The Government has published plans to reorganise how councils in ‘two-tier’ areas operate, such as Sevenoaks District, which also has a County Council.
The plans include two key proposals:
- Devolution – passing certain powers, currently held by central Government, to new ‘strategic authorities’ with elected mayors
- Reorganisation - replacing county and district councils with larger, unitary councils serving around 500,000 people.
Although Kent was not selected for Devolution, the process of reorganisation is moving ahead.
Local Government Reorganisation
This could see Kent County Council, Medway Unitary Council and the 12 district and borough councils across Kent replaced with a number of new unitary councils.
The new unitary councils would deliver existing district and borough services such as waste collection and planning and county council services such as education, social services and highways.
Town and parish councils would not be affected.
Nothing has been agreed yet and we will continue to provide our services until at least 31 March 2028.
What will happen next?
The Government have asked that a full proposal for local government reorganisation in Kent & Medway is submitted to them by 28 November 2025.
On 5 November 2025, The Leaders of Kent's Councils put forward proposals for new council structures in Kent.
The Government should make a decision on what will happen next in Kent and Medway around April 2026.
When will the changes happen?
Based on the Government’s timetable, the new unitary councils could be in place from April 2028.