Following the government’s decision on local government reorganisation (LGR), the Medway Conservatives have confirmed they will accept Option 4B as the basis for future local government structures in Kent and work constructively to ensure the best possible outcome for residents.
The Kent Councils submitted five options: Options 1A, 3A, 4B, 4D and 5A. In the formal response to the consultation earlier this year, the group backed Option 3A as the best option for Medway, and this remains the group’s preferred position.
The government has made the correct decision in rejecting Option 4D, which the Medway Conservatives vehemently opposed.
The proposal would have cut across existing communities, sliced off an important part of Medway, and was criticised by other local government leaders in Kent when proposed. The proposal cost Medway £105,000 to develop and ultimately failed to secure support either locally or nationally. This administration's inability to reign in its vanity spending has forced Medway taxpayers to bear the cost of the failed proposal. It was always the wrong choice for Medway, and Medway Conservatives are happy to say that the government has recognised this.
The rejection of Option 4D marks the second occasion on which the administration has failed to secure government backing for a major reorganisation proposal. The group maintains that proposals of such significance should not be expensive solo undertakings but should be collaborative, influenced by neighbouring authorities and local stakeholders.
The Labour and Co-operative Group is clearly out of touch with the needs and wants of a future Medway.
While these criticisms must be taken seriously, the group is ready to shift its attention away from the competing models and towards ensuring that Medway can thrive in North Kent. The Medway Conservatives welcome promises from the administration that the council will not pursue a legal challenge against the government’s decision, which would be a waste of resources, time and effort.
Under Option 4B, Medway will join with Dartford and Gravesham to form a new North Kent Authority, serving an estimated population of more than 528,000 residents. The proposal forms part of a wider structure of four strategically aligned authorities across Kent.
While accepting the government’s decision, Medway Conservatives have reiterated that significant concerns remain around infrastructure, service delivery, democratic accountability, and the financial implications for residents.
Speaking following the announcement, Leader of the Opposition, Cllr George Perfect, said:
"The government has now made its decision on local government reorganisation. Once again, the Leader of the Council has been left without the backing of his own Government. With both the devolution priority programme and Option 4D, the administration has demonstrated its lack of credibility with its own government.
We have been clear in our concerns, and those concerns have not gone away. There are still serious questions about how infrastructure will keep pace, how services will be delivered effectively, and how local voices will be heard under these changes."
The group has emphasised that acceptance of Option 4B will be accompanied by rigorous scrutiny of the implementation process and continued pressure on the administration to address key concerns. The administration has a responsibility to mitigate key issues such as infrastructure investment and capacity, protection of local services and costs to residents.
Speaking following the announcement, Shadow Cabinet Member for Business Support, Climate Change and Digital, Cllr Tejan, said:
"Accepting Option 4B is a step in the process, not the end of it. We will continue to press for improvements and ensure that the voice of Medway residents is not lost as these changes are implemented.
As Chair of the Business Support, Climate Change and Digital Overview and Scrutiny Committee, I intend to lead the first opportunity to scrutinise the process in our August meeting."
The council owes its residents transparency and accountability, and through this incredibly complicated process, the Medway Conservatives will continue to scrutinise the administration and ensure questions are answered.
Looking ahead, Medway Conservatives are looking forward to working alongside our counterparts in Dartford and Gravesham to build a strong and effective Conservative group across the future North Kent Authority.
