 78.

Mr Prescott, who passed away with COVID-19 at The Kent & Canterbury Hospital on Monday (7th February), served his community in many ways during his long 27-year career, starting as ward councillor for East Downs in 1992 through to 2019 and as Mayor for the 2004-05 and 2017-18 civic years. He was also chair of the Planning Committee for several years and was awarded the Honorary Alderman title in 2019.