Matt has stood in five elections in Medway. He has been elected on four occasions.
Political Career
Matt has served in the following posts:
| |
Cuxton, Halling & Riverside
|
| |
Conservative
4 May 2023 - |
| |
Cuxton and Halling
|
| |
Conservative
7 May 2015 - 4 May 2023 |
| |
Rainham Central
|
| |
Conservative
1 May 2003 - 3 May 2007 |
Some of Medway's current and former representatives have also represented other parts of the country in local government, devolved assemblies and both houses of parliament. Where possible, we have tried to include parliamentary roles in other parts of the country in this section, but owing to the time and research involved, some of this data may require updating.
Committee Memberships
Matt has served on the following committees:
|
|
Business Support Overview and Scrutiny Committee
|
|
|
Jan 2019 - May 2019 |
0.0% |
|
|
Children and Young People Overview and Scrutiny Committee
|
|
|
May 2015 - May 2019 |
72.0% |
|
|
Council
|
|
|
May 2015 - |
80.6% |
|
|
May 2003 - May 2007 |
0.0% |
|
|
Employment Matters Committee
|
|
|
May 2023 - |
77.8% |
|
|
Chair
May 2019 - May 2023 |
93.8% |
|
|
May 2015 - May 2016 |
60.0% |
|
|
Employment Matters Appeals Panel
|
|
|
May 2024 - May 2025 |
|
|
|
May 2019 - May 2023 |
100.0% |
|
|
Environment and Front Line Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee
|
|
|
Jan 2004 - Dec 2005 |
0.0% |
|
|
Health and Adult Social Care Overview and Scrutiny Committee
|
|
|
May 2015 - May 2019 |
69.2% |
|
|
Licensing Hearing Panel
|
|
|
May 2017 - |
94.7% |
|
|
May 2015 - May 2016 |
100.0% |
|
|
Licensing and Safety Committee
|
|
|
Opposition Spokesperson
May 2023 - |
100.0% |
|
|
Vice Chair
May 2019 - May 2023 |
100.0% |
|
|
May 2015 - May 2019 |
63.6% |
|
|
Licensing Sub-Committee
|
|
|
May 2024 - |
100.0% |
|
|
Opposition Spokesperson
May 2023 - May 2024 |
57.1% |
|
|
Vice Chair
May 2019 - May 2023 |
80.0% |
|
|
May 2015 - May 2019 |
77.8% |
|
|
Planning Committee
|
|
|
Jun 2022 - May 2023 |
76.9% |
|
|
Regeneration, Culture and Environment Overview and Scrutiny Committee
|
|
|
May 2023 - May 2025 |
62.5% |
|
|
Vice Chair
Aug 2021 - May 2023 |
81.8% |
|
|
May 2019 - Aug 2021 |
84.6% |
|
|
Regeneration and Development Overview and Scrutiny Committee
|
|
|
Jan 2006 - Dec 2006 |
0.0% |
|
|
School Transport and Curriculum Appeals Committee
|
|
|
May 2003 - May 2004 |
0.0% |
With the exception of the council, committee terms shown are calculated by reference to the first and last attendance recorded for Matt. Click on the name of a committee above to see all its members and find out what role the committee plays on the council.
Attendance at Council Meetings
The full council meets six times a year and, unless there are extenuating circumstances, all councillors are expected to attend these meetings.
Matt's attendance record for full council meetings is as follows:
|
|
2023 to 2027
|
84.6%
|
|
Present
|
11 |
|
Absent
|
2 |
|
|
2019 to 2023 *
|
64.0%
|
|
Present
|
16 |
|
Absent
|
9 |
|
|
2015 to 2019
|
95.8%
|
|
Present
|
23 |
|
Absent
|
1 |
Council attendance records are only available from October 2001 onwards. Click on a term to see how Matt Fearn's attendance compared to the other councillors for that term.
* During the 2020 coronavirus (Covid-19) public health emergency, it was informally agreed between the two political groups to run Medway Council meetings with a reduced number of participants. This was to reduce risk, comply with Government guidance and enable more efficient meetings. Matt Fearn's attendance rate may have been affected by this informal agreement of reduced participants.
