News HAVE YOUR SAY ON THE WAY COUNCILS IN KENT AND MEDWAY ARE ORGANISED
Government ministers have today (Thursday 5 February) launched a consultation on the future number of councils in Kent and Medway and the areas they should cover.
They want to hear your views on the biggest proposed shake up of local government in 50 years.
Ministers asked councils to come up with plans to create unitary councils in a process known as local government reorganisation (LGR).
Under the current system Kent County Council (KCC) delivers some services such as education, social services and roads, and district or borough councils deliver others like emptying your bins and providing housing services.
Under the proposed system, a much smaller number of unitary councils would deliver all council services in one area. Medway Council operates in that way today.
Councils across Kent and Medway have worked together to draw up a series of options for the number of unitaries needed and what areas they should cover.
In a joint statement, council leaders in Kent and Medway, said: “Our councils are your councils and it is important you have your say on their future and how they deliver vital services.
“We’ve worked really closely together to pull together the evidence to support a number of options for the people of Kent and Medway so everyone can make an informed decision.
“Each council has nailed its colours to the mast of a particular option and explained why.
“It’s now over to you and organisations throughout Kent and Medway to help ministers make an informed decision.”
Councillor Stuart Jeffery, Leader of Maidstone Borough Council added: “Local government reorganisation is an opportunity to create a system that works better for residents, delivers services more efficiently and strengthens local democratic accountability.
“Of the five options being put forward, Maidstone Borough Council is supporting Option 3A. We believe this offers a balanced and practical approach that protects local identity while ensuring services are delivered by councils with the right scale, capacity and financial resilience and it keeps communities like ours properly represented.
“This consultation is a chance to shape the biggest change to local government in Kent and Medway in 50 years. I urge everyone in Maidstone to take part and make their voice heard.”To take part in the government’s consultation, visit the Gov.uk website.
The deadline for responses is 11.59pm on Thursday 26 March.
There is lots of background information, including the detailed explanations for each option on the Kent Leaders website.
Councils may also contact residents and other organisations to explain why they think their preferred option should be chosen by the government.
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.