Reform UK’s county council leader has called for Kent and Medway to be brought under the control of a single unitary authority.
At a meeting of all Kent’s council leaders yesterday, the leader of Kent County Council (KCC), Cllr Linden Kemkaran and the deputy cabinet member for finance and cross-cabinet activity, Cllr Chris Hespe, outlined the preferred option for local government reorganisation.
It was feared the potential cost and disruption of separating core county services, such as adult and children’s social care and highways, to new authorities would result in additional fees having to be met by the county’s taxpayers.
Instead, KCC is set to propose a single-unitary option, with three “Area Assemblies” – the details of which are yet to be shared publicly.
Reorganisation means the current councils in Kent and Medway will no longer exist, instead, new unitary authorities will take their place, covering a wider geographical area.
The preferred approach will be put forward alongside other options from Medway Council and district and borough councils, where they will be assessed against the government’s criteria.
Results and feedback will be provided by advisors KPMG to Kent leaders in September.
Cllr Kemkaran said: “All the other options will cost an absolute fortune to implement, and no one has yet been able to explain to me how that will be paid for.
“I think the taxpayer will pick up the bill, something I find unacceptable.
“I am determined to do what’s best for Kent, rather than blindly following the government’s instructions and attempting to force a square peg into a round hole.
Cllr Hespe added: “We will always put residents first.
“Local government reorganisation has to ensure people in our communities across the county can get access to the best services, and maintain the proud and rich heritage of Kent and enhance the profile of the county.
“Our proposal for reorganisation does that.”
However, the new proposal differs from the original report put forward by Cllr Kemkaran last month, which was suggesting the county be carved up into three large geographical areas – each a separate unitary authority.
The report went before the newly-established Devolution and Local Government Reorganisation cabinet on July 28.
It was proposing a ‘north unitary authority’ comprising Dartford, Gravesham, Medway and Swale; ‘west’: Maidstone, Sevenoaks, Tonbridge and Malling and Tunbridge Wells; and ‘east’: Ashford, Canterbury, Dover, Folkestone & Hythe and Thanet.
It was stated the option “best fulfils” the government’s requirements of a minimum 500,000 population size in each and “the most equitable income scenario” in terms of council tax yield.
But, earlier today, Medway Council put forward its proposal to split the area into four unitary authorities, seeing this as the way forward to best match the government’s outlined plans for the shake-up nationally.
Leader of Medway’s authority, Cllr Vince Maple (Lab) said: “Our vision is to create a model which best promotes partnership working and the opportunity of maintaining a deep understanding of the needs of our communities to ensure residents can continue to access high-quality services and support.
“Having carefully considered everything – and whilst I appreciate there are currently different options on the table – I wholeheartedly support the proposed model of creating four unitary authorities in the region of Kent and Medway.”
The Medway position was criticised by, among others, leader of Tonbridge and Malling council, Cllr Matt Boughton (Con).
He said: “This is appalling and disrespectful from Medway Council. There has been no discussion with [Tonbridge and Malling Council] about splitting Walderslade and Blue Bell Hill from the rest of Tonbridge and Malling.”
