Published: Wednesday, 13th August 2025
A map showing what councils could look like across Kent and Medway has been published today (Wed, 13 Aug).
In 2024, central government set out its vison for simpler local government structures to improve outcomes and accountability for residents.
The reorganisation of councils in Kent and Medway, known as Local Government Reorganisation (LGR), will mean councils in their current form will be replaced by unitary authorities with responsibility for all services across a wider geographical area.
In May 2025, Kent and Medway councils received feedback from central government on the region’s interim proposals of how local government could be reorganised, which the region had submitted in March.
Since then, discussions have continued between Medway Council, the county council, the district and borough councils as well as strategic partner KPMG, to meet central government’s November deadline to submit a comprehensive business case on how the structure of local government in Kent and Medway could look.
Work has been underway to carefully analyse data and propose a model which best supports all residents living across Kent and Medway. Considerations included ensuring residents continue to feel part of communities and can retain a sense of place as well as encouraging inward investment and economic growth.
A map has now been produced in support of a proposal which reorganises Kent and Medway into four unitary authorities.
The proposal for four unitary authorities across Kent and Medway also aligns with the healthcare system, and priorities around prevention and early intervention ensuring residents receive the best level of care, and that health inequalities are tackled head on. Funding has already been allocated to Medway to support an innovative initiative which addresses this.
The proposed model of keeping services local – in areas not too small or too large - also supports the social care and education systems by maintaining local knowledge and relationships with partner agencies, schools and academies. This helps ensure children are given the best start in life.
A model of four unitary authorities across the Kent and Medway region would better enable work to hold services accountable, as well as remain responsive to local needs. This proposed model meets the government’s criteria of unitary authorities serving a population of around 500,000, with the vision of four new councils making strides to address specific needs across their communities, through better knowledge and continued joined-up work with partner agencies and the voluntary sector providing the ability to respond more quickly and more effectively. This would lead to better-tailored social care services and more efficient statutory service delivery.
The size of the proposed new councils – through a model of four unitary authorities - would not jeopardise the level of support residents receive from multi-agency work, and would build on the successes of partnership working already evident in Medway, with a population of a little under 300,000.
Cllr Vince Maple, Leader of Medway Council, advocates the proposal of reorganising local government in the Kent and Medway region through four unitary authorities. Cllr Maple said: “This proposal has been shared with all Leaders and Chief Executives across Kent. It carefully considers the data available against our collaborative priority of best supporting all residents across the region.
“Our vision is to create a model which best promotes partnership working and the opportunity of maintaining a deep understanding of the needs of our communities to ensure residents can continue to access high quality services and support.
“Having carefully taken everything into consideration - and whilst I appreciate there are currently different options on the table - I wholeheartedly support the proposed model of creating four unitary authorities in the region of Kent and Medway.”
Although Medway Council is currently the only unitary authority in the region, central government’s proposals suggest a larger population size is necessary and all councils across Kent and Medway will change.
Cllr Maple added: “This is the perfect opportunity to take a fresh look at the map of the county and find a model which best represents the physical geography and communities across Kent and Medway. It's our opportunity to get it right.
“The map details the planned boundaries of the proposed four unitary authorities. It has been carefully considered using existing major infrastructure, such as motorway networks. For example, the new proposed North Kent Unitary Authority, which Medway could become part of, follows the line of the M2 from Dartford to Swale – it includes everything to the north of the M2, including Sittingbourne and the Isle of Sheppey, as well as the village of Blue Bell Hill which is connected to the M2 junction at Medway.
“Medway has demonstrated for well over two decades how the model of unitary authorities is successful, allowing a more localised form of governance and swift decision making, as well as a single point of contact for its residents, providing all local government services under one roof. I am grateful for everyone involved at Medway Council for the hard work and dedication to supporting residents – thank you for everything you continue to do during this time of change.”
Medway residents are invited to attend a public event to hear about the latest news in Medway, including the proposed model of four unitary authorities, at the council’s next Medway Matters Live event in October.
For more information and to book your place, visit: Medway.gov.uk/MedwayMattersLive