The feedback acknowledged the positive partnership working by the 12 borough and district councils, Medway Council and Kent County Council to shape high-quality and sustainable services that best respond to the needs of residents and provide better value for money.
Government welcomed the initial thinking on the options for LGR in Kent and Medway, recognising that proposals are at an early stage and further analysis is planned in the run-up to final submissions in the autumn.
The feedback also included recognition of the geographically important position of Kent as the gateway to Europe, adding that this will necessitate unique considerations for LGR within the Kent and Medway area.
The reorganisation of councils in Kent and Medway will mean councils in their current form will be replaced by unitary authorities with responsibility for all services across a wider geographical area.
There is much more work to be done to build comprehensive business cases for submission by the Government’s 28 November deadline. A key part of that process will be a public awareness campaign to ensure residents and businesses fully understand the potential changes that LGR will bring.
While Kent and Medway were not selected as one of the areas to be a part of the government’s Devolution Priority Programme, all of the county’s council leaders have been asked to work on proposals for LGR.
This would mean merging the current two-tier councils, including county, district and borough, to make a smaller number of larger single unitary authorities, structures the government says would be simpler and more efficient.
Interim proposals from KCC, Medway Council and all 12 district and borough councils were submitted in March, with full proposals expected by 28 November.
The feedback from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government will be published on the Kent County Council website later this week.
You can find out more about LGR in Kent and Medway by visiting Local Government Reorganisation and devolution - Kent County Council
