Leader behind pardon for witches plan faces council no confidence vote

Conservatives on Maidstone Borough council have tabled a motion citing several "concerns" about councillor Stuart Jeffery

A Kent council leader who called for a pardon for witches is facing a no confidence vote.

Conservatives on Maidstone Borough Council have tabled a motion citing several "concerns" about councillor Stuart Jeffery, who heads up the Green Party administration at the authority.

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, they claim Jeffery has prioritised "discretionary initiatives and thematic projects" over the "practical needs" of residents.

Jeffery has said he intends to rebut all the claims made against him, stating that the motion had "no substance" and was a product of the Conservatives "picking up on political issues actions they don't agree with".

The council leader's recent proposal to pardon people historically convicted as witches was cited as one issue, with concerns also raised about a proposed £7m outlay to decarbonise the council's Maidstone House headquarters.

The Conservative motion states: "While recognising that such matters may hold symbolic or academic interest, council considers that they do not constitute an effective use of the authority's time or resources when set against the borough's pressing operational and financial challenges."

Jeffery said that Maidstone House, purchased under the previous Conservative administration, needed to be decarbonised to meet energy performance certification so that spare capacity could be let on commercial terms.

In response to another concern over the loss of housing supply, the leader said this was partly due to the Conservatives' Local Plan which was passed before the Greens took control.

The "crashing" housing development conditions in recent years was another factor, he added.

Conservative councillor Claudine Russell said the leader had been given 18 months to perform but now "seems to be taking his eye off the ball" and prioritising his "own ideological projects".

The motion will be heard at a full council meeting on Wednesday.