Medway Labour & Co-op Group

03/06/2026

Today we opened the James Williams Healthy Living Centre which is more than a new healthcare facility – it is a lasting tribute to the memory of Medway’s late Director of Public Health, James Williams. A passionate champion for tackling health inequalities and improving lives, James dedicated his career to ensuring everyone had the opportunity to live healthier lives.

This new centre will continue his legacy, bringing together healthcare and community services under one roof and helping residents access the support they need, closer to home.

29/05/2026

05/05/2026

It’s great to have members of Reform UK join us at our cabinet meeting to conflate the use of HMOs and asylum seekers.

It’s a shame that when we move onto the next agenda item covering adult social - one of the biggest challenges faces councils and the country as a whole face that they lose their interest and walk out.

Venue: St George's Centre, Pembroke Road, Chatham Maritime, Chatham ME4 4UHContact: Jon Pitt, Democratic Services Officer/Vanessa Etheridge, Democratic Servi...

22/04/2026

We all know Medway needs more homes. That's a reality. But people are right to be concerned about what that means for our green spaces. But growth shouldn't mean losing access to green spaces. It should mean improving it.

And that's exactly what we've been doing. Delivering on our pledge to create new parks and improve access to green spaces right across Medway.

30/03/2026

Another great constituency coffee morning - this time meeting serving members of the Royal Engineers and their families in Brompton. We had an interesting and wide‑ranging conversation on local, national, and international issues.

Thank you again to the Royal Engineers for hosting the event; I will always do my best to support our local military community.

24/03/2026

It was a pleasure to meet with the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government Steve Reed MP, and the Chancellor Rachel Reeves, to discuss new Pride in Place funding allocated for Twydall/Gillingham.

📈This extra funding will deliver £20 million over the next ten years, and will be focused on delivering improvements for the local community, with residents at the very heart of the decision making process.

💪🏾I’m looking forward to getting to work and putting this funding to good use.

09/03/2026

Today we are celebrating Commonwealth Day 2026! 🎉 🌎

is an annual celebration observed by people across Africa, Asia, the Caribbean and Americas, the Pacific and Europe.

This year's theme is 'Unlocking opportunities together for a prosperous Commonwealth'.

Learn more and join the celebrations: https://bit.ly/Commonwealth-Day

02/03/2026

The Labour Government is delivering for Medway’s children and families.

Thanks to Labour’s £300 million national investment, Medway has been selected as one of just seven councils to take part in a new Kinship Care pilot.
That means stronger support for the 300 local grandparents, aunts, uncles and family friends who step up to care for children when they can’t live with their parents — including allowances of up to £300 a week.

24/02/2026

We’re proud to announce Douglas Hamandishe as our nominee for Mayor, alongside Sharon Jackson for Deputy Mayor. A strong and dedicated team ready to lead our community with integrity, compassion — bringing people together, and working every day to make our area an even better place to live, work and grow.

09/02/2026

Thanks to investment from the Labour Government, Medway has secured £1.5million of Pride of Place funding to revitalise our town centres.Medway’s Labour Council is putting this funding directly into the hands of local people with a £300,000 shop fronts grant scheme which Independent retail and hospitality businesses can apply to for grants of up to £5,000 to improve the external appearance of their premises.

This investment will help, brighten and improve shopfronts, support independent local businesses and jobs, increase footfall and high street activity, and drive regeneration across Medway. Strong high streets are built by backing small businesses and investing in our communities.

Find out more and apply for funding & be part of Medway’s high street.

www.medway.gov.uk/ShopFrontGrant