One of Kent’s local authority’s has outlined its preferred option for the reorganisation of local government in the county.
Medway Council has put forward its proposals for four unitary authorities to replace itself, Kent County Council (KCC) and the 12 district and borough councils.
It comes after KCC said its preferred option was for only three unitary authorities at a meeting last month.
But, Leader of Medway’s authority, Cllr Vince Maple (Lab), says the four-unitary option is the way forward and best matches the government’s outlined plans for the shake-up nationally.
He said: “This proposal has been shared with all leaders and chief executives across Kent. It carefully considers the data available against our collaborative priority of best supporting all residents across the region.
“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 taken everything into consideration – 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.
“This is the perfect opportunity to take a fresh look at the map of the county and find a model which best represents the physical geography and communities across Kent and Medway. It’s our opportunity to get it right.”
However, other politicians presenting neighbouring parts of th county did not agree, and even accused the authority of trying to “break” them apart.
Leader of Tonbridge and Malling council, Cllr Matt Boughton (Con), called the announcement by Medway Council “appalling and disrespectful” on social media.
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.
“We do not agree. Every part of our borough is valued. Medway won’t break us apart.”
Within Medway there has also been a conflict of opinion.
Leader of the opposition on the authority, Cllr George Perfect (Con) said his group “vehemently disagreed” with the proposals.
He added: “Medway Conservatives vehemently disagree with the four council proposal for local government reorganisation (LGR) as announced by Medway Council this afternoon, which breaches a number of red-lines for us as a group.
“This map, which we understand was presented to the Kent leaders meeting today with no consultation, does not have the buy-in of authorities across Kent nor the opposition of Medway Council.
“This map seeks to impose vast changes to existing district boundaries across the entire county, as well as breaking up parts of Medway.
“Most of all, this map does not consider existing communities nor the views of their elected representatives, and is seeking to impose a model which we believe is not consistent with the aims and objectives as laid out by the government for LGR.
“I am most alarmed that this map has now undone the cross party work of all 14 Kent councils and the leading role Medway played in that process, which up until this point had been working collaboratively.”
Independent Group councillor Michael Pearce also expressed dissatisfaction with the proposals, saying on social media: “Labour-run Medway Council yesterday unveiled its proposals for local government reorganisation (LGR) in Kent.
“Rather than creating a logical and balanced new Council area for North Kent, Cllr Maple has come up with a strange mostly densely urbanised proposal, which should greatly worry residents on the rural Hoo Peninsula and the Isle of Sheppey.
“Labour’s proposal removes all Conservative/Reform leaning rural communities in the boroughs of Dartford and Gravesham, and also cuts out Cuxton and Halling from the Medway Council area.
“Some villagers, who know significantly more than me about things like this, have suggested that Labour’s proposal looks and smells a lot like gerrymandering.”
Currently under the ‘two-tier’ system, the county has 12 district and borough councils, which split responsibility for public services with the overarching KCC.
The map which Medway Council is suggesting would see the creation of a ‘North’ authority, including Medway, Sittingbourne, the Isle of Sheppey, Gravesend, Northfleet and Dartford.
The ‘West’ council would stretch from Royal Tunbridge Wells up to Longfield and Istead Rise, encompassing Tonbridge, Sevenoaks and Snodland, and reaching to the boundary of Maidstone.
The ‘Mid’ authority is the largest in terms of geographical area, and includes Maidstone, Bearsted, Staplehurst, Cranbrook, Hawkhurst and Sandhurst.
It also includes Faversham and Ashford and stretches down to Dungeness and across to Hythe.
The ‘East’ council covers Canterbury, Whitstable, Herne Bay, Margate, Broadstairs, Ramsgate, Deal, Dover and Folkestone.
The government announced in December last year it was to abolish the two tier system of local government and replace it with unitaries exclusively, each covering a population of around 500,000.
Submissions for how the boundaries of the new authorities are due at the end of November.
Cllr Maple encouraged residents to make their views known about the proposals, including at the upcoming Medway Matters Live Q&A event in October.
