Devolution

The browser you are using is not supported or you do not have JavaScript enabled. Update your browser or enable JavaScript to view this video.

Roger Gough devolution update - view transcript

Following the English Devolution White Paper, published on 16 December 2024, inviting councils to apply for priority status, Kent County (KCC) Council and Medway Council have formally asked the government to be included in its Devolution Priority Programme (DPP). Read the jointly-signed request from the Leaders of Kent County Council and Medway Council (PDF, 189.5 KB) and the response they received from Minister Jim McMahon on 30 January (PDF, 67.1 KB).

Council leaders across Kent agreed 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.

KCC Cabinet decided on 9 January 2025 to proceed with a proposal for devolution with a combined authority for Kent and Medway, including an elected mayor. This followed an extraordinary meeting of full county council earlier that day, when the proposal was considered by KCC members.

However, on Wednesday 5 February 2025 the Leader of Kent County Council was told by Government that Kent and Medway had not been selected as one of the areas that would be part of its Devolution Priority Programme.

In his letter to Kent Leaders, Jim McMahon OBE, MP Minister of State for Local Government and English Devolution, said “I had to make a judgement of the best-placed areas to take forwards on the Programme according to our strict criteria, and, in the round, concluded your proposals could not be taken forward due to concerns about the size of the population disparity between the two proposed constituent members of your proposed Kent and Medway Combined County Authority and the consequential impact on its governance.

“I believe this will affect your readiness and ability to meet the delivery criteria of the White Paper, and that local government reorganisation would benefit your area before a mayoral institution is established.”

The Leader of Kent County Council, Roger Gough, has said he was ‘astonished and bitterly disappointed’ by the Government’s decision not to include Kent in its Devolution Priority Programme, and that the reason given was ‘confusing and insufficient.’ Read our media release responding to the government's decision.

What happens next?

Local elections in May 2025

Now that Kent will not be preparing for a mayoral election in 2026, the local elections on May 1 will go ahead as planned.

Reorganisation of local government

Even though Kent is currently not on the devolution programme, Government has told the county’s council leaders they must press ahead with their proposals for local government reorganisation, and that all two tier authorities should now make plans to merge to create single authorities, and make structures simpler and more efficient.

The leaders of KCC, Medway Council and all twelve district and borough councils in the county now have until 21 March to come up with an interim proposal as to how Kent and Medway could be divided into unitary authorities, with full proposals expected by 28 November.

Will devolution ever happen in Kent?

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.

Further information about devolution in Kent

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

Kent County Council media releases:

County council meetings and papers:

The government and devolution:

Subscribe to our newsletter

Get news, updates and information from us direct to your inbox.