Kent Morning Briefing
Saturday, 18 July 2026
The day in Kent · Kent’s entire local government map is being redrawn: ministers have confirmed that all 14 existing councils across Kent and Medway will be abolished and replaced by four single-tier authorities on 1 April 2028. The change will affect every resident and business in the county, reshaping how services from planning to social care are delivered for generations.
The day ahead in Kent
Weather
Today: Cloudy morning, becoming mostly clear in the afternoon, high 23°C, low 16°C.
Tomorrow: Clear morning, becoming mostly clear in the afternoon, clearing in the evening, high 22°C, low 12°C.
Travel
Roads: All major Kent routes clear.
Rail: All Kent services running to schedule.
As of 01:00 from National Highways + National Rail.
Coastal tides
Dover: High 02:35 (6.52m) · Low 10:10 (0.87m) · High 14:49 (6.79m) · Low 22:30 (0.65m)
Margate: High 03:42 (4.75m) · Low 09:38 (0.91m) · High 15:52 (4.77m) · Low 22:24 (0.37m)
Tides via tidetimes.co.uk.
5 things to know
- Kent Police activate 48-hour dispersal orders across Whitstable, Herne Bay, Broadstairs, Ramsgate and Margate
- US parent companies control over 41,000 UK business affiliates, ONS 2024 data reveals
Top Kent Stories
- United States Tops UK Foreign Business Ownership List With Over 41,000 Affiliates, ONS Data Shows
Published 23:51 BST
New figures from the Office for National Statistics reveal that US-based parent companies control more UK businesses than any other foreign economy, with nearly 42,000 affiliates recorded in 2024… - Four new councils to replace Kent s current structure by 2028
Published 21:51 BST
Government ministers have confirmed that Kent and Medway s 14 existing councils will be abolished and replaced by four single-tier authorities from 1 April 2028, with Tonbridge and Malling falling… - Kent Police impose 48-hour dispersal orders across five east Kent coastal towns
Published 19:51 BST
Section 34 powers activated in Whitstable, Herne Bay, Broadstairs, Ramsgate and Margate from 4pm on Friday 17 July 2026, giving officers authority to move on and arrest those engaged in antisocial…
Crime & Justice
No additional crime stories in the last 12 hours.
Business & Economy
No additional B&E stories in the last 12 hours.
Kent Sport
No additional sport updates in the last 12 hours.
Financial markets
Bank of England (last 7 days):
- PRA and FCA propose new captive insurance regime to drive UK growth and competitiveness
- Minutes of the Money Market Committee meeting – June 2026
Markets via Yahoo Finance; ONS + BoE via official feeds.
What’s on today
No public events scheduled today.
Coming up tomorrow
No public events scheduled tomorrow.
“Rochester Cathedral, founded in 604 AD, is England’s second-oldest cathedral and sits just across the Medway from Kent’s new unitary boundary.”
Kent fact of the day