Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) in east Kent should be delivered by joining together the council areas covered by Folkestone & Hythe with those of Dover, Thanet, Ashford and Canterbury.
Under this recommendation, east Kent would become one of three unitary authorities in the county, each responsible for all council services for its residents and businesses. The other two would be west Kent and north Kent.
The three unitary option is one of five being proposed by councils for Kent and Medway and was agreed unanimously as the preferred choice by Folkestone & Hythe District Council’s Cabinet members at a meeting yesterday (Wednesday 19 November).
Other Kent councils are also meeting over the coming days to agree their preferred option before business cases for each are submitted to central government on 28 November. Draft business cases for all the options being considered for Kent and Medway can be viewed on the Kent Leaders website.
Council leader, Cllr Jim Martin said: “Over the last month Cllr Connor McConville and I have been visiting town and parish councils across the district and listening to local views on what future local government should look like in our part of Kent.
“LGR is quite simply an erosion of local democracy but we must look for the positives. What came across to us from the majority was that the three unitary option looks the best one for our district. The fire and police services and the NHS all support the three unitary option and it reflects the existing links we have with the other areas including where people travel to work or look to for further education or health care.”
Prior to Cabinet’s executive decision, all Folkestone & Hythe councillors had the opportunity to discuss the five models for local government reorganisation being put forward across the county. Of the 26 councillors present at the meeting, 22 voted in support of the three unitary option.
Early next year, the government is expected to lead consultation with all Kent residents on the preferred options for the delivery of council services.
Following consultation, a decision by the government on the final structure of unitary authorities in the county is expected in the summer.
The new model of local government would begin in April 2028 following a shadow working year for the unitary authorities.