Photo: Medway council
Chris Buckwell is a former Conservative councillor for Strood South ward. He represented the ward between May 2019 and May 2023.
In addition to Strood South, Chris represented Peninsula ward between May 2003 and May 2007, All Saints ward between May 2000 and May 2003, and St Margaret's and Borstal ward on Rochester-upon-Medway city council between May 1983 and May 1991.
Chris has stood in five elections to Medway council and three elections to Rochester-upon-Medway city council, and has been elected on five occasions.
Political Career
Chris has served in the following posts:
Medway Council
Rochester-upon-Medway City Council
Only periods where Chris Buckwell represented Medway are included in this section. 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.
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.
Chris's attendance record for full council meetings is as follows:
Click on a term to see how Chris Buckwell'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. Chris Buckwell'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.
Chris's attendance record for these committee meetings is as follows:
Attendance as a substitute member of a committee is not included in the calculation of the attendance rate. Click on a term to see how Chris Buckwell'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. Chris Buckwell'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 6 May 2009. 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 Chris received each year in allowances and expenses was:
2022/2023 | £22,346.00 | |
Basic allowance | £10,952.00 | |
Special responsibility allowance | £10,952.00 | |
Travel and subsistence | £442.00 |
2020/2021 | £21,331.00 | |
Basic allowance | £10,585.00 | |
Special responsibility allowance | £10,585.00 | |
Travel and subsistence | £161.00 |
2005/2006 | £8,947.20 | |
Basic allowance | £8,243.40 | |
Special responsibility allowance | £180.00 | |
Travel and subsistence | £523.80 |
Total | £102,766.77 | |
Basic allowance | £59,265.57 | |
Special responsibility allowance | £41,386.00 | |
Travel and subsistence | £2,115.20 |
Allowances information is only available from 2005 onwards. Click on a year to see how Chris Buckwell'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 Chris are as follows:
2019 to 2023
Council: Campaign for Hoo Peninsula to Become Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty 8 Oct 2020 |
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Chris Buckwell voted against |
2003 to 2007
Council: Stop School Closures and Develop Medway-wide School Strategy 8 Dec 2005 |
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Chris Buckwell voted against |
Council: Make Arrangements to Enable Registration of Civil Partnerships 3 Nov 2005 |
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Chris Buckwell voted in favour |
2000 to 2003
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
Chris has stood in the following elections:
Medway Council
Rochester-upon-Medway City Council
A green bar on the right hand side of the result indicates that Chris Buckwell was elected, while a red bar indicates they were not elected. Click on a card to see the full results for that election.