In the biggest shake up of local authority arrangements in 50 years, the government is replacing Kent County Council, Medway Council and the 12 district, borough and city councils that currently deliver services in the county with four new unitary councils.
Those councils will deliver all of the services in their area, much like Medway Council does today, including education, social services, highways, libraries, emptying bins, leisure centres and housing services.
Option 4B means Kent will be split into four unitary councils
Following a government consultation which attracted around 3,000 responses, the Secretary of State has opted for:
Option 4B
- a unitary council covering the areas currently served by Dartford, Gravesham and Medway in the north
- a unitary council covering the areas currently served by Sevenoaks, Tonbridge and Malling, Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells in the west
- a unitary council covering the areas currently served by Swale, Ashford and Folkestone and Hythe in the middle of Kent
- a unitary council covering the areas currently served by Canterbury, Thanet and Dover in the east
“The Government has now made its decision and we will take the time needed to review the detail.”
Kent County Council's preferred proposal was Option 1A. Reacting to the Government's announcement, Leader of Kent County Council, Linden Kemkaran, said: "The Government has today set out its preferred approach for local government reorganisation in Kent and Medway, carving up Kent into four unitaries.
"This is not the option Kent County Council supported.
"We have been clear throughout this process about the option we believed would provide the strongest foundation for sustainable services, financial resilience and the long-term interests of Kent residents. That position was based on detailed evidence and analysis and remains our view.
"The Government has now made its decision and we will take the time needed to review the detail and understand exactly what it means for Kent, including how the new arrangements would be implemented and the timescales involved.
"Whatever structure is ultimately taken forward, our focus remains the same – delivering services for residents, supporting our workforce through the changes ahead and ensuring people continue to receive the support they rely on every day."
You can read the background to local government reorganisation here.
