Issue - meetings

David Whittle (Director of Strategy, Policy, Relationships and Corporate Assurance) and Jenny Dixon-Sherreard (Strategy Manager, Strategy, Policy, Relationships & Corporate Assurance) were in attendance for this item

1. The Leader introduced the item, presenting the final version of Kent County Council’s Strategic Business Case for Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) in Kent and Medway for Cabinet approval, prior to submission to Government by the 28 November deadline.

2. The Leader reiterated that KCC had not sought LGR but, as Government was progressing with the process, the Council had a responsibility to ensure any reorganisation delivered maximum benefit for Kent residents and minimised risk.

3. The Strategic Business Case proposed a single Kent and Medway Council with devolved area assemblies as the most viable option. This model was identified as the lowest cost to implement, the fastest to achieve payback, the highest net saver, and the fairest to communities. The proposal maintained Kent’s integrity as a single county, avoided risks associated with fragmenting critical services such as social care, and preserved the scale needed to manage pressures linked to Kent’s border location.

4. It balanced strategic capacity with local responsiveness and offered a modern approach to meaningful engagement and representation. The Leader acknowledged that the LGR process was not perfect and would require compromises but confirmed that, based on evidence from internal work and joint discussions with Kent council leaders, the single unitary model set out in the Strategic Business Case remained the most viable option for Kent and Medway.

5. Mr Whittle recorded his thanks to Mrs Dixon-Sherreard, the Policy and Strategy team, Kent Analytics, Financial Strategy, MRX, and other teams for their work in developing KCC’s Strategic Business Case for Local Government Reorganisation (LGR). He noted that the process, which began last December, had been complex and significant, given its long-term impact on services and residents.

6. He highlighted that KCC had met all Government expectations, working jointly with Kent council leaders and facilitating the LGR workstream. The Strategic Business Case was transparently cross-comparable with other options and based on a shared evidence base, including financial assessments. Members had been fully briefed throughout, with updates to the Cabinet Committee, party groups, and County Council.

7. Mr Whittle confirmed that Option 1A remained the most viable proposal, offering the lowest implementation cost, fastest payback (3.3 years), and highest cumulative savings (£457m over 10 years). He contrasted this with other options, which had significantly higher costs and longer payback periods. He stressed that the financial case was particularly strong given current pressures and that the chosen option would affect the sector’s long-term sustainability.

8. If approved, the business case would be submitted to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG), after which the process would be led by Government through consultation, decision-making, and legislation. Mr Whittle suggested Cabinet consider sharing the business case with other departments, such as the Department for Education, Department for Transport, and the Home Office, due to potential wider impacts.

9. Mrs Dixon-Sherreard reported that the business case had been finalised for Cabinet approval following  ...  view the full minutes text for item 119