Jim McMahon OBE, MP Minister of State for Local Government and English Devolution, told leaders that all two tier authorities should now make plans to merge to create single authorities, and make structures simpler and more efficient.
The leaders of Kent County Council (KCC), Medway Council and all 12 district and borough councils in the county now have until 21 March to come up with an interim proposal as to how Kent and Medway could be divided into unitary authorities, with full proposals expected by 28 November.
Leader of KCC, Roger Gough, said: “Government has made it clear that all councils in two tier areas, where there is a county council and districts, are now expected to submit outline plans on moving to unitary authorities.
“This has been something that has been on the books for quite some time and I have long made the point that, whether we were on the Devolution Priority Programme or not, this was something that Government would push for.
“There are some challenges as to how you would keep local government ‘local’ in this new kind of structure, and that is something we will now have to carefully consider as we work on our initial plans and structures.
“Reorganisation without devolution will not bring the benefits that residents and businesses in Kent deserve. After the news we will not be included in the Government’s Devolution Priority Programme, Kent has been left in a ‘devolution desert’.”
“However, reorganisation without devolution will not bring the benefits that residents and businesses in Kent deserve. After the news that we will not be included in the Government’s Devolution Priority Programme, Kent has been left in a ‘devolution desert’, with every surrounding area being fast tracked, while we carry on without the funding, the powers and the national voice that would make such a huge difference to this county in years to come.”
Roger Gough has said he was ‘astonished and bitterly disappointed’ by the Government’s decision not to include Kent in its Devolution Priority Programme, and that the reason given was ‘confusing and insufficient'. He is now asking for more detail from ministers as to their rationale.
In his letter to Kent Leaders, Jim McMahon told them: “I had to make a judgement of the best-placed areas to take forwards on the Programme according to our strict criteria, and, in the round, concluded your proposals could not be taken forward due to concerns about the size of the population disparity between the two proposed constituent members of your proposed Kent and Medway Combined County Authority and the consequential impact on its governance.
“I believe this will affect your readiness and ability to meet the delivery criteria of the White Paper, and that local government reorganisation would benefit your area before a mayoral institution is established.”
In response Roger Gough said: “I am deeply disappointed on behalf of the 1.9 million people across Kent and Medway, who this decision lets down and lets down very badly.
“We put forward an extremely strong case to be part of this programme, and still believe that we were a strong candidate for devolution. Now we have a situation where all of our neighbours will get the benefits and our residents won’t, and for reasons that nobody in Government has so far explained satisfactorily.”
The Government says it remains committed to supporting all areas of the country on a path towards devolution, and will build on the ‘enthusiasm and consensus’ that Kent and Medway have shown.
Now that Kent will not be preparing for a mayoral election in 2026, the local elections on 1 May will go ahead as planned.
Further information
Read more about last week's announcement here: “A totally incomprehensible decision” - KCC Leader reacts to Government’s decision not to include Kent on its Devolution Priority Programme - News & Features - Kent County Council
For the latest news on devolution in Kent and Medway you can visit: Devolution - Kent County Council
