The July decision to create four unitary councils for Kent and Medway is one of nine the Government has withdrawn. Ministers say reorganisation is not cancelled, and shadow council elections would now be in May 2028.
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The Government withdrew its local government reorganisation decision for Kent and Medway on 29 October 2026, telling Parliament the area is one of nine where the July decisions have been pulled and will be reconsidered, with an outcome expected by early next year.
Minister for Local Government, Devolution and Regional Growth Jim McMahon OBE MP made the statement in Parliament on 29 October 2026. The announcement was published on GOV.UK.
What the Government says happens next
The nine areas whose decisions have been withdrawn and will be reconsidered are:
- Derbyshire and Derby
- Devon, Plymouth and Torbay
- Hertfordshire
- Kent and Medway
- Lancashire, Blackburn with Darwen and Blackpool
- Leicestershire, Leicester, and Rutland
- Lincolnshire, North Lincolnshire and North East Lincolnshire
- Nottinghamshire and Nottingham
- Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent
The Government says the withdrawal does not mean reorganisation has been cancelled. In its statement it said: “Withdrawing these decisions does not mean reorganisation has been cancelled in these areas. All options and proposals remain under consideration in these areas and every area will have an outcome by early next year.”
On timetable, the Government stated: “Local elections in these areas will go ahead in May 2027 on existing council boundaries, providing certainty for local leaders and communities. New councils will be established for 2029, with elections to shadow councils in May 2028.” That represents a change from the timetable set out in the original 16 July 2026 decision for Kent and Medway, which had scheduled shadow elections for 6 May 2027 and vesting on 1 April 2028.
On funding, the Government said: “All areas with previous decisions will receive £450,000 per the number of previously announced new unitary authorities from the £63 million capacity fund, to cover costs incurred in implementing reorganisation.” The July decision for Kent and Medway announced four unitary councils. On KLN’s calculation, that would mean a payment of £1.8 million for Kent and Medway, though the Government’s release does not name a figure for the area. The payments are to be made in the coming weeks.
What Kent County Council said
KCC published a statement on 29 October confirming that “Kent and Medway is among nine areas where the decision announced by the government in July has been officially withdrawn.” It added that the “Government remains committed to the LGR process in Kent and Medway and will give an update on the Kent and Medway position early next year.”
The council said ministers and civil servants “will be testing the assumptions set out in the respective business cases submitted by 14 councils before deciding on how many unitary councils there should be for Kent and Medway and the areas they should cover.”
KCC Leader Linden Kemkaran said: “KCC has finally heard from the government that local government reorganisation is withdrawn after some eight weeks of uncertainty.” She added: “We welcome the clarity given around new timelines by Government.” and that “Members and officers remain focused on delivering the best possible services to those that live and work in Kent as well as those that visit and study here.”
What Medway Council said
Medway Council Leader Cllr Vince Maple said: “It is helpful to have received greater clarity from Government today on the timetable for its Local Government Reorganisation review, and we welcome confirmation that a decision on proposals for Kent and Medway is now expected in early 2027.” He said the clarity “will help ensure we are prepared to meet the Government’s timetable for shadow elections in 2028 and the establishment of new unitary arrangements.”
The link to a Kent and Medway mayor
Cllr Maple said Medway’s focus “now turns to securing a full Mayoral Strategic Authority for Kent and Medway, which has always been our ultimate objective,” adding that “its implementation is dependent on the outcome of the Local Government Reorganisation process.”
KCC noted that “LGR is an essential ingredient to the creation of a Mayoral or Foundation Strategic Authority for Kent and Medway which was announced as part of the Budget.” The Budget 2026 document states the Government will establish “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.”
What is not yet known
The Government has not decided how many unitary councils Kent and Medway will have. Its statement says all options and proposals remain under consideration, and the number announced in July, four, is not confirmed going forward.
On 12 October 2026 KCC announced it was pursuing a legal challenge to the July decision. The council’s 29 October statement does not say whether that challenge will continue now the decision it was directed at has been withdrawn.
Sources
- MHCLG: Local Government Reorganisation moves forward in five counties, GOV.UK (29 October 2026)
- Kent County Council: Statement on government’s announcement on local government reorganisation in Kent and Medway (29 October 2026)
- Medway Council: Statement on Local Government reorganisation (29 October 2026)
- Kent County Council: Leader’s statement on Government’s announcement on Devolution in Kent and Medway (28 October 2026)