The Government confirmed on 29 October 2026, it is committed to Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) in Kent with new unitary councils operating from April 2029.
Currently, district and borough councils provide services such as bin collections, leisure centres and housing, while Kent County Council provides education, social care, highways and libraries. Under LGR, unitary councils would provide all these services under one roof.
On 16 July, the Government announced that Kent would have four unitary councils operating from April 2028. One of the proposed councils was West Kent Council, covering Sevenoaks, Tonbridge and Malling, Tunbridge Wells and Maidstone.
However, on 7 September 2026, the Government paused LGR while it reviewed the entire programme.
On 29 October, the Government made a further announcement confirming its commitment to LGR but withdrew its earlier decision to create four unitary councils in Kent.
The Government is currently reviewing the number of new unitary councils in Kent and the areas they should cover. It said it would provide more information early in the new year.
Alongside the new unitary councils, the Government announced its support for a new mayoral authority covering the whole of Kent. It could be responsible for public transport, strategic planning, economic development and policing.
Elections for the new unitary councils and the mayoral authority could take place in May 2028.
Cllr Kevin Maskell, Leader of Sevenoaks District Council, says: “The Government’s decision to pause LGR is hugely frustrating, especially given the time and effort that have gone into developing the proposals.
“Councils across Kent and Medway have spent many months working together to develop options for how local services could be delivered in the future.
“I recognise the importance of securing the right outcome for residents, businesses and communities, but we need clarity as soon as possible about how services will be provided in the coming years.
“While the future of LGR is out of our hands, we remain 100% focused on delivering the best possible services for our residents, whatever the Government decides.”
For more information about Local Government Reorganisation in Kent, visit the Kent Leaders website.