Amongst other topics, she touched on the Fair Funding Review, developments in Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and adult social care, the establishment of Brand Kent, the proposal to restructure committee meetings, as well as KCC’s business case for Local Government Reorganisation (LGR).
The Leader’s speech was as follows:
“Well, what a year it has been. Mr Chairman I’d like to take this opportunity, before the “fun” of full council really gets going, to wish every Member a very happy Christmas.
“Late yesterday we finally received our present, yes, the much-delayed Fair Funding Review. The Government finally gave us the information upon which we depend to make all our future financial decisions.
“We got an increase of £127.3 million for 2026–27, an 8.3% rise compared to the adjusted like-for-like figure for 2025–26. The Government has also indicated further increases of 7% for 2027–28 and 6.8% for 2028–29.
“We welcome the clarity, but the reality is that demand for services continues to rise sharply, particularly in adult social care and SEND.
“At its core this settlement punishes rural communities, rewarding urban councils instead. It is unfair because cities are already prioritised above counties and shires for investment.
“So, we will continue to press Government for sustainable, long-term funding solutions that reflect the real costs of delivering services in Kent.
“Now, every week I hear from a farmer or an agricultural worker or supplier who is desperate for someone to do something, anything to stop the incoming inheritance tax raid on family farms.
“I wrote to the Chancellor asking for a policy reversal.
“At an event last week an elderly farmer told me that he knew personally of farmers considering taking their own lives to spare their families, before the tax comes in, in April.
“The Prime Minister this week admitted that he is aware of this potential tragedy too, and yet we see no change. Once a farm drops below a certain acreage, it becomes unviable.
“I will continue to speak up against this punitive measure because the welfare of farmers and our future food security depend on it.
“Like farmers, our armed forces also form the backbone of our country and we rely on them to put their lives on the line in times of national peril. We all know the geopolitical scene is increasingly unstable.
“Whatever the future holds, I am going to lobby Government to rid our armed forces of DEI (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion) targets. We must allow the Army, Navy and Air Force to recruit the best, the brightest, the toughest service men and women for the job.
“I can think of nothing more dispiriting or quite frankly terrifying than being in a life-or-death situation suspecting that the person next to you was given the job because they ticked the right boxes, rather than because they were the best.
“Where Kent leads, others follow. In my very first speech as Leader I posed the question of why so many children are being diagnosed with SEND.
“Reform in Kent is determined to ask the difficult questions around subjects like SEND. KCC Members will join a working group that will redefine children with special educational needs, not as disabled, but as differently abled.
“Councillor Beverley Fordham, Cabinet Member for Education and Skills, will play a key role on this working group to set out policies to ensure that the system works for those who need it and doesn’t bankrupt local authorities in the process.
“In adult social care I’m very pleased that we are now robustly managing the market between health and social care.
“The Integrated Joint Brokerage Team is a shared service between KCC and the NHS Kent and Medway Integrated Care Board. Its purpose is to bring together the separate health and social care brokerage functions into a single, consistent process.
“This will bridge the gap when elderly people are discharged from hospital.
“It standardises the process, improves market control, ensures value for money, and supports a “one system” approach to hospital discharge. Their role is to find the right care, in the right place, at the right price.
“I’m confident that this will realise us significant savings in adult social care in the very near future.
“On 28th November I was delighted that our submission on Local Government Reorganisation finally left KCC. We alighted on what we believe is the most cost-effective, common-sense approach to serving our county, and I’ve been able to begin the process of informing our residents via a series of videos and announcements on social media and in local press on why Option 1A makes sense.
“I am delighted to see the item on today’s agenda which will propose changes to our committee arrangements. On becoming Leader I committed to finding ways of organising and running things more efficiently.
The proposals before Council today are the result of my administration working with officers to find ways to remove duplication, reduce bureaucracy and create an annual £75,000 saving. By working in a different way, we’re able to ensure that resources can be prioritised.
“I have heard others say this is about avoiding Scrutiny. It is not.
“The previous administration changed the Constitution earlier this year to allow for an opposition Member to chair Scrutiny, something we are very happy with.
“My administration understands that proper scrutiny represents fairness and transparency to the people who pay our wages – the taxpayer.
“We’ve been working hard with Medway Council to establish a new in-house visitor economy and inward investment service for the county following the sad demise of Visit Kent and Locate in Kent.
“Brand Kent has already hit the ground running and is busy planning for the 2026 visitor season, engaging businesses in shaping our all-important inward investment pipeline.
“Work is the best medicine and I’m delighted that we were one of the first four areas in the UK to launch the flagship Connect to Work Programme with £34 million from the Department for Work and Pensions over five years. It will support over 9,000 disadvantaged people into employment.
“The first wave of Skills Bootcamps in the county, funded by the Department for Education, has, since July, seen some 250 learners sign up to a short course leading to a guaranteed job interview.
“I had the pleasure the other week, to chair our Kent & Medway Employment Taskforce which brings agencies together across the county.
“The task force will also play an important role in overseeing the implementation of our Get Kent & Medway Working Plan which co-ordinates employment, and meets the needs of local employers.
“With the publication of the Government’s Post-16 Education and Skills White Paper, I have to mention our Pathways for All initiative which aims to ensure no young person is left behind.
“We’re investing £20 million in specialist resource bases and improving outcomes across Key Stages 2, 4 and 5. Both attendance and achievement are rising, despite challenges.
“To support local businesses, since April, KCC has approved loans to 26 local firms worth £35 million through the Kent & Medway Business Fund.
“In the last quarter, our award-winning empty properties scheme - No Use Empty - brought 128 empty residential units back into active use.
“And last month I personally helped repair the 23,000th pothole, part of a wide programme of road improvement measures. We’ve fixed the equivalent of more than 140 football pitches since May.
“And we’ve recently signed a new long-term contract with Ringway, marking the start of a new era for Kent’s highway services.
“And to finish I’d like to pay tributes to two members of KCC staff to whom we say goodbye and thank you.
“Paul Royel has been with the authority for a massive 39 years starting as a filing clerk and ending his career as Director of HR and OD. I’ve had the pleasure to work with Paul while chairing Personnel Committee so I’ve seen first-hand his in-depth knowledge and understanding of this place.
“He’s made an incredible contribution and Paul will be much missed for his leadership, advice and knowledgeable support.
“John Betts was with us for slightly less time as our Corporate Director Finance but his calm manner and collegiate, solution focussed approach ensured he has also added real value over the three years of his stay.
“We wish them both every happiness in their well-earned retirements!
“But someone who, I’m pleased to say is not retiring yet, is our Chief Executive Amanda Beer who has agreed to stay on to help us navigate whatever the near future and LGR might bring. Thank you Amanda, we are all delighted!”
ENDS
Note to editors
The agenda, reports pack and webcast of the meeting can be found here Agenda for County Council on Thursday, 18th December, 2025, 10am