Attendance at Committee Meetings
Councillors usually sit on a number of scrutiny or decision-making committees. Additionally, they may substitute for another member of a committee who is unable to make a meeting.
Matt's attendance record for these committee meetings is as follows:
|
|
2023 to 2027
|
78.4%
|
|
Present
|
40 |
|
Absent
|
11 |
|
Substitute
|
6 |
|
|
2019 to 2023 *
|
86.7%
|
|
Present
|
78 |
|
Absent
|
12 |
|
Substitute
|
4 |
|
|
2015 to 2019
|
70.6%
|
|
Present
|
60 |
|
Absent
|
25 |
|
Substitute
|
5 |
Attendance as a substitute member of a committee is not included in the calculation of the attendance rate. Committee attendance records are only available from October 2001 onwards. Click on a term to see how Matt Fearn's attendance compared to the other councillors for that term.
* During the 2020 coronavirus (Covid-19) public health emergency, it was informally agreed between the two political groups to run Medway Council meetings with a reduced number of participants. This was to reduce risk, comply with Government guidance and enable more efficient meetings. Matt Fearn's attendance rate may have been affected by this informal agreement of reduced participants.
We are still working on adding historic attendance records to our database. The earliest council meeting we have attendance data for is that held on 13 November 2008. The earliest committee meeting we have attendance data for is that held on 21 November 2007. Please bear with us while we work back to the earliest data available.
Councillors' Allowances
All councillors are entitled to a basic allowance and to claim for certain travel and subsistence expenses. Some councillors have special responsibilities (e.g. a cabinet portfolio or chairing a committee) and receive an additional allowance.
The amount Matt received each year in allowances and expenses was:
|
|
2023/2024
|
£11,947.99
|
|
Basic allowance
|
£11,474.04 |
|
Special responsibility allowance
|
£473.95 |
|
|
2022/2023
|
£14,912.00
|
|
Basic allowance
|
£10,952.00 |
|
Special responsibility allowance
|
£3,960.00 |
|
|
2021/2022
|
£14,655.00
|
|
Basic allowance
|
£10,733.00 |
|
Special responsibility allowance
|
£3,922.00 |
|
|
2020/2021
|
£14,495.00
|
|
Basic allowance
|
£10,585.00 |
|
Special responsibility allowance
|
£3,910.00 |
|
|
2019/2020
|
£13,744.00
|
|
Basic allowance
|
£10,286.00 |
|
Special responsibility allowance
|
£3,458.00 |
|
|
2018/2019
|
£8,987.00
|
|
Basic allowance
|
£8,987.00 |
|
|
2017/2018
|
£8,986.00
|
|
Basic allowance
|
£8,889.00 |
|
Special responsibility allowance
|
£97.00 |
|
|
2016/2017
|
£8,932.00
|
|
Basic allowance
|
£8,836.00 |
|
Special responsibility allowance
|
£96.00 |
|
|
2015/2016
|
£7,911.00
|
|
Basic allowance
|
£7,815.00 |
|
Special responsibility allowance
|
£96.00 |
|
|
2007/2008
|
£912.54
|
|
Basic allowance
|
£912.54 |
|
|
2006/2007
|
£8,518.63
|
|
Basic allowance
|
£8,486.63 |
|
Travel and subsistence
|
£32.00 |
|
|
2005/2006
|
£8,338.20
|
|
Basic allowance
|
£8,243.40 |
|
Travel and subsistence
|
£94.80 |
|
|
Total
|
£122,339.36
|
|
Basic allowance
|
£106,199.61 |
|
Special responsibility allowance
|
£16,012.95 |
|
Travel and subsistence
|
£126.80 |
Allowances information is only available from 2005 onwards. Click on a year to see how Matt Fearn's allowances compared to the other councillors for that year.
Voting History
Most decisions taken by councillors at meetings of the full council are made by unanimous agreement or, if the decision is disputed, by show of hands. However, the council's constitution states that in certain circumstances, or if six or more members request, a "recorded vote" may be taken, where each councillor's vote is recorded in the minutes of the meeting.
