News

Shepway Council Leader Robert Bliss has announced that Cllr Carole Waters is rejoining the Shepway Cabinet, less than three months after stepping down from her post.

She will take her seat with immediate effect.

The cabinet of 7 was increased by the new Conservative administration to 10 in May 2007 at a cost of around £25,000 a year in expenses to Shepway tax payers.

Cllr. Waters then stepped down as district secretary for community regeneration late last year, and the cabinet was reorganised to 9 members. Today's move puts it back to 10, and costs Shepway tax payers around an additional £8,000 a year.

A statement from council leader Robert Bliss said: "Following a spell out of the Cabinet, for personal reasons, I am pleased to announce that Carole Waters has rejoined as the district secretary for regeneration, sport and culture."

Lib Dem Group Leader Lynne Beaumont commented: "Management at Shepway is becoming a farce. If, which would have been perfectly understandable, Carole Waters was temporarily stepping down for personal reasons a few months ago, why was it not said it was temporary at the time? Why did someone else not cover those responsibilities for a few months?

"And if, after a time consuming re-organisation of responsibilities, it was felt possible to work without Cllr Waters, then why is she back?

"The cabinet has gone from 7 members, to 10, to 9 and back to 10 in under 9 months. It's not joined up local government - it's hokey-cokey Cabinet."