Lib Dems Announce Kent Line-up as Official Opposition

1.54.08pm BST (GMT +0100) Fri 12th Jun 2009

The Liberal Democrat Group on Kent County Council have announced their Shadow Cabinet line-up. The Liberal Democrats are now the official opposition to the Conservatives on Kent County Council after the County elections saw Labour lose 18 of their 20 seats.

The new-line-up is:

Localism & Partnerships - Trudy Dean

Adult Social Services - George Koowaree

Children, Families & Education - Martin Vye

Communities - Ian Chittenden

Corporate Support Services & Performance Management - Trudy Dean and Tim Prater

Environment, Highways and Waste - Malcolm Robertson

Finance - Tim Prater and Trudy Dean

Public Health & Health Reform - Dan Daley

Regeneration & Supporting Independence - Ian Chittenden

Group Leader Trudy Dean commented:

"We're looking forward to our role of holding the Conservatives to account in Kent as the official opposition. We will do so honestly, vigorously and openly. The public should have a real input into giving their views and looking at proposals before decisions are made at the County Council, and we will be bringing forward proposals to do so.

"We will stand up against waste at County, such as on Kent TV which has already cost over £1 million. It's a failed project and should be cancelled as soon as possible."

"We will be honest and principled. It is ridiculous to object to proposals where we agree, and we will work constructively to ensure that where ideas are nearly right, we give credit for that and seek to get the amendments needed to make them completely right. Labour spent its time as opposition here involved in old fashioned, yah-boo, 'Punch and Judy' politics that did Kent no favours. We will give credit where it's due, but fight failings and waste where it's due as well."

Trudy Dean has been re-elected as the Liberal Democrats' Kent Group Leader, with Martin Vye as Deputy Leader and Dan Daley as Chairman of the Group.