The votes recorded for Matt are as follows:
|
|
Government: Restore Universal Credit Payments
7 Oct 2021
|
|
|
Matt Fearn voted against |
|
|
Government: Protect the Right of Communities to Object to Planning Applications
22 Jul 2021
|
|
|
Matt Fearn was absent from the vote |
|
|
Public Questions: Suspend Time Limit
22 Apr 2021
|
|
|
Matt Fearn was absent from the vote |
|
|
Council: Oppose Lorry Park Legislation
8 Oct 2020
|
|
|
Matt Fearn voted against |
|
|
Council: Campaign for Hoo Peninsula to Become Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty
8 Oct 2020
|
|
|
Matt Fearn voted against |
|
|
Council: Convene a Cross Party Working Group to Review Memorials, Historic Markers and Monuments (Amendment)
16 Jul 2020
|
|
|
Matt Fearn was absent from the vote |
|
|
Capital and Revenue Budgets 2020/21
20 Feb 2020
|
|
|
Matt Fearn voted in favour |
|
|
Council: Remove Mixed Use Designation for Chatham Docks in the Local Plan
23 Jan 2020
|
|
|
Matt Fearn was absent from the vote |
|
|
Proposed Changes to the Rules for the Nomination of Mayor and Deputy Mayor
18 Jul 2019
|
|
|
Matt Fearn voted against |
|
|
Council: Commit to Food Justice (Amendment)
25 Apr 2019
|
|
|
Matt Fearn voted in favour |
|
|
Acquisition of Depot Site for the Waste Collection and Cleansing Service
25 Apr 2019
|
|
|
Matt Fearn voted in favour |
|
|
Revenue and Capital Budgets 2019/2020
21 Feb 2019
|
|
|
Matt Fearn voted in favour |
|
|
Revenue and Capital Budgets 2019/2020 (Labour Amendment)
21 Feb 2019
|
|
|
Matt Fearn voted against |
|
|
Pentagon Centre Purchase (Exempt Amendment)
21 Feb 2019
|
|
|
Matt Fearn voted against |
|
|
Pentagon Centre Purchase (Amendment): Prioritise Gillingham Town Centre for the Future High Streets Fund
21 Feb 2019
|
|
|
Matt Fearn voted against |
|
|
Pentagon Centre Purchase (Amendment): Obtain Two Further Independent Valuations
21 Feb 2019
|
|
|
Matt Fearn voted against |
|
|
Pentagon Centre Purchase Discussion: Suspend Time Limits
21 Feb 2019
|
|
|
Matt Fearn voted against |
|
|
Council: Support the Co-operative Party's Charter Against Modern Slavery (Amendment)
24 Jan 2019
|
|
|
Matt Fearn voted in favour |
|
|
Council: Scrap Bulky Waste Collection Charge and Tackle Fly-Tipping
19 Jul 2018
|
|
|
Matt Fearn voted against |
|
|
Council: Complete SEN Review by End of July and Share Conclusions Publicly
19 Jul 2018
|
|
|
Matt Fearn voted against |
|
|
The Council's Petition Scheme - E-petitions (Amendment)
26 Apr 2018
|
|
|
Matt Fearn voted against |
|
|
Additions to the Revenue Budget and Capital Programme
26 Apr 2018
|
|
|
Matt Fearn voted in favour |
|
|
Revenue and Capital Budgets 2018/2019
22 Feb 2018
|
|
|
Matt Fearn voted in favour |
|
|
Council: Explore Options to Tackle Knife Crime (Amendment)
25 Jan 2018
|
|
|
Matt Fearn voted in favour |
|
|
Community Governance Review - Proposed Establishment of Rochester Town Council (Amendment)
25 Jan 2018
|
|
|
Matt Fearn voted against |
|
|
Establishment of Committees, Appointments and Schedule of Meetings 2017/2018 (Amendment)
27 Apr 2017
|
|
|
Matt Fearn voted against |
|
|
Capital and Revenue Budgets - 2017/2018
23 Feb 2017
|
|
|
Matt Fearn voted in favour |
|
|
Council: Reduce Time to Trigger Severe Weather Emergency Protocol
26 Jan 2017
|
|
|
Matt Fearn voted against |
