The Government announced this week the shape of Kent's new councils, starting April 2028, with Kent County Council and local district councils merging into 4 new unitaries covering the county.
East Kent Council
We will be part of an East Kent unitary council with Dover and Thanet districts - the 'seaside state' if you like! With our visitor-centric economies, I can see some logic to the grouping, but do question why other similar areas were not also included.
Given demographic challenges in east Kent - combined with the poor state of Thanet Distict Council's finances - the combined budget position looks unsustainable, which would mean much more council tax for all of us if not addressed by the Government. I fear however they may not help us, especially as the boundaries look to have been chosen to benefit the Labour party, rather than creating financial resilience or geographies which all of Kent's residents would identify with.
Myself and my Conservative colleagues will address the financial issue at future council meetings as we must fight tooth and nail to avoid a big leap in council tax. After all, Council tax is already very high and we had a real-terms rise in it just this year, imposed by Reform at Kent County Council.
Finances aside, I think the 'joining-up' of the functions of the district and county councils does give the potential to improve council services and how residents experience them. After all, you wouldn't run a business or a charity with a dividing line down the middle of it.
A Herne Bay Town Council?
Independent of the above process, which is driven by national Government, at Canterbury City Council we have been consulting with local people about whether a town council should be created for Herne Bay (and for Whitstable and Canterbury too). This would follow some time after the creation of the East Kent council, and only if local people and elected councillors support it.
