Medway Councillors
Medway council is currently comprised of 59 councillors, with 58 councillors belonging to one of four political groups and one independent councillor.
Between the first elections to Medway council in 1997 and 2003, there were 80 seats on the council across 35 wards. After the boundaries were redrawn in 2003, there were 55 seats across 22 wards.
Since May 2023, there have been 59 seats across 24 council wards.
Ward Map
Colour denotes the highest-polling candidate in the most recent election in each ward. If there are councillors from another party in the same ward, they are denoted by a star.
Political Groups
Candidates usually stand for a political party (although some stand as independent candidates) and, if elected, sit in that party's political group. A party requires two or more members to formally constitute a group.
Medway council is currently made up of the following political groups:
| Labour and Co-operative group | 31 | |
| Conservative group | 20 | |
| Independent group | 5 | |
| Reform UK group | 2 | |
| Independent | 1 |
Former Political Groups
The following parties have also been represented on the council since the first elections in 1997:
| Independent Conservative | |
| Independent Liberal Democrat | |
| Liberal Democrat | |
| Ukip |
Political Control
A political group currently requires 30 members for an overall majority on the council. If no group has more than 30 members then the administration is classed as "NOC", or no overall control.
Between 2003 and 2023, a political group required 28 members for an overall majority, while prior to 2003, a political group required 41 members for an overall majority.
The 2003 election was the first time a single political group had an overall majority on the council.
| Control of the Council | From | To | |
| No overall control | April 1998 | May 2003 | |
| Conservative | May 2003 | May 2023 | |
| Labour and Co-operative | May 2023 | Feb 2025 | |
| No overall control | Feb 2025 | Apr 2025 | |
| Labour and Co-operative | Apr 2025 | Present |
Leader of the Council
In 2001, Medway council adopted the cabinet and portfolio holder model of governance. Under this model, the full council elects a leader, typically the leader of the largest party on the council, who then appoints portfolio holders to act as the council's executive.
Prior to 2001, Medway council operated under the committee model of governance. There was no formal executive, with decisions taken by committees. The chair of the policy committee was typically the leader of the council.
Since 1998, the leaders of Medway council have been:
| Leader | From | To | |
| John Shaw | Apr 1998 | May 1999 | |
| Paul Godwin | May 1999 | May 2000 | |
| Rodney Chambers OBE | May 2000 | May 2015 | |
| Alan Jarrett | May 2015 | May 2023 | |
| Cllr Vince Maple | May 2023 | Present |
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