Have your say on the way councils in Kent are organised
Government ministers have launched a consultation on the future number of councils in Kent and Medway and the areas they should cover.
They want to hear your views on the biggest proposed shake up of local government in 50 years.
Ministers asked councils to come up with plans to create unitary councils in a process known as local government reorganisation (LGR).
Under the current system Kent County Council (KCC) delivers some services such as education, social services and roads, and district or borough councils deliver others like emptying your bins and providing housing services.
Under the proposed system, a much smaller number of unitary councils would deliver all council services in one area. Medway Council operates in that way today.
Councils across Kent and Medway have worked together to draw up a series of options for the number of unitaries needed and what areas they should cover.
In a joint statement, council leaders in Kent and Medway, said: ‘Our councils are your councils and it is important you have your say on their future and how they deliver vital services.
‘We’ve worked really closely together to pull together the evidence to support a number of options for the people of Kent and Medway so everyone can make an informed decision.
‘Each council has nailed its colours to the mast of a particular option and explained why.
‘It’s now over to you and organisations throughout Kent and Medway to help ministers make an informed decision.’
Councillor Ben Chapelard said:
‘As the leader of TWBC, I should be opposed to Local Government Reorganisation. The reality of LGR is that it will abolish a council I care deeply about and am proud to lead. However, Kent’s current two-tier system of local government is past its sell-by date. It is clunky, it is confusing, and it actively prevents us from tackling the complex challenges our communities face today. Local Government Reorganisation is about seizing the chance to unleash the full potential of our public sector.’
To take part in the government’s consultation, visit the ‘Proposals for local government reorganisation in Kent and Medway’ open consultation page on the GOV.UK website.
The deadline for responses is 11.59pm on Thursday 26 March 2026.
Once the consultation closes, the civil servants and ministers will consider everyone’s responses alongside the evidence that has been presented to them.
A decision on which option ministers have chosen is likely to be announced in the summer.
