Your councils – change is coming
The government has asked councils in Kent and Medway to look at how they deliver services, and to consider doing things differently.
This is part of the biggest proposed change to local government in nearly 50 years. The aim is to replace the current two-tier system with a unitary council structure.
These councils would each serve around 500,000 people and be responsible for all local services in their area.
This process is known as Local Government Reorganisation (LGR).
Have your say on how councils in Kent and Medway are organised
Government ministers have launched a consultation on the future number of councils in Kent and Medway and the areas they should cover.
Take part in the government’s consultation
The deadline for responses is 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.
For more information about the process, visit the Kent Council Leaders website.
What could change?
At the moment, Kent County Council provides some services (like education, social care and highways), while we (your borough council) provides others, such as bin collections and planning.
Under the proposed changes, unitary councils would take on all of these responsibilities in one place, similar to how Medway Council already operates.
The government believes this would make things simpler for residents and more efficient overall.
If the changes go ahead, Kent County Council, Medway Council and the 12 district and borough councils would be replaced by a smaller number of new unitary councils.
Those new unitary councils could start delivering services from April 2028.
What’s happening now?
All the councils involved are working together to explore how this could work, including how many unitary councils there should be and what areas they would cover.
They’re being supported by independent advisors, KPMG, to make sure the plans meet government requirements and are backed by strong evidence.
What’s the timeline?
- 21 March 2025 – Kent and Medway submitted their initial plans to government.
- 28 November 2025 – Full proposals and a business case must be submitted.
After that, the government will decide how many unitary councils there should be and what areas they will cover.
If approved, the new councils could begin delivering services from April 2028.
On 15 May 2025, the government provided feedback on our interim plan. Details of this can be found at Kent Council Leaders.
What does this mean for you?
Right now, nothing is changing. Your services will continue as normal.
We’ll keep you updated as things progress.
Councils involved
- Ashford Borough Council
- Canterbury City Council
- Dartford Borough Council
- Dover District Council
- Folkestone & Hythe District Council
- Gravesham Borough Council
- Kent County Council
- Maidstone Borough Council
- Medway Council
- Sevenoaks District Council
- Swale Borough Council
- Thanet District Council
- Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council
- Tunbridge Wells Borough Council
Key milestones so far
- 16 December 2024 – the government publishes its English Devolution White Paper outlining how they want councils to change
- 16 December 2024 – the government writes to councils in Kent outlining the white paper’s key points and invites them to be part of the government’s Devolution Priority Programme
- 10 January 2025 – councils in Kent and Medway request to be part of the government’s Devolution Priority Programme
- 5 February 2025 – the government announces which areas will be taken forward into the Devolution Priority Programme. Kent and Medway are not included
- 5 February 2025 – Minister Jim McMahon formally asks councils in Kent and Medway to work together to formulate an interim plan for local government reorganisation
- 21 March 2025 – Kent and Medway send a covering letter and their interim plan to ministers
- 15 May 2025 – the government gives its feedback on the interim plan
- 10 July 2025 – the government publishes its English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill which is designed to turn the proposals in its white paper into law
- 25 July 2025 – the government summarises the local government reorganisation process
- 3 September 2025 – councils in Kent and Medway confirm options to be developed for full business cases
- 29 October – public survey report is published, following councils seeking views from residents and stakeholders
- 5 November 2025 – councils in Kent and Medway publish draft business cases for new councils
- 28 November 2025 – councils in Kent and Medway submit proposals for new councils to government