Published: Wednesday, 5th November 2025
Councils from across Kent and Medway have today (Wednesday, 5 November) published a series of draft business cases.
The business cases will help inform the next steps in the government’s biggest shake up of local councils in 50 years.
The cases, compiled with the help of experienced advisers KPMG, explore different options for the number of unitary councils in Kent and the areas they should cover in the future.
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 such as emptying bins and providing housing services.
Medway Council is a unitary council, providing all these local government services in Medway, and under the proposed system unitary councils would be introduced across the whole of Kent.
Options being proposed
In September, councils chose to develop the business cases for two options using government money.
A map of option 3a.
Three unitary councils: consisting of Dartford, Gravesham, Medway and Swale in the north; Sevenoaks, Tonbridge and Malling, Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells in the west and Ashford, Canterbury, Thanet, Dover and Folkestone and Hythe in the east.
A map of option 4b.
Four unitary councils: consisting of Dartford, Gravesham and Medway in the north; Sevenoaks, Tonbridge and Malling, Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells in the west; Swale, Ashford and Folkestone and Hythe in the middle of Kent and Canterbury, Thanet and Dover in the east.
In addition to the jointly developed options, councils across Kent agreed that individual councils could also choose to commission and submit business plans for alternative options. Three further options have now been drawn up.
A map of option 4d.
Medway Council is proposing a four-unitary model with changes to existing council boundaries.
A map of option 5a.
Gravesham Borough Council and Dartford Borough Council have developed proposals for a five-unitary model also including a number of boundary changes.
A map of option 1a.
Kent County Council has also developed an option for a single unitary council covering Kent and Medway supplemented with three area committees covering the north, east and west of the county.
Medway Council’s proposal
Medway Council’s proposal brings together four balanced and community-rooted unitary authorities – North Kent, East Kent, Mid Kent and West Kent each designed around real communities, transport corridors and economic geographies and takes account of present and future needs for the delivery of critical services such as social care, housing, health and education.
The proposed structure will simplify local government, making it easier for residents to know who does what and ensuring every pound of public money works harder for local communities. Each new council will have the scale to deliver modern, efficient services while retaining the distinctive identities that make Kent unique.
Once in a generation opportunity
Cllr Vince Maple, Leader of Medway Council, commented in support of the proposal: “We are pleased that all Kent Councils have continued to work in close collaboration in developing the options for local government reorganisation that will be submitted to government at the end of this month.
“We firmly believe that our proposed model will provide the best structure for Kent for years to come, striking the right balance between financial sustainability, efficient service delivery and ensuring that local government remains closely aligned to the needs of our local communities.
“We have a developed a very strong case for our submission, based on nearly 30 years’ successful experience as a unitary authority.
“Our proposed option also importantly lays the foundation for devolution, creating the strong, collaborative framework needed to secure a Kent & Medway Combined Authority and an elected Mayor, unlocking new powers and investment for transport, housing, skills and climate action.
“We have a once in a generation opportunity to get this right and reset outdated boundaries for the 1.9million people in our region, reform public services, put communities first, and ensure decisions about our region are made in our region, rooted in the pride of our communities and the promise of our future.”
Next steps
Throughout November, each individual council will use its own decision-making process to confirm its preferred model and associated business case.
The proposals will be considered by Medway Council on Thursday, 13 November and by Cabinet on Tuesday, 18 November.
Business cases will be submitted to the government by Friday, 28 November.
In the new year, the government is expected to carry out public consultation with all Kent residents on the preferred options.
A decision by the government on the final structure of unitary councils is expected in the summer.
Seeking the views of local people
Meanwhile, the results of a public and stakeholder engagement exercise held to find out from people living, working and studying in Kent about what is important to them in reorganising councils has been published.
It found the public wants the new arrangements to focus on the quality of the services provided, ensure efficiency and value for money and to solve people’s problems quickly.
The public saw opportunities in simplifying local government structures, clarifying responsibilities and making the most of economies of scale to streamline operations, reduce bureaucracy and deliver better value.