Wikipedia

2024 Maidstone Borough Council election

The 2024 Maidstone Borough Council election took place on Thursday 2 May 2024, alongside the other local elections in the United Kingdom being held on the same day. All 49 members of Maidstone Borough Council in Kent were elected following boundary changes.[1]

2024 Maidstone Borough Council election
← 2023 2 May 2024 (2024-05-02) 2028 →
All 49 seats to Maidstone Borough Council
25 seats needed for a majority
  First party Second party Third party
  Blank Blank Blank
Leader David Burton Clive English Stuart Jeffery
Party Conservative Liberal Democrats Green
Last election 24 seats, 32.7% 12 seats, 22.9% 3 seats, 16.8%
Seats before 25 12 3
Seats won 13 12 10
Seat change Decrease 12 Steady Increase 7
Popular vote 26,353 16,639 18,470
Percentage 31.9% 20.1% 22.3%
Swing Decrease 0.8% Decrease 2.8% Increase 5.5%
  Fourth party Fifth party Sixth party
  Blank Blank Blank
Leader Maureen Cleator [a] Paul Harper
Party Labour Independent Fant and Oakwood Independents
Last election 6 seats, 15.6% 10 seats, 11.3% n/a
Seats before 4 9 2
Seats won 6 6 2
Seat change Increase 2 Decrease 3 Increase 2
Popular vote 10,415 5,582 2,434
Percentage 12.6% 6.8% 2.9%
Swing Decrease 3.0% Decrease 4.5% n/a
Winner of each seat at the 2024 Maidstone Borough Council election
Council control before election

David Burton
Conservative
No overall control

Council control after election

Stuart Jeffrey
Green
No overall control

The council remained under no overall control. The Conservative minority administration which had been running the council prior to the election was replaced by a coalition of the Liberal Democrats, Greens and some of the independent councillors, led by Green councillor Stuart Jeffery.

Overview

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Prior to the election, the council was under no overall control, being run by a Conservative minority administration with informal support from some of the independent councillors.[2] The leader of the council before the election was Conservative councillor David Burton, who had held the post since 2021. He did not stand for re-election.[3]

Following the election the council remained under no overall control. The Conservatives were still the largest party, but with a significantly reduced share of the seats.[4] A coalition of the Liberal Democrats, Greens and four of the independent councillors subsequently formed to run the council, led by Green councillor Stuart Jeffery. He was formally appointed as leader of the council at the subsequent annual council meeting on 18 May 2024.[5]

Boundary changes

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Maidstone usually elects its councillors in thirds, on a 4-year cycle. However, following boundary changes, all councillors will be elected to the new wards.[6] The change reduces the number of councillors by 6.

Old wards[7] No. of seats New wards No. of seats
Allington 3 Allington and Bridge 2
Barming 1 Barming Heath and Teston 2
Bearsted 3 Bearsted and Downswood 3
Boughton Monchelsea and Chart Sutton 1 Boughton Monchelsea and Chart Sutton 1
Boxley 3 Boxley Downs 2
Bridge 2 Coxheath and Farleigh 2
Coxheath and Hunton 3 Fant and Oakwood 3
Detling and Thurnham 1 Grove Green and Vinters Park 3
Downswood and Otham 1 Harrietsham, Lenham and North Downs 3
East 3 Headcorn and Sutton Valence 2
Fant 3 High Street 3
Harrietsham and Lenham 2 Leeds and Langley 2
Headcorn 2 Loose and Linton 2
Heath 2 Marden and Yalding 3
High Street 3 Palace Wood 2
Leeds 1 Park Wood and Mangravet 2
Loose 1 Penenden Heath 3
Marden and Yalding 3 Ringlestone 1
North 3 Senacre 1
North Downs 1 Shepway 3
Park Wood 2 Staplehurst 2
Shepway North 3 Tovil 2
Shepway North 3
Shepway South 2
South 3
Staplehurst 2
Sutton Valence and Langley 1

Previous council composition

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After 2023 election Before 2024 election[8] After 2024 election
Party Seats Party Seats Party Seats
Conservative 24 Conservative 25 Conservative 13
Liberal Democrats 12 Liberal Democrats 12 Liberal Democrats 12
Labour 6 Labour 4 Labour 6
Green 3 Green 3 Green 10
Fant & Oakwood Independents Didn't exist Fant & Oakwood Independents 2 Fant & Oakwood Independents 2
Independent 10 Independent 9 Independent 6

Changes:

