Devolution

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The Leader, Roger Gough talks about devolution. Read the video transcript.

Following the English Devolution White Paper, published on 20 December 2024, inviting councils to apply for priority status, Kent County Council and Medway Council have formally asked the government to be included its Devolution Priority Programme (DPP). Read the jointly-signed request from the Leaders of Kent County Council and Medway Council (PDF, 189.5 KB).

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, after significant engagement with district and borough council leaders.

The government’s 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.

The government says the benefits of devolution would include:

a stronger transport network based on local needs
investment to put priorities of local businesses first
a skills base suited to business needs
development of more homes and infrastructure.

Proposal for a combined authority and an elected mayor

Currently the government’s plans are for a mayor and combined authority to lead on strategic issues including:

transport
skills
housing
economic growth
environment and climate change
health
public safety.

Reorganisation of local government

In addition to devolution, the government has said it wants residents to be served by just one local council (known as a ‘unitary council’). Kent currently has a two-tier model with a county council (KCC) and 12 borough and district councils. Medway Council is already a unitary council. As well as the creation of a Mayoral Combined County Authority, local government across the area currently served by all these councils would be reorganised into a number of unitary councils.

What happens next?

We expect to know the government’s decision on accepting Kent and Medway on Devolution Priority Programme before the end of January 2025.

If Kent and Medway are accepted on to the Devolution Priority Programme, the government will then consult residents on their views on the creation of a Mayoral Strategic Authority before the end of March 2025.

The government could also decide to postpone the May 2025 county council elections to help plan for a mayoral election in 2026 and consider proposals for local government reorganisation. Roger Gough, Leader of Kent County Council, has written to the Minister for Local Government and Devolution requesting the postponement of the KCC election. Read the Leader's letter (PDF, 158.5 KB).

Kent County Council and Medway Council will work with Kent’s 12 district and borough councils to develop proposals for local government reorganisation, and continue to shape an innovative and comprehensive devolution deal for Kent and Medway.

Full proposals for reorganisation are set to be submitted in autumn 2025, in line with the government's timeline.

According to the government’s timescales, unitary councils covering Kent and Medway could be introduced in 2027 or 2028.

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: