Update on Local Government Reorganisation
Manston Parish Council
Update from Colin Carmichael, the CEO of Thanet District Council:
A new survey has been launched, asking the people of Kent to share their views on the factors they think should be taken into account during the LGR process. The survey will be promoted using a range of media, and the results collated in a county-wide report. The results of this engagement exercise will be used alongside the data and evidence being gathered by KPMG to help inform the submissions in November to the government.
Here’s the link to the survey, which is open until 9am on Monday 6 October 2025.
In other news, in my last update to you I confirmed that Kent Leaders had shortlisted two geographical options on which KPMG would prepare business cases measuring those options against the criteria set by the government. The work on those two business cases will be funded from the grant made available by the government for that purpose.
However, this week has seen some further announcements.
On Thursday 11 September, the Leader of Kent County Council wrote to all the other Kent Leaders confirming that KCC will themselves prepare and pay for a business case on the model for a single unitary council covering Kent and Medway.
This morning, Gravesham Council announced that it would commission KPMG and pay for a business case into the model that would create five Unitaries.
Medway also announced this morning that they would commission KPMG and pay for a business case into another of the four unitary options - to remind those Councillors who attended the Councillor briefing on 2 September, that is the option that would create an East Kent council comprising the current areas of Thanet, Canterbury, Dover, and Folkestone town.
What will now be business cases on five geographical options will need to be submitted to the government by 28 November, and they will be considered by Council and Cabinet on 20 November.
Contact Information
Elizabeth J. Carr BA(Hons) MBA - Parish Clerk & RFO
Find Manston Parish Council
c/o Manston Village Hall, Manston, Ramsgate, Kent, CT12 5BA