  • May 2023: Michelle Hastie (independent) joins Conservatives[9]
  • July 2023: Patrick Coates and Paul Harper leave Labour to sit as independents[10]
  • November 2023: Fant & Oakwood Independents formed - Patrick Coates and Paul Harper (both independents) join party[11]

Results

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2024 Maidstone Borough Council election
Party Candidates Seats Gains Losses Net gain/loss Seats % Votes % Votes +/−
  Conservative 49 13 0 0   12 26.5 31.9 26,353 –0.8
  Liberal Democrats 29 12 0 0   24.5 20.1 16,639 –2.8
  Green 35 10 0 0   7 20.4 22.3 18,470 +5.5
  Independent 10 8 0 0   3 16.3 9.7 8,016 –1.6
  Labour 28 6 0 0   2 15.6 12.6 10,415 –3.0
  Reform UK 8 0 0 0   0.0 2.7 2,264 +2.3
  British Democrats 1 0 0 0   0.0 0.5 452 N/A
  Heritage 1 0 0 0   0.0 0.1 107 –0.2

Ward results

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An asterisk denotes an incumbent councillor seeking re-election.

Allington and Bridge

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Allington and Bridge (2 seats)[12]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Green Stuart Jeffery* 914 60.0
Green Rachel Rodwell 822 54.0
Conservative Mitu Chowdhury 385 25.3
Conservative Rita Gintautaite 263 17.3
Liberal Democrats Michelle Englar 257 16.9
Labour Marianna Poliszczuk 203 13.3
Liberal Democrats Benjamin Webster-Whiting 202 13.3
Turnout 1,659
Green win (new seat)
Green win (new seat)

Barming Heath and Teston

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Barming Heath and Teston (2 seats)[13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Fay Gooch* 765 37.8
Green Allison Sweetman 712 35.2
Liberal Democrats Chris Passmore 707 34.9
Green Keira Stuart Smith 618 30.5
Liberal Democrats Bryan Vizzard 409 20.2
Conservative Reiss Cordrey 376 18.6
Labour Mary Shaw 280 13.8
Conservative Arek Zurawinski 182 9.0
Turnout 2,213
Independent win (new seat)
Green win (new seat)

Bearsted and Downswood

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Bearsted and Downswood (3 seats)[14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Val Springett* 1,200 48.6
Conservative Denis Spooner* 1,021 41.3
Green Ciaran Oliver 1,013 41.0
Conservative Paul Cooper* 984 39.8
Green Lee Garrett 796 32.2
Green Edward Wallace 659 26.7
Reform UK David Cockerham 481 19.5
Independent Gordon Newton* 409 16.6
Liberal Democrats Ian Chittenden 398 16.1
Labour Theresa Lyons 343 13.9
Heritage Sean Turner 107 4.3
Turnout 2,848
Conservative win (new seat)
Conservative win (new seat)
Green win (new seat)

Boughton Monchelsea and Chart Sutton

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Boughton Monchelsea and Chart Sutton[15]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Anne Dawes 599 63.1 +10.3
Conservative George Burr 216 22.8 –5.2
Labour Peter Oliver 134 14.1 +9.7
Turnout 958
Independent hold Swing  7.8

Boxley Downs

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Boxley Downs (2 seats)[16]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Vanessa Jones* 1,026 65.0
Green Stephen Thompson* 810 51.3
Conservative Heidi Bryant* 414 26.2
Conservative Stephen Banks 379 24.0
Labour Michael Beckwith 279 17.7
Reform UK Mike Wardle 250 15.8
Turnout 1,838
Independent win (new seat)
Green win (new seat)

Coxheath and Farleigh

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Coxheath and Farleigh (2 seats)[17]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Green Claire Kehily 781 53.2
Conservative Lottie Parfitt-Reid* 666 45.3
Conservative John Wilson 581 39.6
Green Caroline Richer 547 37.2
Labour John Randall 192 13.1
Liberal Democrats Alan Cocks 171 11.6
Turnout 1,717
Green win (new seat)
Conservative win (new seat)

Fant and Oakwood

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Fant and Oakwood (3 seats)[18]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Fant and Oakwood Independents Paul Harper* 1,285 59.5
Fant and Oakwood Independents Patrick Coates* 1,149 53.2
Green Kimberley Milham 909 42.1
Labour Valerie Jacobs 447 20.7
Labour Dennis Luchmun 410 19.0
Liberal Democrats Rojo Kurien 384 17.8
Labour Margaret Rose* 379 17.5
Liberal Democrats Lee Blake 316 14.6
Liberal Democrats Lorraine Humm 290 13.4
Conservative Will Dinley 278 12.9
Reform UK Susan Delamere 247 11.4
Conservative Ramakrishna Peeta 202 9.3
Conservative Mudiwa Musindo 186 8.6
Turnout 2,472
Independent win (new seat)
Independent win (new seat)
Green win (new seat)

Patrick Coates and Paul Harper were originally elected as Labour Party candidates, but stood under the descriptions of "Fant and Oakwood Independents" at this election.

