Members elected Jeremy Eustace as Chairman for 2026/27, with Dodger Sian appointed as Vice-Chairman, marking the start of a new civic year. Outgoing Chairman Richard Palmer and Vice Chairman Peter Evans were thanked for their service over the past 12 months.
Chairman of Kent County Council, Jeremy Eustace, said: “It is a great honour to be elected to serve as Chairman of the Council.
"I look forward to working with colleagues and residents to celebrate everything that makes our county of Kent special.”
Vice-Chairman, Dodger Sian, said: “I am honoured to have been elected as Vice Chairman of Kent County Council at today’s full county council meeting.
"As the first person of British Asian heritage to hold this role at the council, I’m incredibly proud to represent our diverse county and am looking forward to the year ahead.”
Left to right - Leader of the Council, Linden Kemkaran; KCC Chairman, Jeremy Eustace and KCC Vice Chairman, Dodger Sian
Governance and future direction
The meeting included an update on progress against the Council’s Reforming Kent strategic statement, highlighting early delivery across key priorities including financial stability, support for vulnerable residents and investment in communities.
A six-month review of the Strategic Statement confirmed the Council’s intention to:
- Stabilise the Council’s finances while modernising services and improving efficiency
- Build on progress already made to manage adult social care pressures, which now account for nearly half of the Council’s budget
- Maintain focus on highways and infrastructure, including maintenance programmes and resilience work
- Drive momentum behind coastal regeneration and tackling health inequalities
- Support local businesses through engagement, procurement opportunities and local economic initiatives
The review reinforces Kent County Council’s commitment to long-term transformation while continuing to deliver essential day-to-day services for residents.
Members also considered updates to senior management arrangements and changes to the Council’s constitution, ensuring the organisation remains fit for the future as local government reforms continue to evolve over the coming months.
“We set a responsible budget and developed a deliberate focus on how every penny of taxpayers’ money is managed and spent.”
Leader of Kent County Council, Linden Kemkaran said: “Over the past 12 months, in our first full year as an Administration, we have focused on bringing stability, clear direction and a renewed sense of purpose to the Council. We set a responsible budget and developed a deliberate focus on how every penny of taxpayers’ money is managed and spent.
"We are beginning to see that approach translate into action and outcomes – addressing the growing pressures in adult social care, focusing on our most deprived coastal communities, backing local businesses, and maintaining a strong focus on efficiency and frontline services.
"This is encouraging progress and I’m confident that our plans for 26/27 as set out in our renewed Reforming Kent strategic statement will continue to deliver for the people of Kent.”
Three motions put forward by opposition parties were debated around the following topics:
- Water resilience - The Chairman determined that the Motion for Time Limited debate would be deferred to the next meeting.
- Protecting Kent’s farmers - The Restore Britain Kent Group proposed a motion calling for more work to support farmers in Kent. The council considered and agreed an amendment on the motion from the Reform Group which sought to ensure the motion recognised the ongoing work of the Executive on a number of the areas referenced in the original motion. The amended motion was approved by Full Council.
- Tourist travel across the county - The motion was passed.
ENDS
