On 9 January 2025, Kent County Council (KCC) Cabinet Members agreed to ask for Kent and Medway to be considered for inclusion in the Devolution Priority Programme, submitting a letter to Jim McMahon OBE, MP Minister for Local Government and Devolution, before the 10 January deadline.
However earlier today the Leaders of KCC and Medway Council were informed by Jim McMahon that the bid to be part of the DPP had not been successful.
Reacting to the news, Roger Gough said: “I am astonished by this decision and bitterly disappointed that residents and businesses of Kent have been let down by the Government and will not be able to benefit from the increased monies, powers and opportunities promised through devolution.
“The reason we have been given is both confusing and insufficient and we will be seeking more detail from Ministers as to the rationale as soon as possible.
“I strongly believe that key issues in Kent, such as economic growth, housing and transport, all vital for our residents, would have been improved by devolution, as well as bringing new powers and more funding to Kent and Medway, to boost jobs and skills, improve our infrastructure and transport.
“We met all the criteria for devolution set out in the White Paper, and our initial expression of interest with Medway Council was supported by all 12 District and Borough Council Leaders in Kent. I am simply stunned that the Government has offered what I consider to be an incoherent argument as to why Kent has been turned down.
“That Kent and Medway are authorities of differing sizes is neither new nor unique. We have always made it clear that we stood ready and willing to work through a transitional phase that would culminate in the reorganisation of the county to address the imbalance.
“Not being part of this accelerated devolution programme is a missed opportunity and a huge blow to this authority and to Kent’s 1.9m residents, particularly given that Kent and Medway made it clear to Government that we would meet its ambitious timeline and work towards a mayoral election in 2026.
“I am devastated and angry on behalf of the residents of Kent, but our devolution journey is far from over. My first priority is to ask Government to fully explain why Kent has been excluded at a time that other similar areas have not been, and how we can deliver the benefit of devolution to our residents and businesses. Their long-term future has always been our top priority in pursuing this.”
For the latest news on devolution in Kent and Medway you can visit: Devolution - Kent County Council
Notes to editors
- Decision-making powers moving away from Whitehall and out to regions was outlined in the English Devolution White Paper published in December 2024, in which the Deputy Prime Minister, Angela Rayner, set out a vision for restructured local government and more elected mayors across England.
- The Leaders of KCC, Medway Council and all 12 District and Borough Councils in the county submitted an expression of interest just after the general election in July 2024 to the Deputy Prime Minister, telling her they were keen to work collaboratively as a group, and with Government, to shape an innovative and comprehensive devolution deal for Kent and Medway.
