The leader of the biggest authority in Kent has stepped up a legal challenge to a decision on the reshaping of local government.
Reform UK Kent County Council (KCC) chief Linden Kemkaran says she has asked ministers “repeatedly” for clarity over the announcement for four new regional unitary authorities made in July.
Option 4b would have seen all 14 councils in Kent scrapped and Cllr Kemkaran claims her questions remain unanswered.
While the government has since announced a pause to Local Government Reorganisation (LGR), the original decision for Kent still remains in place.
As the legal deadline to challenge that decision is now approaching, KCC says it has taken steps “to protect Kent’s interests”.
The KCC Green Party group leader described Cllr Kemkaran’s decision as “bonkers” and a waste of public money.
Cllr Kemkaran said: “Back in July, the government made a major decision about the future of local government in Kent.
“Since then, we’ve repeatedly asked some straightforward questions. Why was this option chosen for Kent? How was that decision reached? And where is the evidence behind it?
“We asked for answers in July. We wrote again twice in August. And we wrote again in September. Each time, our questions remain unanswered.
“I made it clear…in September that if we did not receive a satisfactory explanation, I would consider taking the appropriate legal steps. That’s exactly what we’re now doing.
“The government has now paused the process, but its decision still stands. We have a responsibility to stand up for Kent residents and protect the county’s interests. That’s why we’re moving forward with a legal challenge.
“This isn’t about opposing change. It’s about making sure decisions that will fundamentally change Kent’s future for decades are properly explained and backed by clear evidence.
“Residents have a right to understand how these decisions were reached, and we’ll continue pushing for those answers on Kent’s behalf.”
The KCC statement said the “matter is now with the government’s legal department and the court”.
The government is already facing challenges to LGR reforms from other Reform UK-led councils in England.
Leader of the KCC Green Party group Cllr Mark Hood said: “This is bonkers. Linden is obviously feeling a little left out following the challenges to the government’s decisions from many Reform councils.
“In their cases, there was evidence that the most sensible boundaries had been ruled out and less criteria-compliant options agreed. In the case of Kent the only non-compliant options put forward were the Medway Council boundary-busting option and Reform KCC’s one-mega council.
“Any legal action will be a monumental waste of money, especially when we are actually still waiting nervously for a possible alternative outcome from Westminster. Would we then see a second legal challenge?”
