Devolution - your questions answered
What is devolution?
Devolution is about taking decisions as near as possible to where they will have an impact, and allowing the people who know their areas best to decide where money is spent. At the moment, many decisions about what happens in Kent and Medway are taken by the government and its departments. Through a process known as ‘devolution’ the government wants to give more areas more powers to make their own decisions on issues such as transport, skills and support for business.
Why would devolution be good for Kent and Medway?
The result of devolving powers is more responsive public services, tailored to local need, which can provide residents with increased value for money. It also helps to forge stronger partnerships between local organisations such as businesses, voluntary and community groups, universities and other public sector bodies like the NHS. Without devolution, many decisions will continue to be made in Westminster, far away from the Kent local communities and local people they actually affect.
What is a devolution deal?
A devolution deal is a way groups of councils agree with government to take greater control over funding and powers for their area and take more major decisions, currently taken by central government, locally.
Who has agreed that devolution will happen in Kent?
The Leaders of Kent County Council, Medway Council and all 12 District and Borough councils in Kent submitted an expression of interest to the Deputy Prime Minister in July 2024 just after the general election setting out how they are keen to work with government to shape an innovative and comprehensive devolution deal for Kent and Medway.
The government’s devolution white paper was published in December 2024 inviting submissions to join the government’s Devolution Priority Programme (DPP).
Following a decision by KCC cabinet members on 9 January 2025 after an extraordinary meeting earlier that day, when the proposal was considered by KCC members, a letter signed jointly by the Leaders of KCC and Medway Council has been sent to Jim McMahon OBE MP, Minister for Local Government and Devolution, to formally request that Kent and Medway be included in the DPP.
A government decision on which areas in the UK have been selected for the DPP is expected by the end of January 2025, after which would come a consultation run by central government.
What does this mean for people who live and work in Kent and Medway?
A devolution deal would guarantee additional funding that would allow Kent and Medway to invest in public transport, support business, improve skills and living standards while tackling the climate emergency. It would mean more of the decisions with major impacts on our region which are currently taken by central government would be taken in Kent.
Devolution can provide a real boost to decision making by coming up with local answers to local problems, allowing us to be more responsive to resident and community need.
Devolution can also help stimulate regional economies through targeted investments and policies that reflect more specific local economic conditions.
How will devolution work in practice?
Kent, Medway and all district and borough councils already work closely with each other. A devolution deal would represent the next step forward in that partnership working. A big potential change would be the creation of a directly-elected mayor for the entire region, who would take decisions with the local authorities within the new combined authority for the whole of Kent and Medway.
What are combined authorities?
A combined authority is a new form of local governance consisting of 2 or more councils providing authorities with a formal way to work together across their individual boundaries. It means they can benefit from working at scale on issues and opportunities that affect the whole of their area. This could include transport, planning, economic development and adult skills.
Will there be a mayor in Kent?
Many combined authorities will have a new, directly elected mayor as part of their devolution deal because the government believes it is important to have a single point of accountability that is responsible both locally and nationally. These mayors will work with the councils that make up the combined authority to promote the area and ensure devolution deals deliver for their electorate. Combined authority mayors will chair a group called the combined authority cabinet, made up of council leaders from individual councils within the combined authority. A combined authority mayor cannot be a serving councillor and will not replace the leaders of existing councils. Once elected, the mayor will stay in office for a 4-year term, at which point they can choose to stand for re-election. There is no limit on how many terms a mayor can serve.
What are the implications for current county, district and borough elected members?
It is vital that current elected members continue to speak on behalf of the communities they represent. Their understanding of local issues and ability to identify opportunities to deliver better outcomes for residents will prove invaluable to driving the growth and improvements that devolution has the potential to bring.
What is the English Devolution White Paper?
The government’s devolution white paper sets out the government’s strategy and policy for local government over the medium term. It provides detail on local community empowerment, sustainable finance and resilience as well as devolution and local government reorganisation. It is likely the government will now seek feedback on the white paper proposals, before they are enacted in the English Devolution Bill before Parliament in 2025.