Christopher Hespe

Devolution and Local Government Re-organisation Cabinet Committee - Tuesday, 30th September, 2025 10.30 am

The Devolution and Local Government Re-organisation Cabinet Committee met to discuss the ongoing collaborative work on local government reorganisation (LGR) across Kent and Medway, and to consider Kent County Council's (KCC) proposed position. The committee agreed to note the collaborative work to date and KCC's commitment to continued engagement, but did not support an amendment to oppose a single unitary authority for Kent and Medway. Members also discussed key financial statistics related to the reorganisation.

Personnel Committee - Member Appointment Panel - Friday, 19th September, 2025 10.30 am

The Personnel Committee - Member Appointment Panel of Kent Council met on 19 September 2025 to hold interviews for the position of Deputy Chief Executive. Prior to the interviews, the panel was scheduled to discuss a motion to exclude the press and public from the meeting due to the confidential nature of the information to be discussed.

County Council - Thursday, 18th September, 2025 10.00 am

Kent County Council met on 18 September 2025, for its third meeting of the Reform Administration, during which councillors debated a range of issues, including the council's strategic direction, environmental policies, and senior management structure. A key decision was made to rescind the council's climate emergency declaration, a move that sparked considerable debate. The meeting also saw discussions on improving services, managing the council's finances, and responding to urgent needs within the community.

Policy and Resources Cabinet Committee - Wednesday, 10th September, 2025 10.00 am

The Policy and Resources Cabinet Committee met to discuss a range of issues, including the performance of the Chief Executive's Department, reforms to local authority funding, and the future of the council's headquarters. A decision was made to designate Sessions House as the headquarters for Kent County Council (KCC) for its remaining lifespan, ceasing spending on Invicta House and putting it on the market.

Devolution and Local Government Re-organisation Cabinet Committee - Monday, 28th July, 2025 10.30 am

The Devolution and Local Government Reorganisation Cabinet Committee met to discuss and consider the KCC Options Appraisal and Criteria Assessment of Current Local Government Reorganisation Options, and to note the commitment from Kent County Council (KCC) to fully take part in the process to develop a shared options appraisal with partners. The committee also noted the commitment to bringing future papers to the committee and cabinet as the work progresses to inform the development of KCC's policy position and next steps. During the meeting, members raised concerns about public consultation, the financial implications of the proposals, and the potential impact on different areas within Kent.