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Local Government Reorganisation and devolution

The Government has announced its decision on the future structure of local government in Kent and Medway, which will see all existing councils abolished and replaced by 4 unitary councils (Option 4B) from 1 April 2028.

Kent County Council (KCC) has been clear throughout this process that local government reorganisation was not something we sought, and we did not believe it represented the best use of taxpayers' money. However, once the Government invited councils to develop proposals, we engaged fully in the process and made the strongest possible case for Kent and Medway.

KCC's preferred proposal was Option 1A, which was agreed by Full Council on 6 November. We believed this option offered the strongest foundation for effective local leadership, sustainable services and long-term financial resilience for residents across Kent and Medway.

While the Government has now made its decision, there remains a significant amount of detail to understand about how the new arrangements will be implemented, the governance arrangements that will be required and the timescales involved.

There will be no immediate changes to services. KCC will continue operating as normal and our focus remains firmly on delivering the services residents rely on every day, while supporting our workforce through the changes ahead.

Further information is available:

Devolution in Kent and Medway - the story so far

While Kent and Medway were not selected as one of the areas to be a part of the government’s Devolution Priority Programme, devolution is still a possibility for Kent and Medway. This would see a mayor elected and a strategic mayoral authority sitting above these new unitary council structures with funding and decision-making power moving from Whitehall to a devolved area.

The UK Government says it remains committed to supporting all areas of the country on a path towards devolution, and will build on the ‘enthusiasm and consensus’ that Kent and Medway have shown.

Council leaders across Kent agree that a devolution deal would give people across Kent a stronger voice in how national decisions affect them and let local councils make important decisions closer to where residents live and work.

Public consultation

Government ministers ran a public consultation about the future number of councils in Kent and Medway and the areas they should cover between 5 February and 26 March 2026.

For more information, including the detailed explanations for each option, visit the Kent Council Leaders website.

Business case for single unitary authority

On 28 November 2025, we submitted our Strategic Business Case for Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) in Kent and Medway to Government. The proposal sets out our preferred option for a single unitary authority - the Kent Council - designed to simplify local government, strengthen services, and deliver better value for residents.

Previous LGR documents

Interim plan

Feedback from the government

On 15 May 2025, the government provided feedback on our interim plan. Read the feedback (PDF, 226.9 KB).

Read more about LGR policy and programme updates.

Further information

For more information, read our answers to your questions or follow the links below.

Kent County Council media releases:

County council meetings and papers:

Government and devolution: