Next is the Labour motion to scrap the points system for choosing a mayor, so they can get it next year. Cllr Prenter (Lab) says these are "exceptional times." Cllr McDonald (Lab) calls it a "sensible, pragmatic change." It moves to the next meeting in October without debate.

This is the amendment from Cllr Murray (Lab), which seems to have a vibe of ‘woah, easy now, let’s just see how this goes.’

Here is the amendment by Cllr Spalding (Ind) in full. He says the existing motion doesn’t go far enough.

We have made it to motions, starting with this from Cllr Turpin (IndGrp) on fire station closures on the Hoo Peninsula.

What a system.

Good evening from my second council meeting of the day - Medway Council where fire cuts, mayoral arrangements, councillor pay, and petitions, will be discussed. Given I’ve been working since 7am and already did one meeting, will I make it through this one? Stay and find out!

Breaking: Kent and Medway will be carved up into four unitary authorities, including a wild MidKent Council that spans from Sheppey to Romney Marsh.

Good morning from today’s Kent County Council meeting, which is starting with a recitation of the Lords Prayer following a rule change at the last meeting. Greens, some Lib Dems, and some Tories have remained seated.

Shout out to @dailymail.co.uk for their 'exclusive' on this story that we broke, er, 11 days ago.

Absolutely no idea why people don't engage with local democracy when public reports are this clear and accessible.

It's coming right for us!

Sure, I could be working this morning, but it's far more important that I track the Goodyear Blimp as it zig-zags across Kent.

Genuinely the first thing you get if you go on to the Medway page of Reach’s “effort”.

Occasionally I’m particularly struck by how others do local news as opposed to the way we do.

We had to say goodbye to Bert today. He was stubborn, stupid, annoying, shouty, greedy, and an arsehole. But he was our stubborn, stupid, annoying, shouty, greedy arsehole, and we're really going to miss him.

It's all kicking off in Canterbury.

Good morning from today’s full Kent County Council meeting. We’re once again in the tiny public gallery because press have been once again banned from the chamber itself. Was also instructed not film or photograph the meeting by KCC staff, which is definitely not legal. It might be a fun one.

Apparently, we’re allowed back at the Kent Press & Broadcast Awards again. Authority Media has picked up its highest number of nominations yet this year, which is not bad for a tiny organisation run on a shoestring.

Half-time show. Perfectly normal council meeting.

Good evening from tonight’s unusually busy Medway Council meeting. It’s a largely ceremonial one, where we’ll be electing a new mayor. I’ll be live tweeting all of the ‘action’ from 7pm.

Bert doesn’t understand the doors of our new house so he’s shouting at us because we’ve cruelly locked him outside.

I'm in Tunbridge Wells Assembly Hall for the only election count in Kent today. One third (13 seats) of Tunbridge Wells Borough Council is up for election, plus two by-elections, giving us 15 seats up for grabs. We're expecting results to come in from around lunchtime.

We have been removed from the room so Medway Council can discuss a secret deal with a mystery housing provider. Who is L&Q.

Cllr Tejan (Con) is introducing the annual overview and scrutiny report. I have got a cup of tea - Twinings English Breakfast decaffeinated, no less. Also, a spider has invaded the press desk.

Final councillor question is this from Cllr Pearce (IndGrp). Cllr Maple (Lab) responds that the response is normal, and Medway Council will respond to the questions raised by the deadline. He says this will include timeline for consultation.

Next is this mischief making from Cllr Turpin (IndGrp). Cllr Paterson (Lab) calls it a "dishonest attempt" to ask a question. He says the words quoted don't represent what he said. He tries to play the quote from the podcast. The mayor doesn't allow it, so he starts reading them out and is cut off.

We move to councillor questions, starting with this from Cllr Myton (Lab). Cllr Van Dyke (Lab) responds that 65% of staff reside within Medway and full numbers are being given out on paper.

The Labour amendment is passed unanimously. The next motion is this from Cllr Maple (Lab). He says it is "never acceptable" to abuse elected members or council officers. He says he is "confident that we'll see unanimous support for this."

Cllr Murray (Lab) moves her own amendment. She says the situation isn’t as “apocalyptic” as the motion suggested. She says they have raised concerns about the hospital but things are in a pretty good place and they want to give new leadership a chance.

This is the amendment from Cllr Turpin (IndGrp). She says she agrees with the motion but it needed some additions, requesting a formal written response, and to establish a cross-party task group on adult social care pressures.