Issue - meetings

To consider the attached report of the Chief Executive.

The Chief Executive introduced the report on Exploring the Merger of the Five East Kent District Councils.

The Committee was advised that no decision had yet been made in respect of the merger of the five East Kent District Councils (Ashford, Canterbury, Dover, Shepway and Thanet) and the report was only about exploring options. Each authority was contributing £20,000 to support the preparation of the business case by the end of the year. 

If the business case was agreed for a new East Kent ‘Super District’ there would be the potential for bidding for additional powers and the devolution of some existing powers to town and parish council level.

The Chairman, Councillor K Mills, stated that the Committee needed to understand the process for any potential merger, what new powers (if any) were on offer, what public consultation and engagement would be undertaken to support any decision and what the criteria for a successful merger were. It was agreed that the matter would be included on the work programme for regular updates.

The willingness of Kent County Council to devolve powers and the accompanying funding to a new ‘Super District’ was questioned and the importance of engagement in turn with Town and Parish Council’s over what powers would be devolved to them and where the funding to enable them to deliver these devolved powers would come from was emphasised.

The proposed level of Council Tax for a new East Kent authority was raised given the current variation in Council Tax levels across the five authorities. Members were advised that while it would be a matter for the Elected Members of any new East Kent authority to determine its Council Tax level, there was an intention from the Leaders of the existing five authorities to set the level of Council Tax for the new authority at the level of the lowest of the authorities (Ashford Borough Council). This would result in a £5 million reduction in the existing combined revenues of the five authorities.

The median level of Council Tax for East Kent was close to the level currently charged by Canterbury City, which was higher than the Council Tax in Ashford and Dover but lower than that of Shepway and Thanet.

The exploration of other combined working options such as a unitary authority, a super district based on 3 or 4 East Kent councils or expanding the existing three authority shared services vehicle to cover other services and/or authorities was discussed.

RESOLVED:   That it be recommended to the Cabinet:

(a)          That the Business Case would be enhanced if it could be shown that Town and Parish Councils had been consulted about the possible devolution of powers to their level and were in support.  As such, Scrutiny recommends that building the business case includes engagement with Towns and Parishes so that we can demonstrate to the Secretary of State a partnership approach at an early stage.

(b)          That the business case be the subject of pre-decision scrutiny prior to it going  ...  view the full minutes text for item 39

To consider the attached report of the Chief Executive.

Responsibility: Leader of the Council

It was agreed:

(a)  That the Leader of the Council’s statement of intent be adopted on behalf of the Council.

(b)  That the merger of the five East Kent district councils be explored.

To consider the attached report of the Chief Executive.

The report was introduced by Councillor P A Watkins.

Following a question from Councillor M R Eddy the Leader of the Council provided assurance that as part of the preparation of a business case all options would be examined and regular updates be provided to the Council.

It was moved by Councillor P A Watkins, duly seconded and

RESOLVED: (a)   That £20,000 funding from general reserves be provided to support the preparation of a business case.

                        (b)   That the formulation of any plan or strategy to implement any proposed merger of the East Kent district councils be a matter of Policy Framework and be reserved for the consideration of the full council pursuant to Article 4.01(a)(ii) of the Constitution of the Council.