The Government says it will work with Kent County Council and Medway Council towards a Mayoral Strategic Authority, with an ambition of 2028. The Budget document says it will be Mayoral only if the local government reorganisation outcome allows.
The Government has announced it will work with Kent County Council and Medway Council towards the establishment of a Mayoral Strategic Authority for Kent and Medway, with the ambition of bringing it into effect in 2028. The announcement was made by the Chancellor in the Budget on Wednesday 28 October 2026.
The Budget document sets out the arrangement with a condition attached, stating: “A Strategic Authority for Kent and Medway which will be Mayoral if the area’s Local Government Reorganisation outcome is compatible with this and Foundation if not.” The Kent and Medway agreement is one of 10 new devolution agreements the Government says it is in the final stages of agreeing.
What the council leader said
Linden Kemkaran, Leader of Kent County Council, said: “The announcement by the Chancellor gives us some much-needed clarity on the Government’s plans for Kent, a county with so much potential. Colleagues in local government have been clear for some time now that in order for residents to see real change and proper investment, we need an elected Mayor of Kent and Medway.”
She added: “Clearly there is still a lot of work to do and many questions that remain unanswered, but today’s announcement should be welcomed as an indication of moving towards a model that works better for people in our county.”
On the potential benefits, Kemkaran said: “Having an elected Mayor of Kent and Medway has the potential to unlock additional powers and investment on housing, transport, infrastructure, skills and economic growth, exactly where it’s needed here in Kent.”
What happens next
The next step for the Kent and Medway agreement, as with the other nine devolution agreements at this stage, is local consultations with key stakeholders. No timetable for that consultation has been published for Kent and Medway.
Kent County Council says the announcement forms part of a major national programme of devolution, which will see greater powers and funding transferred from central government to regions and communities across the country. No funding figures or specific powers have been published for Kent and Medway in the Budget document or in the council’s statement.
KLN’s Budget day report, which covers the wider announcements made by the Chancellor on 28 October 2026, is available at kentlocalnews.co.uk. The full statement from Kent County Council’s leader is published on the KCC news site.
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