Kent County Council

Elected county councils were created in 1889 under the Local Government Act 1888, taking over many administrative functions that had previously been performed by unelected magistrates at the quarter sessions. The areas covered by the new county councils were termed administrative counties. In Kent the administrative county differed from the historic county in a few places:Local Government Act 1888

• The north-western part of the historic county around Greenwich, Lewisham and Woolwich, which had been administered by the Metropolitan Board of Works since 1856, was transferred to the new County of London.
• Canterbury, which had been a self-governing county corporate since 1471, retained its independence by being made a county borough.
• Urban sanitary districts which straddled county boundaries were placed entirely in one county, which saw Tunbridge Wells placed entirely in Kent, having previously straddled Kent and Sussex.

The first elections to the county council were held in January 1889 and it formally came into being on 1 April 1889, on which day it held its first official meeting at the Sessions House in Maidstone. John Farnaby Lennard was appointed the first chairman of the council.{{cite news |title=Kent County Council |url=https://www.findmypast.co.uk/search-newspapers |access-date=22 October 2023 |work=Kentish Express and Ashford News |date=6 April 1889}}

The county council's duties at first were few, but gradually it absorbed school boards, the rural highway boards and the boards of guardians. The county council adopted the Sessions House as its meeting place.{{NHLE|desc=The Old Sessions House, Maistone|num=1086392|access-date=8 September 2019}}

In 1965, the London Government Act 1963 abolished the existing county of London and replaced it with a larger administrative area called Greater London, which took over the Bexley and Bromley areas from the administrative county of Kent. In 1974, the Local Government Act 1972 saw Kent re-classified as a non-metropolitan county and it gained the formerly independent county borough of Canterbury.{{cite legislation UK|type=act|act=Local Government Act 1972|year=1972|chapter=70|access-date=22 October 2023}} Until 1974 the lower tier of local government had comprised numerous boroughs, urban districts and rural districts. As part of the 1974 reforms, the lower tier was reorganised into fourteen non-metropolitan districts.{{cite legislation UK|type=si|si=The English Non-metropolitan Districts (Definition) Order 1972|year=1972|number=2039|access-date=22 October 2023}}

In 1998 the districts of Gillingham and Rochester-upon-Medway were removed from the non-metropolitan county of Kent to become a new unitary authority called Medway, whilst remaining part of the ceremonial county of Kent.{{cite legislation UK|type=si|si=The Kent (Borough of Gillingham and City of Rochester upon Medway) (Structural Change) Order 1996|year=1996|number=1876|access-date=22 October 2023}}

In November 2022, the county council stated it, alongside Hampshire County Council, might face bankruptcy within 12 months due to austerity cuts.{{Cite web |last=Harris |first=Mary |date=2022-11-14 |title=Leader warns Kent County Council could face bankruptcy in a year |url=https://www.kentlive.news/news/kent-news/kent-county-council-leader-warns-7817989 |access-date=2022-11-14 |website=KentLive |language=en}}{{update inline|reason=did it?|date=May 2025}}

In the 2025 Kent County Council election, Reform UK won outright control of the council and Linden Kemkaran was elected leader.{{Cite web |date=2025-05-08 |title=New KCC Reform UK leader reveals plan for council |url=https://www.kentonline.co.uk/kent/news/new-kcc-reform-uk-leader-reveals-plan-for-council-324062/ |access-date=2025-06-03 |website=Kent Online |language=en}} After being elected she said “we will simply put the people of Kent at the heart of everything we do”.{{Cite web |date=2025-05-22 |title="We will simply put the people of Kent at the heart of everything we do" - Leader's first speech at County Hall |url=https://news.kent.gov.uk/articles/full-council-article |access-date=2025-06-03 |website=news.kent.gov.uk}}

One key policy is a new cabinet role inspired by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) as promoted by Elon Musk.{{Cite web |date=2025-05-22 |title=Reform UK take control of Kent County Council with new cabinet |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cj099p8j95eo |access-date=2025-06-03 |website=BBC News |language=en-GB}}

