A town’s rivers are not to get any additional help from their council.

Backbench councillors had asked the Conservative administration at Maidstone council to consider setting up a “river task force” to coordinate activities in a bid to improve water quality and biodiversity along the River Len and River Medway as they flow through the town.

The proposal from the Housing Health and Environment Committee was that the task force would include local landowners, water companies, the Environment Agency, Kent Wildlife Trust, South East Rivers Trust and other key organisations under the chairmanship of the leader of the council.

But when the council's cabinet met on Wednesday last week to decide the issue they were presented with a report from the council’s head of spatial planning and economic development, Karen Britton, advising them not to set up such a body

She said it was unnecessary as there were plenty of organisations already existing that worked to improve the waterways, and that Maidstone council had no statutory authority on the matter.

Cllr Stuart Jeffery (Green) urged the cabinet to ignore the report, saying: “What we have in place currently is not working.

“Let’s do something different. If we don’t try something different, nothing will ever change.”

He was supported by Cllr Clive English (Lib Dem) who said witnesses from the various water authorities, who had appeared before the policy advisory committee, had thought a task force was a good idea and had urged the council to take it up.

Cabinet member Cllr Claudine Russell (Con) described the intention behind the task force proposals as “extremely noble”, but said she was worried that no figures had been provided on how much such a task force might cost.

Cabinet member Cllr Paul Cooper (Con) said: “I’ve yet to see why another layer of bureaucracy would be of any benefit” adding: “Of course, a task force would come at the expense of taxpayers’ money.”

Cabinet member Cllr Patrik Garten (Con) agreed, saying: “There’s no point in starting another talking shop.”

Cabinet member Cllr John Perry (Con) took issue with Cllr Jeffery’s allegation that nothing was being done. He said: “A lot of work is already being done by the drainage boards and others.”

The cabinet, with the exception of Cllr Russell who abstained, voted not to establish a task force, but instead to ensure the council played its full part through its representations to existing bodies.

But council leader Cllr David Burton said: “Just in case people think we are just kicking this into the long grass, let’s ask for a log of all such engagements to be kept for the next 12 months so that in a year’s time we can review the efficacy of such arrangements and think again if necessary.”

After the meeting, Cllr English described the cabinet decision as “a profound disappointment”.

He said: “A task force could have facilitated cooperation on reducing pollution and flooding, and helped with improving natural habitats.

“To not set up a task force on the basis that the existing arrangements for dealing with the many issues affecting our local rivers are working just fine, defies belief.”

“They clearly are not.”

Cllr Tony Harwood (Lib Dem) is also the chairman of the Len Valley Nature Reserve Management Committee which has experienced repeated pollution events in the River Len. He said: “The cabinet really needs to get out more.

“Our local watercourses are being sucked dry by water companies over abstraction, polluted by sewage, and strangled by man-made barriers, while the banks are covered with litter and wildlife is dying.”

Cllr Jeffery, who raised the original motion that started the debate, said: "Our rivers are in an appalling state and despite claims from the cabinet that there is work going on, they remain badly polluted and in need of help.

“The leadership of Maidstone council could have provided that help, but sadly chose not to.”

“If there is a change of political control after the local elections in May, then we will try again.”

Cllr Paul Harper (Fant and Oakwood Independents) declared that he was not surprised at the cabinet decision.

He said: ”I don't think we will see the cabinet committing to much now before the May elections.”