Agenda item

Kent County Council's position on Local Government Reorganisation and next steps

Minutes:

  1. Mrs Kemkaran introduced the item, highlighting that the administration had identified that a single unitary council with three area assemblies was its preferred option for LGR in Kent and Medway.  

 

  1. Ms Dixon-Sherreard presented the report, during which she made the following key points: 
  1. KCC was developing its submission independently of the other Kent and Medway authorities, and was largely using in-house resources to complete the work.  
  1. The preferred option could offer the best value as it incorporated the cost benefits leveraged by having a large unitary, while retaining some locality connections through the three area assemblies.  
  1. KCC was working with KPMG to develop the financial case, this would ensure that it was comparable with the financial cases in the business cases developed by the other authorities.  
  1. The tight time scale limited public engagement; however, key stakeholders have been contacted, and a public survey had begun.   

 

  1. The Chair permitted Mr Kennedy and Mrs Russell to address the Committee about the item.  The following points were raised during and in response to their addresses: 
  1. There was a concern that a single unitary would create the largest council in Europe. Due to its size, it may struggle to represent and respond to the needs of residents at a local level.   
  1. The three area assemblies would be created at the same time as the unitary authority. 
  1. The costs of running the area assemblies would be calculated and included in the business case. 

 

  1. The following comments were made by the Committee during consideration of the item: 
  1. The loss of local Councillors and Councils could lead to a loss of local knowledge and local decision making.  
  1. It was important that the public understood that LGR was not a KCC initiative. 
  1. No other Kent or Medway authority Leader was in favour of the proposal to have a single unitary authority.  
  1. Three councils would have stronger democratic safeguards than area assemblies who could more easily be disempowered by an administration in the future.  
  1. A single unitary authority would enable tax equalisation across the whole area.  
  1. Officers deserved recognition for their effort in preparing the Administration’s position within such a short timescale. 

 

  1. The Officers provided the following responses to questions raised: 
  1. It was recognised that public awareness of LGR was very low.  The Kent Leaders agreed a joint communications campaign, administered through Canterbury City Council, to help ensure a consistent message was released.  So far, KCC had been very robust in steering the communications strategy and activity.    
  1. An official public consultation exercise would be co-ordinated by the Government ahead of making its decision.  KCC’s duty would be to publicise the consultation and encourage public participation.  
  1. The draft business case would include details about the structure of the proposed area assemblies.  
  1. Officers were currently looking at what constitutional protections could be extended to area assemblies.  The business case would include some protection recommendations; however, implementation of these protections would be at the discretion of the new unitary authority. 
  1. The business cases would enable people to make a direct comparison of the disaggregation costs of each option.  
  1. A single unitary authority would not meet the Government’s current requirements for devolution because there must be at least two constituent authorities involved.  
  1. Kent residents could be offered a referendum on LGR; however, it would cost around £3.5million and the Government would not be legally bound to act upon the result.   

 

  1. Mr Hook proposed and Mr Stepto seconded that the following amendment be added to the recommendations: 
  1. that the Cabinet Committee oppose the proposal for a single unitary authority for Kent and Medway.   

 

  1. Upon being put to the vote the amendment fell.  

 

  1. RESOLVED that the Cabinet Committee: 

 

  1. Note KCC’s position on the development of its business case for Local Government Reorganisation in Kent and Medway 
  1. Note the commitment from KCC to continue to take part in the joint work to support the development of a shared evidence base to inform the development of all business cases for Kent and Medway 
  1. Note the next steps to develop KCC’s business case by the government deadline. 

 

Supporting documents: