Derek Davis, Ganges ward (Shotley & Erwarton)

Roy Keane once told me: "There is no loyalty in football. If you want loyalty – get a dog."

The same applies to politics, especially with the amount of back-stabbing that goes. 

We have also seen at Babergh how the new Tory leader Margaret Maybury has shown a complete disregard to loyalty to her own party in the past by deserting the Conservative Group to become an Independent, making all sorts of assurances, only to return to the Tories when she didn't get what she wanted.

Similarly, the new Lib Dem group leader Lee Parker, swapped the Blue four years ago, after being totally disillusioned at the group's behaviour, to become an Independent, but has now moved back to the mainstream. In fairness to Lee he has always been up front about his intentions and reasons and no doubt time will tell what the end game is all about.

Meanwhile, the Greens are snapping up new members and congratulations to them for their sweeping success in Mid-Suffolk and gaining extra seats in Babergh, including Tattingstone's Danny Potter who has replaced Jane Gould in the Orwell ward on the peninsula.

The Greens and Lib Dems negotiated a very good deal for themselves in the new coalition arrangement, which potentially sees four different leaders from three groups over the four years. The Greens have also snapped up four seats on the cabinet, the Independents just three despite being the second largest group (at the movement) by just one member.

I have been asked to join the cabinet, for the third successive administration, adding the Economy portfolio to my experience and expertise, which includes Communities & Wellbeing, and the Customer Services and Digital Transformation cabinet positions, and last year becoming Babergh's vice chairman, a largely ceremonial role.

It will be interesting to see how the Greens move from being a protest group, then the opposition, to running a council at our neighbours Mid Suffolk.

According to a fellow national journalist friend of mine in Brighton, they have a been a complete disaster in the town, which is why they were comprehensively trounced by Labour, despite the countrywide swing.

The Greens in Babergh will soon learn being the largest group is not enough, especially when it is by just one member, and they will need the support of the Independents and the Lib Dems, as we know the Tories are unlikely to side with them on anything.

This inexperienced group (just one has been on the district council before) will also need to realise Babergh and Mid Suffolk are two separate sovereign councils, even if the officers are as one, and their big brothers across the border will have very little influence in our council meetings.

It will be down to us experienced councillors, especially those on the cabinet, to make it work as best we can for you the residents.

Sad losses

The new council will not be helped by the loss of some very, very good councillors.

I point to former Independent leader Clive Arthey, a colossus with 32 year's experience at Babergh and a political CV any councillor would be proud of. 

Then there is Jan Osborne, who it has been an absolute joy to work with over our past eight years together. We worked closely in getting the social housing at Queensland sorted, and ensuring Shotley residents got priority. Her help in me getting other housing matters sortied here and elsewhere was invaluable. 

Finally, but by no means least John Hinton who lost his seat in East Bergholt.

A rarity in that he served in both the Royal Navy and the British Army. An outstanding ward member and a force in the Babergh chamber with his forensic insight into council papers.

Derek Davis (front row, second from left) with 2019-2023 Babergh District Council which lost some very good members

Ganges ward developments  

As many will know we have two major planning applications coming forward. The chances are both will be heard by the new planning committee together and have been pencilled in for Wednesday, June 28..

More details a soon as I have them.      

Please feel free to get in touch on all these and any other matter.

I shall be at Shotley village hall on Monday, June 5, between 2pm and 3pm. Officers from Babergh district council's customer services' team will also be there as part of the pop up library.  

Derek Davis

Ganges ward member

[email protected]

Council phone: 07548153784

Work phone: 07824167196