Protests at Council Changes

Under the current proposals, a mayor could be in place in Kent by May 2026 and polls taking place for the unitaries a year later or in 2028.

The government deadline for the devolution priority list applications is January 10.

A White Paper was launched in December by Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner which was dubbed a “Devolution Revolution”.

The government wants to simplify the way local councils are run and hand down more powers and responsibilities to communities.

The new model would aim to promote greater efficiency and drive down costs.

Kent hopes to be given increased powers and more money to provide better services to the tax-payer.

The decision to apply for the devolution priority programme (DPP) was ratified by KCC’s cabinet this afternoon after a four hour extraordinary meeting of full council earlier today.

During an impassioned and sometimes fractious debate, members of the opposition sought to make amendments, especially on delaying the KCC elections this May.

But leader of the Conservative administration, Cllr Roger Gough (below) argued that devolution and council reorganisation is going to happen under the government plans.

He told members: “Devolution – that is what will bring us the powers, that is what will bring us the funding, that is what will bring us the national voice and that is what we should focus on.”

Later he added: “The destination is very clear – it is a mayoral strategic authority and local government reorganisation. The challenges are enormous…and we have a huge responsibility to get that right for our residents.”

Cllr Gough said the mayor role is not “a one person dictatorship” but a partnership with the new unitary authorities.

Deputy KCC leader Peter Oakford (below) told members: “Kent residents are relying on the experienced councillors in this room to represent them, do what is best for Kent and the best for its residents.

“We don’t have a choice. Devolution and local government reorganisation is coming and (the) government have already set the rules. Kent in my opinion…must be at the forefront and help to shape this.”

Cllr Oakford said the suggestion all the power will go to one person, the mayor, is “totally incorrect” as there will be elected members of the unitary authorities.

He added: “Unitary authorities remove the two tier confusion for our residents and has the authority to provide services to all residents at a lower cost and with greater efficiency.”

Later as he addressed his cabinet colleagues, Cllr Oakford sounded a note of caution.

He said: “The government has an idea of where it wants to start, it has an idea where it wants to be at the end but there is an awful lot in the middle that it hasn’t been thought through.”

Cranbrook Conservative Cllr Sean Holden (below) launched an excoriating attack on the direction of travel facing the council if it is accepted on the DPP.

He told members: “Despite anything we say here, by a cabinet decision of one tenth of the elected members, KCC will go along with Labour government plans to abolish it early to get Kent into the first devolution phase, meaning we get an all-powerful mayor.

“These London-style mayors are elective dictatorships.  Labour’s plans to cancel May’s elections symbolise the democratic shortfall of that system.

“Mayors are not accountable to an assembly. They can’t be removed between elections no matter how incompetent or venal, unlike council leaders or even Prime Ministers.

“They can be made government stooges much more easily than 81 (KCC) councillors.

“Labour purports to streamline government by removing one layer in the unlamented districts. But it puts another, unaccountable, layer straight in over our heads.

“Democracy should not be shoved aside with cancelled elections because it’s a bit of nuisance for bureaucrats. Let them work around it.  While Kent County Council is a lawful authority it should stand by its regular elections, even if for a shortened term.”

His words were echoed in the chamber by independent councillors Mike Baldock and Barry Lewis.

Cllr Baldock said: “There’s an old saying that fools rush in and that’s what seems to be happening here. It’s quite simple, we are asking for you not to ask (the government) for the election to be cancelled.

“Don’t rush forward. Get it right.”

Tory Cllr Lottie Parfitt said the staff and officers must be supported in the future through a “great deal of change and uncertainty”.

But she begged her colleagues to “search their souls” to make a decision that is best for Kent.

Labour’s Karen Constantine said council workers in Kent are suffering “worry and anxiety” and she is working with unions, hoping there are no compulsory redundancies but secure enhanced severance arrangements for those who do lose their jobs.

Fellow Tory Sue Chandler said she can see the benefits of the new arrangements in securing better outcomes issues such as transport and employment.

Liberal Democrat Ian Chittenden said the Tories were looking for a postponement of the KCC elections in May was the “only way they could retain power”.

The loss of second tier borough and district authorities meant the role of the parish and town councils would become more important, said Thanet councillor, Tory Ros Binks.

She told colleagues: “Most people don’t care what sort of council we have as long as it works.”

Highways and transport chief Cllr Neil Baker said the new arrangement could lead to better roads, eased congestion, ring-fenced budgets and enhanced public transport.

Cllr Baker said there will be people who will mourn the traditions that will be lost with the abolition of borough and district councils but noted “traditions are innovations that caught on”.

Councillors of all parties were asked to endorse ongoing work by all councils on devolution; to endorse the fast track approach under the government’s devolution priority programme; to note that mayoral elections may take place in May 2026 and that the KCC election in May might be postponed, subject to a ministerial decision.

There were 39 in favour, 18 against and one abstention.

Later the KCC cabinet unanimously agreed to request, along with Medway Council, to be included in the Devolution Priority Programme and to seek permission to postpone the KCC election in May.