Issue details

Proposed decision

• CONFIRM the cessation of Kent County Council’s role as host authority for Active Kent & Medway (AKM).and the conclusion of the current hosting arrangements.

• APPROVE the transition arrangements to support a transfer of functions, resource and staffing to an independent legal entity.

• DELEGATE AUTHORITY to the Corporate Director for Growth, Environment and Transport and the Director of Public Health, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Community and Regulatory Services and the Cabinet Member for Public Health, to implement the necessary arrangements arising from the cessation of hosting, and to take other relevant actions, including but not limited to finalising the terms of and entering into required contracts or other legal agreements, as necessary to implement the decision.

Reason for the decision

To enable AKM to move from a hosted arrangement to a fit-for-purpose independent legal entity that can strengthen its strategic leadership, secure and manage future investment directly, develop more agile governance, and continue to deliver improved outcomes for residents across Kent and Medway. The decision also ensures that KCC’s current hosting arrangements are concluded in a planned, lawful and orderly manner.

Background

Active Kent and Medway is Sport England’s recognised Active Partnership for Kent and Medway and is part of the national network of organisations working to tackle inactivity and inequalities. In this role, AKM provides strategic leadership across Kent and Medway and works with partners to support Sport England’s wider aims.

Active Kent & Medway (AKM) is currently hosted by Kent County Council (KCC), which acts as the accountable body for the receipt and administration of Sport England funding. An existing Key Decision is in place to cover KCC hosting AKM until March 2027. This arrangement will cease at that point, with no successor hosting model currently in place.

The AKM Advisory Board has recommended that Active Kent and Medway transitions to an independent legal entity because this provides the strongest long-term platform for AKM to fulfil its role as the recognised Active Partnership for Kent and Medway. Independence will allow AKM to operate with clearer organisational identity and accountability, strengthen its ability to act as the accountable body for future Sport England investment, make decisions more quickly and flexibly, and develop the partnerships, funding opportunities and delivery models needed to increase physical activity and reduce inequalities across the area.

Local government reorganisation is also a relevant contextual consideration, but it is not the primary driver for independence. The central rationale is to establish a sustainable and resilient operating model for AKM which preserves the single, countywide Active Partnership mandate, maintains continuity for Sport England and local partners, and avoids the risk of future hosting arrangements becoming dependent on any one possible local government structure.

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How the proposed decision supports Reforming Kent’s Future (2025-28)

The proposed transition supports Reforming Kent’s Future by enabling AKM to move into a more sustainable, agile and accountable operating model, while continuing to provide strategic leadership on physical activity, health improvement and reducing inequalities across Kent and Medway. As an independent legal entity, AKM will be better positioned to retain Sport England recognition and investment, strengthen partnership working with local authorities, health, education, voluntary sector and community partners, and maximise the impact of external funding for residents. The proposal also supports good governance by providing a clear route to conclude KCC’s hosting role while protecting continuity of delivery and avoiding reliance on any future local government structure as the basis for AKM’s operating model.