Speaking at Full Council on 5 November, the Leader outlined the implications of the Government's decision to withdraw its previous proposal for four unitary councils across Kent and Medway and provided an update on the next stages of the reorganisation process. She also updated Members on progress towards securing mayoral devolution for Kent and Medway.
The full statement delivered by Linden Kemkaran, Leader of Kent County Council, to Full Council is included below.
Statement by Linden Kemkaran, Leader of Kent County Council
“We've received two significant announcements from the Government, with important implications for the future of Kent and Medway.
“I'll begin, if I may, with Local Government Reorganisation (LGR).
“The Minister of State has announced the withdrawal of nine LGR decisions made by the previous Secretary of State on 16 July. That includes the decision to create four unitary councils in Kent and Medway.
“Members will recall that, following that decision, I wrote to the Secretary of State seeking detailed answers to questions about the proposals and their implications for our county.
“We did not receive any answers. That left us having to decide whether to accept a decision we believed had not been properly justified or challenge it through judicial review.
“I believe it's now clear that the Government's U-turn thoroughly vindicates the principled position this Council took to act in the best interests of its residents.
“This Council Leader refused to mutely accept a decision that was quite possibly flawed and would have cost all of us hundreds of millions of pounds.
“Other Reform-led county councils also challenged the decisions affecting their areas. I am proud to be one of that group that spoke up and did the right thing. Ministers must now ensure their review properly addresses the concerns that led to those challenges.
“Members, it should never have been necessary for us to take legal action to secure a proper response to reasonable questions. We will seek to recover the costs of our challenge wherever possible, in line with normal practice.
“The withdrawal removes the decision at the centre of that challenge. So our attention must now turn to ensuring the Government reaches a properly considered decision on what happens next.
“The Government has not completed its review, but we now have an indicative timetable.
“We expect the Government to tell us before the year end what they are "minded to do" on LGR. There will then be an opportunity for councils to raise concerns about implementation before Ministers make a final decision.
“This is far from ideal as it prolongs the uncertainty facing our councils, staff and residents. It also means April 2029 now looks the most likely date for the new councils to begin operating.
“We need a realistic timetable that allows any new arrangements to be established properly.
“I do welcome the Minister's commitment to pay the grant promised for this year towards the costs councils across Kent and Medway have incurred in planning for reorganisation. Covering our costs has been a subject which I have raised with Government forcefully and regularly.
“Over the coming days, I will write to the Minister setting out the issues any revised decision must address. Foremost among these is the financial sustainability of any new councils, particularly given the pressures arising from Kent's position as the gateway to Europe.
“Those pressures include the local impact of border operations, keeping traffic and trade moving, and our current legal responsibilities for unaccompanied asylum-seeking children.
“These issues must be clearly addressed in the forthcoming "minded to" decision, so that any future council covering east Kent, which would take over those responsibilities from KCC, is not set up to fail from day one.
“We will continue to engage openly and constructively with Ministers and officials. We will challenge a decision we believe is wrong, while working professionally with the Government on what comes next. This is entirely consistent with our responsibility to protect the interests of Kent's residents.
“Now turning to devolution, I regard last week's Budget as a missed opportunity to address the economic pressures facing the country. However, I welcome the decision to progress mayoral devolution in Kent and Medway because for too long we have been at the back of the queue.
“There is agreement among council leaders that a mayoral strategic authority is important for our future. Because without it, we risk falling further behind other areas in the powers and funding available to us. Whatever our political differences in Kent and Medway, we share an interest in securing the best outcome for our residents and businesses.
“However, the Government has set a condition: establishing a mayoral strategic authority depends on the outcome of its LGR review.
“The Minister confirmed that Option 1A, our proposal for a single Kent and Medway unitary council, remains under consideration. Such a council could become a Foundation Strategic Authority, but it could not form a mayoral strategic authority on its own. That explains the Government's caveat and the link between the two decisions.
“Now it's important to remember the policy context in which this Council developed Option 1A, and I'm going to spell it out because there has been misinformation put about by some members in this chamber.
“This time last year, when we conceived of Option 1A, the Government's position was that Kent and Medway could not secure devolution until reorganisation had been delivered.
“It's important to note what the Government is now saying: that we can pursue mayoral devolution ahead of LGR. This was simply not an option when we put forward our proposal of Option 1A, which ensured the continuation of a strategic authority in Kent, operating at the scale of the whole area, able to take strategic decisions and deliver best value for taxpayers.
“Option 1A offered that strategic scale within the policy the Government had set. That underlying objective remains unchanged, even though the Government has now performed a 180-degree turn.
“We will need to consider the implications if the Secretary of State ultimately selects Option 1A. We should do so in light of the actual decision and the opportunities then available, while continuing preparations for mayoral devolution in the meantime.
“I remain committed to working with all council leaders across Kent and Medway, particularly Medway Council, which would initially be the other constituent authority alongside KCC. Our focus will remain on securing arrangements that work for Kent and Medway and providing lasting value for taxpayers and the continued provision of excellent services.
“We will provide a further update to the Devolution and Local Government Cabinet Committee at its next meeting.”
