There were none.

a)     Local Government Reorganisation – interim plan

The Chairman allowed Members reading time of the tabled Special Cabinet Minute reference, which had also considered the Interim Plan.

The report set out that on the 5 February 2025, the Minister for Local Government and English Devolution wrote to Councils in all remaining two-tier areas of the country to formally invite them to develop proposals for local government reorganisation. Across Kent, the District and Borough Councils, alongside Medway and Kent County Council, were required to make a full proposal for local government reorganisation (LGR) by 28 November 2025 and provide an interim update by 21 March 2025.

It was anticipated that there would be a single tier of local authority covering two or more districts, and thus there would be more than one unitary council established across the Kent and Medway area, potentially with three or four unitary Councils in total. It was expected by Government that every effort was made to submit one joint proposal across Kent and Medway by 28 November 2025.

It was highlighted that a key requirement was to aim for a population of 500,000 or more for each new unitary authority council and that existing districts should be considered the building blocks for proposals. The Interim Plan was considered as a starting point with significantly more work to follow to develop full proposals, which would be subject to comprehensive engagement and consultation, before a full proposal is drafted for consideration in advance of the 28 November deadline. In accordance with the requirements of the letter from the Minister engagement would take place later this year with residents, businesses, council employees, Town & Parish Councils and other local partners and stakeholders including MP’s, the Police & Crime Commissioner, the Fire and Rescue Authority and the voluntary sector.

Government had also been clear that any debt held by existing councils would not be addressed centrally and would not be written-off as part of the reorganisation process.

Cllr Hogarth moved and it was duly seconded by Cllr Perry Cole that the update on the Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) process and the interim plan as set out in Appendix B and C to the report, be noted.

Cllr Hogarth spoke to the motion, stating that the interim plan was not even the starting point to LGR, but merely a response to a letter from the Minister of Local Government and English Devolution for further consideration to be taken before any more information was known in regards to the Council’s future. He highlighted that the time frame before the response required was very short when it also needed to represent the consensus of Leaders of 13 other Council’s across Kent and Medway.

If the submission was accepted then more interesting, exciting and substantial efforts would take place in advance of a final submission in November 2025.

Members discussed the motion, and Cllr Leaman moved an amendment to add “Council also affirms that as it prepares a full proposal for submission to government by 28th  ...  view the full minutes text for item 101.