The council will not fly the rainbow flag for Pride Month.{{Cite web |last=Murphy-Johns |first=Stanley |date=2025-05-22 |title=New Reform-led council will remove Pride and Ukrainian flags |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/kent-county-council-kent-hook-pride-reform-uk-b1229255.html |access-date=2025-06-03 |website=The Standard |language=en}} She said she saw having a Ukrainian flag in the council chamber as a "distraction".{{Cite web |date=2025-05-08 |title=Reform UK councillors select new leader at Kent County Council |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c7v757r571po |access-date=2025-06-03 |website=BBC News |language=en-GB}} She also said she intends to reduce the impact of illegal migration on residents in Kent.{{Cite web |date=2025-05-11 |title=I'll confront impact of migrants - new Kent leader |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cwy79ewqwneo |access-date=2025-06-03 |website=BBC News |language=en-GB}}

In July, Kemkaran shared a social media post claiming Reform had removed books containing transgender themes from the county's libraries with immediate effect. This was later found to be untrue with the challenged book simply moved from a display at the entrance to an adult section.{{Cite web |first=Michael |last=Keohan |first2=Christian |last2=Fuller |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c6257p2vry3o |title=Backlash after trans books removed from children's library section |date=4 July 2025 |website=BBC News |publisher=BBC |accessdate=4 July 2025}}{{Cite news |last=Walker |first=Peter |last2=Creamer |first2=Ella |date=2025-07-04 |title=Reform councillor’s boast about removing ‘trans-ideological’ books from children’s library sections falls flat |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2025/jul/04/reform-councillors-boast-about-removing-trans-ideological-books-from-childrens-library-sections-falls-flat |access-date=2025-07-05 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}} Kent Libraries went on to post a statement that they would no longer allow displays of transgender books to be in areas accessible by children.{{Cite web |last=Kent Libraries |title=Update 4 July. 9.30pm |url=https://www.instagram.com/p/DLsMh3QqjV6/ |access-date=2025-07-05 |website=instagram.com}}

Kent County Council provides county-level services. District-level services are provided by the twelve district councils:

{{Div col}}

• Ashford Borough Council
• Canterbury City Council
• Dartford Borough Council
• Dover District Council
• Folkestone and Hythe District Council
• Gravesham Borough Council
• Maidstone Borough Council
• Sevenoaks District Council
• Swale Borough Council
• Thanet District Council
• Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council
• Tunbridge Wells Borough Council

{{Div col end}}

Much of the county is also covered by civil parishes, which form a third tier of local government.{{cite web |title=Election Maps |url=https://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/election-maps/gb/ |publisher=Ordnance Survey |access-date=17 October 2023}}

The county council has been under Reform UK majority control since 2025.{{cite web | title=LIVE: Reform win control of Kent County Council | website=Kent Online | date=2025-05-02 | url=https://www.kentonline.co.uk/kent/news/parties-to-learn-fate-with-local-election-count-set-to-begin-323715/ | access-date=2025-05-02}}

Political control of the council since the 1974 reforms has been as follows:{{cite web |title=Compositions Calculator |url=https://www.electionscentre.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/composition_calc.html |access-date=5 March 2025 |website=The Elections Centre |publisher=University of Exeter}} (Put "Kent" in search box to see specific results.)

The leaders of the council since 1974 have been:

Following the 2025 election and the expulsion of one councillor as a member of Reform UK, the composition of the council is:{{cite web |title=County councillors |url=https://www.kent.gov.uk/about-the-council/how-the-council-works/county-councillors |website=Kent County Council |access-date=5 March 2025}}{{Cite web |last=Bailes |first=Kathy |date=2025-07-06 |title=Call for by-election after charges against county councillor for Cliftonville are revealed |url=https://theisleofthanetnews.com/2025/07/06/call-for-by-election-after-charges-against-county-councillor-for-cliftonville-are-revealed/ |access-date=2025-07-07 |website=The Isle Of Thanet News |language=en-GB}}{{Cite web |title=County councillors |url=https://www.kent.gov.uk/about-the-council/how-the-council-works/county-councillors |access-date=2025-07-07 |website=www.kent.gov.uk}}

