Councillor Vince Maple, Leader of Medway Council, has been elected Chair of Key Cities following Key Cities AGM in July, held during the Local Government Association Annual Conference in Bournemouth. Joining him as Deputy Chairs are Councillor Kevin Guy, Leader of Bath & North East Sommerset Council and Councillor Jane Ashworth OBE, Leader of Stoke-on-Trent Council. His appointment follows the resignation of Cllr John Merry CBE, after more than 6 years as Chair.

Councillor Vince Maple was elected as Labour and Co-operative Leader of Medway Council in 2023, following Labour’s historic election victory in May 2023. He represents the Chatham Central and Brompton ward. He was first elected in 2007 and has led the Labour Group since 2012.

Councillor Maple’s background spans trade unions and public service, including work as a senior officer for the GMB trade union and roles in the Home Office and Department for Work and Pensions.

Alongside his leadership in Medway, Councillor Maple is Chair of Labour in Local and Regional Government (LLRG) and its South East representative, having previously chaired the Association of Labour Councillors.

Cllr Maple takes on the role at a pivotal moment for local government, with devolution, local government reorganisation, housing delivery and economic growth high on the national agenda. As Chair, he will lead Key Cities’ engagement with government and policymakers, ensuring the voice of urban communities continues to be heard at the highest levels

Cllr Vince Maple said: “It is a real honour to be elected Chair of Key Cities, and I want to begin by thanking Councillor John Merry for his outstanding leadership over the past six years and his unwavering commitment to ensuring that the voice of our cities is heard at the highest levels of government.

“We are entering one of the most significant periods of change local government has seen for decades. Devolution is still a work in progress. Local government reorganisation is still a work in progress. But our commitment to our places is not. That is constant.

“My priority as Chair will be to ensure that as Whitehall reforms local government and devolves more powers, success is judged not by structures or boundaries but by outcomes for residents. Whether by delivering more homes, supporting investment, revitalising town centres, reducing health inequalities or creating opportunities for young people, place must remain at the heart of policymaking.

“Key Cities has always championed a simple but powerful idea: that successful national policy begins with successful local places.”