Today, the government announced that Kent has not been selected for its Devolution Priority Programme (DPP).
The decision means the county will not be part of the early devolution wave, which could have led to the abolition of all 14 local councils and the creation of a directly elected mayor.
The government’s DPP initiative will provide a “raft of new powers” that will enable mayors to drive economic growth, raise living standards and deliver better services across England. You can find out more about it here.
Despite securing unanimous support from all councils in the region, the bid was not successful, leaving leaders questioning the rationale behind the decision.
Reacting to the news, KCC leader Roger Gough said: “I am astonished by this decision and bitterly disappointed that residents and businesses of Kent have been let down by the government and will not be able to benefit from the increased monies, powers and opportunities promised through devolution.
“The reason we have been given is both confusing and insufficient and we will be seeking more detail from Ministers as to the rationale as soon as possible.
“I strongly believe that key issues in Kent, such as economic growth, housing and transport, all vital for our residents, would have been improved by devolution, as well as bringing new powers and more funding to Kent and Medway, to boost jobs and skills, and improve our infrastructure and transport.
“We met all the criteria for devolution set out in the White Paper, and our initial expression of interest with Medway Council was supported by all 12 District and Borough Council Leaders in Kent. I am simply stunned that the government has offered what I consider to be an incoherent argument as to why Kent has been turned down.
“That Kent and Medway are authorities of differing sizes is neither new nor unique. We have always made it clear that we stood ready and willing to work through a transitional phase that would culminate in the reorganisation of the county to address the imbalance.
“Not being part of this accelerated devolution programme is a missed opportunity and a huge blow to this authority and to Kent’s 1.9m residents, particularly given that Kent and Medway made it clear to government that we would meet its ambitious timeline and work towards a mayoral election in 2026.
“I am devastated and angry on behalf of the residents of Kent, but our devolution journey is far from over. My first priority is to ask government to fully explain why Kent has been excluded at a time that other similar areas have not been, and how we can deliver the benefit of devolution to our residents and businesses. Their long-term future has always been our top priority in pursuing this.”
With devolution plans on hold, KCC has confirmed that the May local elections will proceed as scheduled.
Nick Fenton, CEO of Locate in Kent, also expressed his disappointment, stating: “It’s disappointing, but this is not the end of the story. While devolution may not happen as fast as we’d like, the direction of travel is set.
“Kent’s position as the gateway to Europe with a rich heritage as a globally important centre for trade has for centuries put it on the map as a dynamic and supportive environment to build business success.
“This process has brought the unique needs of the county fully to the attention of Whitehall highlighting the need to address the unique challenges and opportunities that exist here.
“It is vital that local and central government continue to work closely together to deliver the reforms and investment needed to drive future growth.”
While Kent has missed out, other areas including Sussex, Hampshire, Norfolk, Suffolk and Greater Essex have been selected for the fast-tracked devolution programme.