The next election is due in 2029.{{cite web |title=Kent |url=https://www.localcouncils.co.uk/councils/?council=kent |website=Local Councils |publisher=Thorncliffe |access-date=1 June 2025}}

{{also|Kent County Council elections}}

Since the last boundary changes in 2019 the council has comprised 81 councillors representing 72 electoral divisions, with each division electing one or two councillors. Elections are held every four years.{{cite legislation UK|type=si|si=The Kent (Electoral Changes) Order 2016|year=2016|number=658}}

The council is based at County Hall, a complex of buildings on County Road in Maidstone which incorporates the old Sessions House of 1824, which had been the meeting place of the quarter sessions which preceded the county council. The council has various other buildings around the county as well.{{cite web |title=Our offices |url=https://www.kent.gov.uk/about-the-council/our-offices#tab-1 |website=Kent County Council |access-date=22 October 2023}}

The council is responsible for public services such as education, transport, strategic planning, emergency services, social services, public safety and waste disposal.[https://web.archive.org/web/20081203185407/http://www.kent.gov.uk/council-and-democracy/about-the-council/how-the-council-works/constitution/executive-summary.htm Executive summary]

{{anchor|Kent Top Travel}}

File:Kent Top Travel logo.png

Kent Top Travel[http://data.companieshouse.gov.uk/doc/company/05242900 Companies House extract company no 5242900] Kent Top Temps Limited was owned by Kent County Council, and was established by them in 2005. It operated the council's bus network.[http://www.busesmag.com/view_article.asp?ID=5456 Kent takes axe to council bus operation] Buses 13 January 2013 It was argued that its existence stimulated competition. It also operated a coach charter fleet. The majority of Kent Top Travel's route portfolio comprised rural, evening and Sunday services won under competitive tender from Kent County Council and other local authorities in open competition with private bus operators. Kent Top Travel operated Canterbury City Council's park & ride service from October 2008 until 2013.[https://web.archive.org/web/20120213141439/http://www.canterbury.gov.uk/main.cfm?objectid=1797 Park & Ride Contract] Canterbury City Council[http://www.busandcoach.com/newspage.aspx?id=2151&categoryid=0 Kent Top Travel takes on Canterbury park] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131021184054/http://www.busandcoach.com/newspage.aspx?id=2151&categoryid=0 |date=2013-10-21 }} Bus & Coach Professional 24 October 2008 Kent Top Travel operated both single and double deck buses as well as charter coaches. Buses were painted in a white and green livery, the Canterbury park & ride fleet silver and green. Coaches were painted both white & red, and yellow.

Following an independent report criticising Kent County Council's trading companies, in December 2012 it was decided to close Kent Top Travel once its existing contracts expired.[http://www.kentonline.co.uk/kentonline/home/2012/december/13/top_travel.aspx End of road for Kent County Council bus company Kent Top Travel] KentOnline 13 December 2012[http://issuu.com/rouncymedia/docs/binder1092_1 Kent County Council to abandon Kent Top Travel] Coach & Bus Week issue 1092 19 June 2013 page 5 Kent Top Travel ceased trading on 1 October 2013.[https://web.archive.org/web/20130818042617/http://www.kenttoptravel.co.uk/ Thank you for visiting the Kent Top Travel website] Kent Top Travel 18 August 2013

The Council is structured as follows:[https://web.archive.org/web/20070207120402/http://www.kent.gov.uk/council-and-democracy/about-the-council/how-the-council-works/council-structure-1.htm Council structure]

;County Council:

The County Council is made up of 81 elected county councillors. The full council meets seven times a year to agree the council's Constitution and amendments to it, appoint the Leader, and approve the policy framework and budget (including the level of Council Tax).