Grove Green and Vinters Park

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Grove Green and Vinters Park (3 seats)[19]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Rob Field 939 40.8
Liberal Democrats Mark Naghi 897 39.0
Conservative Ronald Burke 834 36.3
Conservative Michelle Hastie* 830 36.1
Independent Martin Cox* 666 29.0
Liberal Democrats Jeeva Sampangi 661 28.7
Conservative Jaison Musindo 654 28.4
Green Steven Cheeseman 450 19.6
Labour Mark Tickner 343 14.9
Green Susan Parr 331 14.4
Green Anna Winterbottom 294 12.8
Turnout 2,618
Liberal Democrats win (new seat)
Liberal Democrats win (new seat)
Conservative win (new seat)

Michelle Hastie was originally elected as an Liberal Democrat.

Harrietsham, Lenham and North Downs

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Harrietsham, Lenham and North Downs (3 seats)[20]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Janetta Sams* 1,515 79.8
Independent Tom Sams* 1,455 76.7
Independent Kathy Cox 923 48.6
Conservative Julie-Anne Clancy 435 22.9
Conservative Emily Hudson 396 20.9
Labour Ryan Slaughter 364 19.2
Reform UK Ian Stevens 305 16.1
Conservative Onyekachukwu Chukwuma 301 15.9
Turnout 2,251
Independent win (new seat)
Independent win (new seat)
Independent win (new seat)

Headcorn and Sutton Valence

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Headcorn and Sutton Valence (2 seats)[21]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Martin Round* 975 50.1
Conservative Ziggy Trzebinski* 903 46.4
Green Derek Eagle* 820 42.1
Green Thomas Dawber 725 37.3
Labour Henry Morgan 280 14.4
Liberal Democrats Martin Richards 189 9.7
Turnout 2,177
Conservative win (new seat)
Conservative win (new seat)

High Street

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High Street (3 seats)[22]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Clive English* 742 46.8
Liberal Democrats Dinesh Khadka* 654 41.3
Green Donna Greenan 514 32.4
Green Saf Buxy 513 32.4
Liberal Democrats Ashleigh Kimmance* 444 28.0
Labour David Collier 401 25.3
Green Farris Willson 358 22.6
Independent Denise Joy* 341 21.5
Conservative Oliver Bradshaw 314 19.8
Conservative Alan Chell 270 17.0
Conservative Dylan Jeffrey 202 12.7
Turnout 1,809
Liberal Democrats hold
Liberal Democrats hold
Green gain from Independent

Leeds and Langley

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Leeds and Langley (2 seats)[23]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Gill Fort* 600 55.3
Conservative Gary Cooke* 559 51.5
Labour Joan Langrick 310 28.6
Green Simon Easton 275 25.4
Green Matthew White 216 19.9
Reform UK Maxwell Harrison 209 19.3
Turnout 1,259
Conservative win (new seat)
Conservative win (new seat)

Loose and Linton

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Loose and Linton (2 seats)[24]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Brian Clark* 1,307 70.0
Liberal Democrats Simon Wales 931 49.9
Conservative Kenneth Amakye 423 22.7
Conservative James Reid* 326 17.5
Reform UK Bryan Hillman 265 14.2
Green Nicola Dawber 215 11.5
Labour Alan le Grys 149 8.0
Green Matthew Fraser 119 6.4
Turnout 2,099
Liberal Democrats win (new seat)
Liberal Democrats win (new seat)

Marden and Yalding

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Marden and Yalding (3 seats)[25]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Claudine Russell* 1,123 47.6
Green Michael Summersgill 1,120 47.5
Green Grace Couch 1,089 46.2
Conservative Annabelle Blackmore* 1,043 44.2
Conservative Tristan Russell 953 40.4
Green Kelly Rigden 772 32.7
Labour Maria Kelly 389 16.5
Reform UK Teresa Seamer 298 12.6
Liberal Democrats William Wilby 287 12.2
Turnout 2,704
Conservative hold
Green gain from Conservative
Green gain from Conservative

