Decision details

This matter concerns the Council’s response to the Government’s request that the council work together with other council’s in Kent to submit proposals for Local Government Reorganisation in Kent by the 21 March 2025.

Cabinet agreed the following:

1.   To approve in principle the proposed general submission on behalf of the Kent Councils for Local Government Reorganisation set out at Appendix 2 of the Cabinet report, and delegates authority to the Leader to agree any final amendments before submission on 21 March;

2.   To note the detailed additional submission related to possible geographical models for new Unitary Councils set out at Appendix 3 of the Cabinet report, as it is currently drafted, and agree, for the reasons set out in this report, that at this stage the Council should not be associated with this additional submission;

3.   To note that the Leader of the Council and the Chief Executive have, in accordance with their powers, sought to progress negotiations and develop the attached plan for LGR in the interests of the District;

4.   That the Leader of the Council and the Chief Executive continue to progress negotiations and the development of plans in order to be in a position to submit more detailed plans for LGR in accordance with the guidance set out in the letter referred to above from the Minister.

On 5 February 2025 all 14 leaders of Kent and Medway Council received a letter from the Government inviting proposals for Local Government Reform (LGR). Cabinet agreed with the recommendations above and that a positive response should be made with a general submission for LGR. Cabinet was of the view that further work needed to be undertaken before detailed submissions should be made to Government. Cabinet noted from the earlier extraordinary meeting of Full Council (held on the same day as the Cabinet meeting on 20 March 2025) that there appeared to be cross party consensus in relation to the recommendations above.

It was open to Cabinet to reject the recommendations, to propose amendments to one or both drafts for submission or to consider submitting the more detailed proposals in relation to proposal. Cabinet agreed that the outline proposals should be submitted but was of the clear view that further work needed to be done before more detailed proposals for LGR could be agreed upon and submitted.