;Cabinet:

The cabinet is made up of ten county councillors. The cabinet is responsible for the strategic thinking and decisions that steer how the council is run. The cabinet meets monthly and takes decisions collectively.

;Local Boards:

Local boards are local community groups that hold regular public meetings across Kent, so that the people of Kent can voice issues that affect their community. They also allocate funding to local projects. There are 12 local boards in Kent, and every county councillor is required to be a member of one local board.

The work of the Council is organized into directorates:

;Strategic and Corporate Services:

supports the work of the directorates by providing specialist expertise and strategic direction. The department also leads and co-ordinates major change and organisational development.: It manages services that include human resources, finance, governance, law and democracy, strategic commissioning, property and infrastructure, information technology, media and communications, consultation and engagement, customer relations including gateways and contact centre, business intelligence and policy.

;Children, Young People and Education:

It combines Education services with universal and targeted services for children and young people designed to reduce demand for specialist services, also provided in this directorate. By focusing on prevention and early intervention, their aim is to reduce demand in specialist children's social services by helping families earlier, improving parenting skills and the health and educational outcomes of young children, ensuring they are school ready. KCC will intervene earlier to support families in crisis through area based working and joined up teams providing a more seamless service and better working arrangements with partner organisations.: This encompasses the Kent Youth County Council which provides the young people of the county to have a voice on the issues that matter to young people aged 11–18. Successes of the youth council include the introduction of the Kent Freedom Pass in 2007, which later rebranded in 2019 to The KCC Travel Saver. The scheme offers significant discounts on bus travel for children and students within Kent, enabling cost savings of up to 50% for eligible users.{{cite web|url=https://www.kent.gov.uk/education-and-children/schools/school-transport/KCC-travel-saver| title=KCC Travel Saver}} The Youth County Council holds its elections every November, and four young people from each of the 12 districts are elected to a two-year term. The Kent Youth County Council is also affiliated with the UK Youth Parliament and British Youth Council.{{cite web|url=http://www.kent.gov.uk/kycc|title=Kent Youth County Council|publisher=Kent.gov.uk|access-date=12 September 2011|archive-date=6 September 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080906121820/http://www.kent.gov.uk/kycc|url-status=live}}

;Adult Social Care and Health:

Provides support and care for adults who need assistance due to age, disability, or health conditions. It aims to help individuals live as independently as possible while ensuring their well-being and safety.{{Cite web|url=https://www.kent.gov.uk/social-care-and-health/adult-social-care/what-to-expect-from-us|title=What to expect from Kent adult social care}}

;Growth, Environment and Transport:

This includes strategic responsibility for the future of the county in terms of planning, economic development, transport policy, and major transport improvement schemes, waste disposal and recycling services. In addition to a range of leisure and cultural facilities including the Turner Contemporary; country parks; libraries; and enforcement services including trading standards and community safety.{{Cite web|url=http://www.kentleadership.co.uk/About-us/Structure-of-KCC|title=Kent Leadership {{!}} Kent County Council - Structure of KCC|website=www.kentleadership.co.uk|access-date=2017-05-02}}{{Dead link|date=May 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

Kent County Council co-operates with the unitary Medway Council in many ways, for instance in the Kent and Medway Local Plan, and together they run joint agencies. Kent is combined with Medway for the purposes of representation in Parliament. The combined area elects 17 MPs, of whom 14 represent seats entirely within the Kent County Council area and another whose constituency is in both Kent and Medway.

• List of Members of Parliament in Kent
• White horse of Kent

{{Reflist|group=notes}}

{{Reflist}}

• [http://www.kent.gov.uk/ Kent County Council]

{{County councils of England}}

{{Local authorities in Kent}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Local government in Kent

Category:Politics of Kent

Category:County councils of England

Category:Local authorities in Kent

Category:1889 establishments in England

Category:Local education authorities in England

Category:Major precepting authorities in England

Category:Leader and cabinet executives