KCC Highways Chief Departs

Reform UK’s new administration at Kent County Council has replaced its first cabinet member less than seven weeks into the job.

Cllr Bill Barrett, who represents the Ashford Rural South division, has left his place at the top table where he was in charge of highways and transport.

(For an update on this story posted on 10th July - where Cllr Barrett says he was ambushed and sacked - read the end of the story)

A Reform UK spokesman insisted it was “an agreement” and that Cllr Barrett was not sacked.

An official statement from County Hall this afternoon said: “The Leader of Kent County Council (KCC) has announced a change to her Cabinet.

“Linden Kemkaran says Bill Barrett, who represents Ashford Rural South, made the decision to step down from his role as Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport.

“He will be replaced by his deputy Peter Osborne, Member for Hythe West.”

KCC leader Cllr Linden Kemkaran said: “I have today made changes to my cabinet team to support me, and Kent County Council, to deliver the ambitious plans we have set out to improve this authority and the county of Kent.

“It’s still early days for the Reform administration at KCC, and reshuffling and fine-tuning my cabinet is something I have to do as leader, to ensure that I have the best possible team around the top table who can deliver on the promises we have made to Kent residents.

“Every member of my Cabinet took the role on the understanding that their position may be subject to changes.”

Chief whip Cllr Maxwell Harrison said KCC, as the highest profile Reform UK-run authority, is under intense scrutiny.

He added: “Bill wasn’t sacked. He agreed to leave – it was an agreement. Bill was doing a good job and there was no bad blood. He is a talented individual.

“But we have to make sure that we have the right people in the right places.”

Liberal Democrat leader of the opposition at KCC Antony Hook said: “The highways cabinet member is one of the most important roles at KCC.  Our roads, public transport and footpaths need urgent attention.

“Bill Barrett was in post for just 45 days. This must be the shortest time anyone has ever held such a post at KCC.

“We need urgent action on big problems but Reform are giving us unexplained instability in the Cabinet.

“On Friday, Mr Barrett emailed KCC members about joining a cross-party walking and cycling working group, which would have been a good thing.  He has left his post the next working day.

“I hope he has not been sacked because his party is generally hostile to cross-party working and walking and cycling.”

UPDATE 10th July:

The Politico website quoted Bill Barrett as saying said he went to a meeting with KCC Reform leader Linden Kemkaran on Monday to find her deputy Brian Collins and chief whip Maxwell Harrison also in the room. He said Cllr Collins questioned him about why he was not visiting highways inspectors in person to examine their work.

Barrett also said that Kemkaran gave him one month to find cuts from a dossier on the highways department which officials had drawn up in recent weeks.

Bill Barrett told Politico: "There was no mutual arrangement that we left. I walked into an office basically to an ambush, where they basically spent 50 minutes saying how shit I was.” 

Barrett, who accused his senior colleagues of being “conniving” and running a “toxic environment,” said he eventually walked out of the meeting after being warned that if he left, he would be gone.

Barrett added: “My opinion is 100 percent that I’ve been sacked. I did not resign in paper, email or any other form. I walked out of her office. They were abusing me and bullying me.”

Kemkaran pushed back at Barrett’s criticism, saying in a statement Wednesday evening: “Naturally it’s always slightly disappointing when a colleague who’s been given every chance to step up and improve their performance declines the opportunity and instead walks out of a meeting, knowing that it would mean they’d lose their position.”

The council leader added: “We have a new cabinet member for highways and transport firmly in place and as far as we are concerned it’s business as usual, serving the people of Kent.

“What I’m not going to do is give a running commentary on the Members’ positions here at KCC. We’re simply getting on with the job.”

More details at:
https://www.politico.eu/article/reform-uk-cabinet-member-bill-barrett-sacked-ambush-meet-nigel-farage/