Council sends proposals for new unitary councils to ministers
Proposals for the number of new councils needed for Kent and Medway and the geographical area they should cover have been submitted to the Government today, Friday 28 November 2025, by councils across the county.
This is the latest step in Local Government Reorganisation in Kent; the Government’s biggest shake up of local councils in 50 years. Minsters asked councils to come up with proposals to create a number of unitary councils that would deliver all council services in one area.
In a letter accompanying the proposals from Tunbridge Wells Borough Council, Leader Ben Chapelard set out why the Council’s preferred option is 3a, which would see Sevenoaks, Tonbridge and Malling, Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells become one of three new unitary councils in Kent.
Councillor Ben Chapelard said: ‘I strongly believe that the three unitary council model we have submitted gives Kent the best chance to deliver a transformative agenda for our residents and businesses. Specifically, it would lead to three councils with the right size and resources to respond the residents’ growing needs for council services. The new council areas would fit in neatly with other public services areas such as the NHS, police and fire services to encourage much closer collaboration. It would also deliver a sense of belonging – aligning new council structures with residents’ natural sense of place.’
Read Councillor Chapelard’s letter in full.
During November, councillors across the Kent and Medway met to decide their preferred option from the proposals.
Option 1a - Single Unitary
The proposal for a single unitary council covering Kent and Medway to include three area assemblies covering the north, east and west of the county has been supported by:
- Kent County Council
Option 3a - Three Unitaries
The three unitary option consisting of Dartford, Gravesham, Medway and Swale in the north; Sevenoaks, Tonbridge and Malling, Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells in the west and Ashford, Canterbury, Thanet, Dover and Folkestone and Hythe in the east has been supported by:
- Folkestone & Hythe District Council
- Maidstone Borough Council
- Sevenoaks District Council
- Tonbridge & Malling Borough Council
- Tunbridge Wells Borough Council
Option 4b - Four Unitaries
The four unitary council option which stuck to existing boundaries and consisted of Dartford, Gravesham and Medway in the north; Sevenoaks, Tonbridge and Malling, Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells in the west; Swale, Ashford and Folkestone and Hythe in the middle of Kent and Canterbury, Thanet and Dover in the east has been supported by:
- Dover District Council
- Swale Borough Council
- Thanet District Council
Option 4d - Four Unitaries
Option 4d would reorganise Kent and Medway into four new unitary councils.
North Kent would bring together Medway, Gravesham, Dartford, most of Swale, and small parts of Tonbridge & Malling and Maidstone.
East Kent would combine Canterbury, Thanet, Dover, eastern Swale and part of Folkestone & Hythe.
West Kent would unite Tunbridge Wells, Tonbridge & Malling and Sevenoaks.
Mid Kent would cover Maidstone, Ashford, southern Swale, parts of Tonbridge & Malling and part of Folkestone & Hythe.
It has been supported by:
- Ashford Borough Council
- Canterbury City Council
- Medway Council
Option 5a - Five Unitaries
Option 5a proposes five unitary authorities for Kent.
It would see a council for north west Kent that would take in the existing Gravesham and Dartford boroughs and Swanley which currently sits under Sevenoaks District Council.
It would also extend eastwards, taking in areas currently under Medway Council up to the River Medway, and southwards to Snodland.
Mid Kent would be formed of the rest of Medway and the rest of Swale.
West Kent would combine Sevenoaks, excluding Swanley, Tonbridge & Malling, Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells.
East Kent would be made up of the Faversham part of Swale, Canterbury and Thanet.
South Kent would combine Ashford, Folkestone & Hythe and Dover.
It has been supported by:
- Dartford Borough Council
- Gravesham Borough Council
In the new year, the Government is expected to carry out public consultation with all Kent residents on the preferred options.
A decision by the Government on the final structure of unitary councils is expected in the summer.
Devolution request
As well as submitting proposals for Local Government Reorganisation all 14 of Kent and Medway’s council leaders have put their political differences to one side to urge the government to deliver devolution for the county and avoid it becoming a ‘devolution desert’.
Today (Friday 28 November), as well as submitting the proposals for Local Government Reorganisation they wrote to ministers calling on them to let Kent and Medway take more control of its own destiny by allowing decision-making and money to flow from the corridors of power in Whitehall to the Garden of England.
Devolution would lead to the creation of a strategic authority for Kent and Medway tackling countywide challenges and securing a seat at the table of the government’s recently-created Council of the Nations and Regions.
The letter says: “As a diverse set of leaders representing six different political parties, we are absolutely united that, for our residents, Kent requires a seat at the devolution table".
You can read the proposals and associated business cases for Local Government Reorganisation in full here: https://kentcouncilleaders.org.uk/
Read more about Local Government Reorganisation and Tunbridge Wells Borough Council here: https://tunbridgewells.gov.uk/council/local-government-reorganisation
