The leader of Kent County Council faces being reported to the authority's Standards Committee after he missed a meeting at Kent International Airport on Friday evening (June 26), writes Thomas Betts.
The county’s top Tory was due to attend the Kent International Consultative Committee meeting to address them and audience over his public support of the airport - regarded by many as a major issue in Thanet.
Around 150 people had turned up to see him speak, eager to hear him explain his position but he pulled out citing “a pre-arranged family engagement” that was moved forward one day as the reason.
His personal assistant informed the committee secretary of his decision not to attend on Thursday afternoon.
There were sighs and groans of disapproval from the audience when KIACC chairman Paul Twyman, himself a former Conservative district councillor, announced the news.
Barely able to disguise his anger, he launched a stunning broadside against the KCC man.
He said: “I have to say that I am not at all pleased at this development. What I suggest we do is that we raise the matter with the Standards Committee at Kent County Council as I find it inappropriate and actually quite offensive as we have gone to all this trouble to arrange this meeting then we suddenly have the man pull out.
“Our secretary negotiated with his office to find a suitable date for him to attend. That process went on for several months, and we then agreed this date, which was jolly inconvenient for many of us.”
He later added: “The meeting was specifically arranged around him and he knew that.”
Mr Twyman, from Birchington, was applauded by the audience following his comments.
He then proposed a motion to report Cllr Carter to the Standards Committee calling a vote to decide if they should take the matter forward.
By a majority, the members of the statutory body then voted to report him to the Standards Committee.
A few key local Tories such as Cllr Roger Latchford, Thanet council’s deputy leader opposed the motion.
He said: “Cllr Carter is sorry and his not coming is for family reasons. A proposal for a standards issue is uncalled for and I will not support it.”
Mike Harrison, the leader if Thanet council’s own Airport Working Party wrote on his blog that he found Cllr carter’s excuse “feeble”.
Cllr Carter did not send anyone as a replacement, further adding to the feeling of disapproval.
Cllr Carter said: "I sent my sincere apologies to the chairman. After taking soundings earlier in the week from various parties as to whether my presence was essentially needed I was advised this was a normal consultative meeting and there was no special reason why I should be there.
“I think it is well known that I support the principle of Infratil's plans for the future of
Kent
International
Airport which could be a major catalyst to transforming the economy of
East Kent which is so desperately needed.
“I am also working on a feasibility study on improving rail access to
East Kent through a possible upgrade to the CTRL and will be submitting it to the DfT in the autumn.”
The Standards Committee chaired by an independent person, is responsible for promoting and maintaining high standards for councillors' code of conduct as well as resolving complaints about individual councillors.