|
|
Government: Reconsider Transition Arrangements for Women's Pensions
13 Oct 2016
|
|
|
Matt Fearn voted against |
|
|
Council: Develop Support for Young Refugees
21 Jul 2016
|
|
|
Matt Fearn voted against |
|
|
Council: Support the UK's Membership of the EU (Amendment)
28 Apr 2016
|
|
|
Matt Fearn voted in favour |
|
|
Government: Reverse Planned Changes to Education (Amendment)
28 Apr 2016
|
|
|
Matt Fearn voted in favour |
|
|
Capital and Revenue Budgets - 2016/2017
25 Feb 2016
|
|
|
Matt Fearn voted in favour |
|
|
Management of Public Health Budget Cuts
21 Jan 2016
|
|
|
Matt Fearn voted in favour |
|
|
Questions at Cabinet Meetings: Add Provision
15 Oct 2015
|
|
|
Matt Fearn voted against |
|
|
Questions at Council Meetings: Reduction of Provision
15 Oct 2015
|
|
|
Matt Fearn voted in favour |
|
|
Government: Reconsider Public Health Budget Cuts
12 Aug 2015
|
|
|
Matt Fearn voted against |
|
|
Capital and Revenue Budgets 2007/2008
1 Mar 2007
|
|
|
Matt Fearn voted in favour |
|
|
Local Development Framework: Submission Stage Development Plan (Amendment)
15 Jun 2006
|
|
|
Matt Fearn voted against |
|
|
Council: Stop School Closures and Develop Medway-wide School Strategy
8 Dec 2005
|
|
|
Matt Fearn voted against |
|
|
MPs: Oppose Proposals to Remove Right of Appeal of Overseas Students
3 Nov 2005
|
|
|
Matt Fearn voted in favour |
|
|
Council: Make Arrangements to Enable Registration of Civil Partnerships
3 Nov 2005
|
|
|
Matt Fearn was absent from the vote |
|
|
Declare Land at Compass Close Surplus
4 Nov 2004
|
|
|
Matt Fearn voted in favour |
|
|
Declare Land at Compass Close Surplus (Amendment)
4 Nov 2004
|
|
|
Matt Fearn voted against |
|
|
Council: Reverse Decision to Declare Land at Compass Close Surplus
16 Sep 2004
|
|
|
Matt Fearn voted against |
|
|
Council: Oppose University Top-up Fees
15 Jan 2004
|
|
|
Matt Fearn voted in favour |
|
|
Proposed Bill: Enforcement Issues
15 Jan 2004
|
|
|
Matt Fearn voted in favour |
|
|
Council: Consult on Sales of Open Land Space
4 Dec 2003
|
|
|
Matt Fearn voted against |
|
|
Proposed Bill: Enforcement Issues
6 Nov 2003
|
|
|
Matt Fearn voted in favour |
|
|
Declare Land at Compass Close and The Tideway Surplus
23 Oct 2003
|
|
|
Matt Fearn voted in favour |
|
|
Declare Land at Compass Close and The Tideway Surplus (Amendment)
23 Oct 2003
|
|
|
Matt Fearn voted against |
|
|
Declare Land at Former Priestfields' Nursery Surplus
11 Sep 2003
|
|
|
Matt Fearn voted in favour |
Recorded votes are only available from December 2001 onwards. Click on a vote to see the full details of the motion and how the other councillors voted.
Electoral History
Matt has stood in the following elections in Medway:
| |
Cuxton, Halling & Riverside
4 May 2023
|
|
| |
Matt Fearn
Conservative
|
880 |
| |
Cuxton and Halling
2 May 2019
|
|
| |
Matt Fearn
Conservative
|
911 |
| |
Cuxton and Halling
7 May 2015
|
|
| |
Matt Fearn
Conservative
|
1,761 |
| |
Rainham Central
3 May 2007
|
|
| |
Matthew James Fearn
Independent
|
1,008 |
| |
Rainham Central
1 May 2003
|
|
| |
Matthew James Fearn
Conservative
|
1,415 |
A green bar on the right hand side of the result indicates that Matt Fearn was elected, while a red bar indicates they were not elected. Click on a card to see the full results for that election.