Issue - meetings

The Leader of the Council introduced the report and stated that the Council had been invited to submit proposals for Local Government Reorganisation in Kent, and that the first submission deadline was on Friday 21 March 2025, with full proposals to be submitted by late November 2025. The two sections of the proposed submission were outlined, the foundation interim plan in Appendix B to the report which was supported by all Kent local authorities, and a supplementary submission in Appendix C which included additional data and geographic analysis, and was supported by several Kent local authorities. An expression to align the new local authorities with other public services, including health and care partnerships, was made.

The Chief Executive further clarified that Local Government Reorganisation had been proposed in the English Devolution White Paper in December 2024 and was intended to improve efficiency and effectiveness within local governments, and introduce strategic mayoral authorities as part of devolution. The criteria the Government was using to assess the proposals was highlighted and that while there was not unanimous support for a single proposal, it was emphasised that the options for reorganisation had been narrowed and a foundation proposal could be submitted.

The Committee expressed support for the proposals but questioned which model of unitaries would be more likely to be agreed and which models would be best economically for Maidstone. Concerns were also raised about how much consultation members of the public would be allowed on the issue.

In response to questions the Leader of the Council stated that as the proposed unitary authorities would be based off existing local authority boundaries and that it was a complex geographical picture, some existing local authority boundaries including Swale and Medway could be considered in different unitary authorities. It was recognised that the economy of Maidstone was more congruent with Tonbridge and Malling, and Medway, opposed to authorities in South East Kent.

The Chief Executive confirmed that a consultation on the proposals would be conducted in the summer by the central Government, and that both the functional and health economic areas had been identified as factors to align with in a new authority, but the Council was still at a formative stage of the reorganisation process.

The Committee thanked officers for the report and the work conducted on the proposals so far.

RESOLVED to RECOMMEND to CABINET: That

1.  The statutory invitation to councils in Kent to put forward a proposition for Local Government Reorganisation across the county including the guidance, criteria and timescales for this submission is noted;

2.  The progress on development of a Kent proposition for local government reorganisation is noted;

3.  The proposed Interim Plan Submission as set out in appendix B is agreed;

4.  The proposed Supplementary Submission as set out in Appendix C is agreed;

5.  Subject to recommendations 3 and 4 being agreed, the Cabinet agrees to give delegated authority to the Chief Executive in consultation with the Leader of the Council to consider and agree any further  ...  view the full minutes text for item 79