Pausing council reorganisation an 'omnishambles'

The decision to pause plans to reorganise local councils across Kent in light of new legal advice has provoked a strong reaction from the county's political leaders.

Under the Labour government's proposals, Kent County Council (KCC), the county's district and borough councils and Medway Council, were due to be replaced by new unitary authorities.

But elections in May 2027 will now go ahead with existing council boundaries, meaning the existing councils will have to prepare for elections.

Conservative leader of Dartford Borough Council, Jeremy Kite, declared the news an "omnishambles", while Labour's Vince Maple, leader of Medway Council, said it was "disappointing" but tempered his criticism.

Kite told BBC Radio Kent: "It's a humongous embarrassment. I've been a council leader for more than 20 years, and I've never seen such an omnishambles as we're witnessing at the minute.

"Even if you're a non-partisan observer, you have to accept that this is a huge embarrassment and a huge error on the part of the government."

The leader accused the government of creating "a sense of chaos".

Maple says he accepts the "frustrations are real and genuine" but argues the "vast majority" of Kent residents agree with the "premise" of local government reorganisation (LGR).

He said: "We were always due to have elections in 2027, it's just the name at the top of the ballot paper has changed."

The Medway Council leader did criticise the timing of the legal advice which prompted the pause.

"Why is that legal advice coming at the 11th hour?," he asked.

The Reform leader of KCC, Linden Kemkaran, previously told the BBC that she was "in shock".

Kemkaran, a consistent opponent of LGR, said: "I have always thought it was a waste of time and money.

"I wish I knew what this means for Kent County Council – it leaves us in limbo."

She said the uncertainty was unfair on KCC staff and described the government as "shambolic".

Green group leader at KCC, Mark Hood, added: "A programme nobody voted for and nobody asked for, now nobody in Kent is likely to see it delivered."

The leader questioned how much this "fiasco" had cost council tax payers.

On Monday in the House of Commons, Dartford MP Jim Dickson queried how struggling KCC services could be supported during the review.

Secretary of State Angela Rayner says she wants to ensure "no communities are left behind".

She told MPs that "in light of legal advice, I want to satisfy myself firstly that the right process is in place, that it is robust, and of course complies with the law".

She added: "And secondly, I want to fully test whether our proposals for local government reorganisation meet the priorities of a new administration and a new prime minister and any additional considerations."

While Rayner acknowledged the announcement was "disappointing" she insisted the government was "determined more than ever to devolve power closer to the people we represent" - a key priority of new PM Andy Burnham.

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