Palace Wood

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Palace Wood (2 seats)[26]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Stan Forecast* 1,066 50.5
Conservative Tom Cannon* 816 38.6
Liberal Democrats Cynthia Robertson* 724 34.3
Liberal Democrats Diana Lewins 704 33.3
Green Ian McDonald 403 19.1
Green Stephen Muggeridge 286 13.5
Labour Wendy Hollands 225 10.7
Turnout 2,313
Conservative win (new seat)
Conservative win (new seat)

Park Wood and Mangravet

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Park Wood and Mangravet (2 seats)[27]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Hilary Jenkins-Baldock 512 69.0
Labour Daniel Wilkinson* 492 66.3
Conservative Joyce Gadd 241 32.5
Conservative Lewis McKenna* 240 32.3
Turnout 841
Labour win (new seat)
Labour win (new seat)

Penenden Heath

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Penenden Heath (3 seats)[28]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Tony Harwood* 1,155 61.5
Liberal Democrats Richard Conyard* 1,086 57.9
Liberal Democrats David Naghi* 1,034 55.1
Conservative Derek Nicholson 402 21.4
Conservative Jeff Tree 396 21.1
Conservative Andrew Bradford 370 19.7
Labour Rachel Slaughter 356 19.0
Green Phoebe Frewer 353 18.8
Green Andrew Reilly 246 13.1
Green Daniel Thompson 233 12.4
Turnout 2,098
Liberal Democrats win (new seat)
Liberal Democrats win (new seat)
Liberal Democrats win (new seat)

Ringlestone

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Ringlestone[29]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Mike Thompson* 325 52.0
Conservative Scott Hahnefeld 126 20.2
Labour Stella Randall 116 18.6
Green Gareth Henry 58 9.3
Turnout 630
Liberal Democrats win (new seat)

Senacre

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Senacre[30]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Malcolm McKay 257 51.8
Conservative Patrik Garten* 239 48.2
Turnout 509
Labour win (new seat)

Shepway

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Shepway (3 seats)[31]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Joanna Wilkinson* 747 42.5
Labour Maureen Cleator* 728 41.4
Labour Sarah Barwick 725 41.2
Conservative Christopher Garland 665 37.8
Conservative Alan Bartlett* 643 36.6
Conservative Louise Bartlett 637 36.2
British Democrats Lawrence Rustem 452 25.7
Liberal Democrats Geoffrey Samme 360 20.5
Independent Gary Butler 317 18.0
Turnout 2,031
Labour win (new seat)
Labour win (new seat)
Labour win (new seat)

Staplehurst

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Staplehurst (2 seats)[32]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Paddy Riordan* 967 57.3
Conservative John Perry* 764 45.3
Labour Rory Silkin 598 35.4
Labour Julie Skinner 511 30.3
Liberal Democrats Thomas Burnham 296 17.5
Green Stewart Lane 239 14.2
Turnout 1,848
Conservative hold
Conservative hold

Tovil

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Tovil (2 seats)[33]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Paul Wilby* 393 43.9
Liberal Democrats Joe Higson 377 42.1
Labour Ian Cleator 245 27.4
Reform UK Paul Thomas 209 23.3
Conservative Rebecca Bruneau 177 19.8
Green Simon Milham 137 15.3
Conservative Benjamin Reid 130 14.5
Green Rosemary Riepma 123 13.7
Turnout 1,041
Liberal Democrats win (new seat)
Liberal Democrats win (new seat)

