Medway Matters Live brings free council Q&A to Strood

Name: Medway Matters Live
Start: 2026-10-01T19:00:00+01:00
End: 2026-10-01T20:45:00+01:00
Location: Strood Sports Centre

demoduck.co.uk editorial team 2026-09-01 14:28 3 min read

Ornate English council chamber with wood paneling, chandeliers, and rows of seating.

Medway residents can put their questions directly to the area’s council leadership when Medway Matters Live returns to Strood Sports Centre on Thursday, 1 October. The free event runs from 7pm to 8.45pm, but advance booking is essential.

The public meeting will be the first Medway Matters Live held since July’s announcement on the restructuring of local councils across Kent and Medway. It gives residents an opportunity to hear what the planned changes could mean locally and raise their own concerns with Medway Council’s Leader and Chief Executive.

Council service stalls will also be open at the venue from 6pm, one hour before the main discussion begins.

Date, venue and evening schedule

Detail	Confirmed information
Date	Thursday, 1 October
Venue	Strood Sports Centre, Strood
Service stalls	6pm to 7pm
Main event	7pm to 8.45pm
Admission	Free, with booking essential
Audience	Medway residents

The stalls will give visitors a chance to learn about council services and the support available before the formal programme starts. The council has not supplied transport or accessibility information in the event notice, nor a fuller street address beyond Strood Sports Centre.

Residents can question council leaders directly

Former BBC South-East journalist and Medway resident Rob Smith will host the evening and open the proceedings. He will then moderate the public Q&A with Cllr Vince Maple, Leader of Medway Council, and Richard Hicks, the council’s Chief Executive.

Maple and Hicks are expected to provide updates on recent developments within the council, its plans for the future and the next stages of local government restructuring and devolution. Residents will then be able to ask questions or express their views during the moderated session.

The restructuring plans are a central part of this year’s event. Under the change announced in July, Medway is due to become part of a new North Kent Council with Dartford, Gravesham and Kent County Council in 2028.

That timetable means the meeting offers an early opportunity for residents to hear directly from the two senior council figures about what comes next. The supplied notice does not set out detailed changes to individual services, so those attending may wish to use the Q&A to seek clarity on the issues that matter to them.

Who the event is intended for

Medway Matters Live is aimed at residents who want updates on council activity, information about available services or a chance to question the authority’s leadership. No specialist knowledge of local government is required in the event notice.

Medway Council says previous sessions have allowed it to explain its work while receiving direct feedback from residents. This edition adds the planned 2028 restructuring to the discussion, alongside wider council developments and devolution.

Attendance is free, although reserving a place in advance is compulsory. Residents who want to attend must book their free ticket through the Medway Council website before travelling to Strood Sports Centre.

Source: Medway Council

Context & actions About this article

Source check How the details were checked

The event date, programme, venue, admission terms and participants were checked against information published by Medway Council.

Checks