Decision Maker: Cabinet

Outcome: Decision Made

Is Key Decision?: No

Is Callable In?: No

Date of Decision: March 20, 2025

Purpose: Following the release of the White Paper, the Minister of State for Local Government and English Devolution invited council leaders to submit bids for the Devolution Priority Programme (DPP). Although Kent and Medway councils applied to join the DPP for mayoral devolution, their bid was unsuccessful. Instead, on 5 February, they were invited to submit a proposal for Local Government Reorganisation. Interim plans are due by 21 March 2025, with full proposals required by 28 November 2025.

Content: RESOLVED –   That the invitation received from the Minister for Local Government to work with other councils in Kent to submit a proposal for local government reorganisation be noted.   That the contents of the draft interim submission that has been drafted in response to the invitation and which has provisionally been agreed by other council leaders be noted.   That the Leader is minded to submit an additional, supplementary submission (alongside a number of other councils) which provides more detail on possible unitary geographies and associated demographic, geographic and financial information and an assessment of these models against the criteria agreed by Kent Council leaders and the Government’s established assessment criteria for unitary local government be noted.   That Delegated authority be given to the Leader of the Council in consultation with the Chief Executives to amend and submit a final submission jointly with other Kent and Medway principal authorities as per the request from government in the invitation letter dated 5 February 2025 including determining whether to submit a supplementary submission which provides further data and information on possible unitary geographies be approved.   CALL-IN AND URGENCY In accordance with the provisions Of Overview and Scrutiny Procedure Rule 14 in Part 4 of the Constitution, the Chairman of Overview and Scrutiny gave prior agreement that this decision was urgent and would not be subject to call-in as delay would seriously prejudice the Council’s or the public’s interest.   REASON FOR DECISION: To meet the deadline set by Central Government to submit an interim plan ahead of a more detailed proposal later in 2025.