Five possible futures: Councils lay out options for devolution

LOCAL councils have published the draft business cases to be considered as part of the national plans for Local Government Reform (LGR).

- By SIMON FINLAY

Under the plans, Kent County Council, Medway Council, and the county's 12 other city, borough, and district councils will be abolished and replaced with a smaller number of much larger unitary bodies.

Ahead of the November 28 deadline for submission, each local authority will decide which of five proposed options it prefers, although the Government will have the final say after public consultation with Kent residents.

Kent County Council currently provides major services including adult social care, highways, and schools, while the smaller councils deliver housing and bin collection.

After LGR, the unitary authorities will provide all services.

Two options were agreed on by the 14 affected councils in September, with the planning process funded by the Government, and three more proposals have been put forward by individual authorities.

Option one: Referred to as 3a, this would consist of three unitary authorities: north Kent, comprising Dartford, Gravesham, Medway, and Swale; west Kent, comprising Sevenoaks, Tonbridge and Malling, Maidstone, and Tunbridge Wells; and east Kent, comprising Ashford, Canterbury, Thanet, Dover, and Folkestone and Hythe.

Option two: Referred to as 4b, this would consist of four unitary authorities: north Kent, comprising Dartford, Gravesham, and Medway; west Kent, comprising Sevenoaks, Tonbridge and Malling, Maidstone, and Tunbridge Wells; mid Kent, comprising Swale, Ashford, and Folkestone and Hythe; and east Kent, comprising Canterbury, Thanet, and Dover.