References

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  1. ^ Of the nine independent councillors prior to the election, three sat in a group with the Greens as the 'Green Independent Alliance' and the other six were unaffiliated.
  1. ^ "Elections". maidstone.gov.uk. Retrieved 2024-03-19.
  2. ^ Smith, Alan (31 May 2023). "'It's a stitch-up': Tories and Independents accused of 'freezing' out opposition". Kent Online. Retrieved 19 March 2024.
  3. ^ Smith, Alan (26 March 2024). "374 councillors to be elected for Maidstone Borough Council and surrounding parishes". Kent Online. Retrieved 7 July 2024.
  4. ^ Van Klaveren, Tom (3 May 2024). "Maidstone Local Election results 2024 in full as Conservatives narrowly remain largest party". Kent Live. Retrieved 7 July 2024.
  5. ^ Smith, Alan (22 May 2024). "New eight-member cabinet for Maidstone council announced by Green party leader Stuart Jeffery". Kent Online. Retrieved 7 July 2024.
  6. ^ "The Maidstone (Electoral Changes) Order 2023", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, SI 2023/652, retrieved 20 March 2024
  7. ^ "The Borough of Maidstone (Electoral Changes) Order 2001", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, SI 2001/3586, retrieved 20 March 2024
  8. ^ "Your Councillors". Maidstone Borough Council. Retrieved 19 March 2024.
  9. ^ Smith, Alan (18 May 2023). "Former Independent defects to Conservatives". Kent Online. Retrieved 20 March 2024.
  10. ^ Smith, Alan (5 July 2023). "Labour councillors quit party after mystery suspension". Kent Online. Retrieved 19 March 2024.
  11. ^ "Fant & Oakwood Independents". The Electoral Commission. Retrieved 19 March 2024.
  12. ^ "STATEMENT OF PERSONS NOMINATED - Allington & Bridge" (PDF). Maidstone Borough Council. Retrieved 7 April 2024.
  13. ^ "STATEMENT OF PERSONS NOMINATED - Barming Heath & Teston" (PDF). Maidstone Borough Council. Retrieved 7 April 2024.
  14. ^ "STATEMENT OF PERSONS NOMINATED - Bearsted & Downswood" (PDF). Maidstone Borough Council. Retrieved 7 April 2024.
  15. ^ "STATEMENT OF PERSONS NOMINATED - Boughton Monchelsea & Chart Sutton" (PDF). Maidstone Borough Council. Retrieved 7 April 2024.
  16. ^ "STATEMENT OF PERSONS NOMINATED - Boxley Downs" (PDF). Maidstone Borough Council. Retrieved 7 April 2024.
  17. ^ "STATEMENT OF PERSONS NOMINATED - Coxheath & Farleigh" (PDF). Maidstone Borough Council. Retrieved 7 April 2024.
  18. ^ "STATEMENT OF PERSONS NOMINATED - Fant & Oakwood" (PDF). Maidstone Borough Council. Retrieved 7 April 2024.
  19. ^ "STATEMENT OF PERSONS NOMINATED - Grove Green & Vinters Park" (PDF). Maidstone Borough Council. Retrieved 7 April 2024.
  20. ^ "STATEMENT OF PERSONS NOMINATED - Harrietsham, Lenham & North Downs" (PDF). Maidstone Borough Council. Retrieved 7 April 2024.
  21. ^ "STATEMENT OF PERSONS NOMINATED - Headcorn & Sutton Valence" (PDF). Maidstone Borough Council. Retrieved 7 April 2024.
  22. ^ "STATEMENT OF PERSONS NOMINATED - High Street" (PDF). Maidstone Borough Council. Retrieved 7 April 2024.
  23. ^ "STATEMENT OF PERSONS NOMINATED - Leeds & Langley" (PDF). Maidstone Borough Council. Retrieved 7 April 2024.
  24. ^ "STATEMENT OF PERSONS NOMINATED - Loose & Linton" (PDF). Maidstone Borough Council. Retrieved 7 April 2024.
  25. ^ "STATEMENT OF PERSONS NOMINATED - Marden & Yalding" (PDF). Maidstone Borough Council. Retrieved 7 April 2024.
  26. ^ "STATEMENT OF PERSONS NOMINATED - Palace Wood" (PDF). Maidstone Borough Council. Retrieved 7 April 2024.
  27. ^ "STATEMENT OF PERSONS NOMINATED - Park Wood & Mangravet" (PDF). Maidstone Borough Council. Retrieved 7 April 2024.
  28. ^ "STATEMENT OF PERSONS NOMINATED - Penenden Heath" (PDF). Maidstone Borough Council. Retrieved 7 April 2024.
  29. ^ "STATEMENT OF PERSONS NOMINATED - Ringlestone" (PDF). Maidstone Borough Council. Retrieved 7 April 2024.
  30. ^ "STATEMENT OF PERSONS NOMINATED - Senacre" (PDF). Maidstone Borough Council. Retrieved 7 April 2024.
  31. ^ "STATEMENT OF PERSONS NOMINATED - Shepway" (PDF). Maidstone Borough Council. Retrieved 7 April 2024.
  32. ^ "STATEMENT OF PERSONS NOMINATED - Staplehurst" (PDF). Maidstone Borough Council. Retrieved 7 April 2024.
  33. ^ "STATEMENT OF PERSONS NOMINATED - Tovil" (PDF). Maidstone Borough Council. Retrieved 7 April 2024.
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