As former city council leader Simon Cook takes stock of his election defeat, he sat down with reporter Joe Wright to speak about the highs and lows of his four years as the authority's top dog....

It wasn't through choice, but Simon Cook admits a weight has been lifted off his shoulders.

While clearly still dejected following his comprehensive election day defeat to Lib Dem Mike Sole, he's in a far more reflective mood than when we last spoke just minutes after the result was announced.

"It hurts not to be elected - it sucks," he says. "And it's hard not to take it personally.

"But being leader is incredibly hard on your family.

"I never got a chance to switch off so it's nice that a weight has involuntarily been lifted off my shoulders."

Simon was first elected to the council in 2011, becoming its leader four years later when his predecessor, John Gilbey, opted not to stand for re-election.

During his spell at the top, and unsurprisingly given his position, he won both friends and critics.

The latter grew in number amid the controversy of some high-profile decisions, none more so than the construction of the £9.1m multi-storey car park at Canterbury West.

"As the face of the council everything is your fault on social media," the 43-year-old says.

"I'm thick-skinned but it is not pleasant and it's hard for my family to see.

"You work 60 hours a week and you're reading stuff at 2am.

"I know I wanted to get re-elected but it's pleasant to have a break and to not look on Facebook every five minutes when someone complains.

"I'm very glad the multi-storey car park is still going to happen. It could create pollution and congestion but you can change that with pricing by making it cheaper for earlier arrivals or those with electric cars. Those incentives will stop pollution and congestion as you shift people's behaviour.

"Part of me is sad that I'll no longer be at the council and won't have the chance to carry on with the projects we started.

"But seeing them become a reality later down the line will be the gift that keeps on giving for me."

But despite the furore over the car park plans, it's another development that Simon points to as having played a major part in his defeat at the polls.

He claims he had been effectively gagged over plans to build a luxury holiday village and sports hub at Highland Court Farm in Bridge - key voter territory in his Nailbourne ward.

He only spoke out against the proposal 30 minutes before it was rejected by the council's planning committee, while his opponent, Mike Sole, was vocally opposed to it from the start.

"As leader you are heavily constrained with what you can say," he explains.

"If I had come out banging the drum against the development it could have prejudiced the planning application and there could have been grounds for appeal. I sought the advice from our planning and legal teams and I chose to stick with that.

"It was unfortunate as I would have happily delivered leaflets for the Barham Downs Action Group but it wouldn't have been right to do so. I advised them behind the scenes but you don't get the credit for that.

"Mike Sole was able to speak out against it and that worked well for him in his campaign.

"It hurt me in the election as I couldn't be as open as I wished to be, but I made the bed and needed to lie in it."

Aside from Highland Court, Simon says Lib Dem tactics targeting top Tories also cost him votes.

"People were saying I should move wards but I was happy remaining in Nailbourne," he says.

"As a party we went for every seat and put effort in everywhere. The Lib Dems on the other hand were quite clearly concentrated on getting me, Ben Fitter-Harding and Neil Baker voted out.

"Investing all their effort into getting us out shows a remarkable lack of ambition - I find it sad.

"We were always going to lose seats, so to come out with a working majority is a victory."

Simon lists his proudest achievement as being the introduction of ANPR parking technology across the district.

Other notable projects giving him satisfaction include the £150m purchase of Whitefrairs, Herne Bay's Beach Street development, and the installation of free water refill stations across the district.

But it's clear he feels his most impressive achievement is keeping the council on a sound financial footing at a time of government funding cuts.

"I'm very proud of what we did, it's so amazing," he says.

"We've left a strong council which is unrecognisable from the one we had four years ago - it's a different beast entirely.

"Residents don't necessarily understand all that we do but we are now much more efficient and have built for the future."

Simon will be replaced by Chartham and Stone Street councillor Robert Thomas, for whom he has some wise words of advice.

"For the first two months of becoming leader I tried to be everyone's friend but I realised pretty quick that wasn't possible," he continued.

"You don't set out to offend people but if you aren't then you are not doing the job properly as it's impossible to please everybody - that's my advice to Rob."

Despite the endless flak, Simon claims to have enjoyed "99% of the job".

But he has no plans for an immediate return to politics, ruling out a challenge to Labour's Rosie Duffield at the next general election.

"There was a time when I wanted to be MP but given what's happened over the past few years I wouldn't want to be," he admits.

"It's not a sacrifice I'm willing to take and I'm categorically not interested for now. I'm taking a break."

While pottering in the garden of his £600,000 home in Bridge, the retired hedgefund manager - a father-of-one and husband to a GP - will certainly have more time to reflect on his time as leader.

But he maintains there will only be positive memories about his experience.

"There is nothing I regret doing," he says. "To put it frankly, I can die happy."

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