All Decisions

Formal consideration of the independent business case for establishing a new single district council in East Kent.

Cabinet recommended that Council resolve:

1.  That having considered the business case it becomes the policy of this Council to explore further the abolition of the local government district areas of Canterbury, Dover, Shepway and Thanet and the constitution of a new local government district area of East Kent comprising the areas of those districts.

2.  That the unspent balance of the £20,000 previously agreed by the Council to fund the preparation of the business case be made available to fund a consultation and public engagement exercise

3.  That the Cabinet be requested to ensure an appropriate consultation and public engagement exercise is undertaken to ascertain views on the proposal set out in 1 above.

4.  That a further report be submitted to the Council prior to the making of any submission to the Secretary of state.

Items 1 to 4 above are for contextual information only.

Thereafter Cabinet agreed the following:

1.  To request that Canterbury City Council undertake a public and stakeholder consultation and engagement exercise to ascertain views on the proposal set out in 1 above that can be taken into account by the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government in deciding to make regulations under the Cities and Local Government Devolution Act 2016.

2.  That the Council will contribute to Canterbury City Council one quarter of the cost of undertaking the consultation referred to in 2 above.

3.  That the Leader be requested, to establish the proposed governance structure for the project, as set out in Section 5 (Management Case) in the business case.

To drawdown funding to cover one off expenditure.  That expenditure being £68,500 for retention of the current external Project Director.