Agenda and draft minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Animashaun, Barrett, Fearn, Gilbourne, Howcroft-Scott, Lawrence, Price and Spring.

Members are invited to disclose any Disclosable Pecuniary Interests or Other Significant Interests in accordance with the Member Code of Conduct. Guidance on this is set out in agenda item 2.

Disclosable pecuniary interests

There were none.

Other significant interests (OSIs)

There were none.

Other interests

There were none.

The Worshipful The Mayor of Medway reminded the Council about the next two Mayoral events taking place to help fundraise for the Mayor’s nominated charities, Caring Hands and Slide Away. These were a theatrical production of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, on 29 November, at Eastgate House and a pantomime production of Robin Hood, at Oasthouse Theatre in Rainham, on 29 January. Tickets for these events were available from the Mayor’s office.

Decision:

The Council agreed to suspend the usual time limits on speeches in relation to agenda item 5 (Local Government Reorganisation and Devolution - 4D Business Case), to allow the following:

a)    The Proposer to speak for up to 10 minutes when introducing the report and moving the recommendations.

b)    The Supporter of the proposal to speak for up to 5 minutes when supporting the proposal.

c)    Proposers and Supporters of any amendments may speak for up to 10 and 5 minutes respectively OR a Group Leader or their nominee may speak for up to 10 minutes where a Political Group was not moving an amendment.

d)    The normal time limits would then apply for all other speakers, i.e. 3 minutes.

e)    Any amendments would be taken in order of group size, with the largest group first and amendments need not be in writing if they specifically related to one of the options set out in recommendation 1.1 on page 9 of the main agenda.

The Leader thanked the community and Members of the Council who had been involved in Remembrance events across Medway or who had represented Medway at events held elsewhere. He highlighted an event hosted by Chatham Town Football Club that the Mayor and he had attended.

Following the publication of the English Devolution White Paper in December 2024, all councils in Kent and Medway were invited in February 2025 by the Secretary of State (SoS) to submit proposals for local government reorganisation (LGR) for the region of Kent by 28 November 2025.

The decision on the submission of a proposal to the SoS is an executive decision and will be made by the Cabinet on 18 November 2025. Attached at Appendix A is the final report to Cabinet which presents all the business cases developed across Kent.

All of the business cases propose replacing the existing two-tier system in other parts of Kent, by establishing differing numbers of Unitary Authorities. These can then create the foundation for a Kent and Medway Combined County Authority (CCA) to deliver devolution, enabling greater local control over transport, housing, skills, and climate change programmes.

This paper is brought to Council to provide an opportunity for all members to engage in the consideration of the business cases appended, debate the options and provide a non-binding steer to Cabinet in advance of their consideration on 18 November 2025.

Background:

The report set out that following publication of the English Devolution White Paper in December 2024, all councils in Kent and Medway had been invited in February 2025, by the Secretary of State (SoS) to submit proposals for local government reorganisation (LGR) for the region of Kent by 28 November 2025.

The decision on the submission of a proposal to the SoS was an executive decision and would be made by the Cabinet on 18 November 2025. Attached at Appendix A to the Council report was the final report to Cabinet which presented all the business cases developed across Kent.

All the business cases proposed replacing the existing two-tier system in other parts of Kent, by establishing differing numbers of Unitary Authorities. These could then create the foundation for a Kent and Medway Combined County Authority (CCA) to deliver devolution, enabling greater local control over transport, housing, skills, and climate change programmes.

The report was presented to Council to provide an opportunity for all Members to engage in the consideration of the business cases appended, debate the options and provide a non-binding steer to Cabinet in advance of their consideration on 18 November 2025.

The Leader of the Council, Councillor Maple, supported by the Deputy Leader of the Council, Councillor Murray, proposed that Council agree to provide the following steer to Cabinet, namely that Medway Council submit option 4D, for the establishment of four unitary authorities, as set out at Appendix 4 of the report to Cabinet, to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG), for Local Government Reorganisation across the region of Kent and Medway.

Councillor Perfect, supported by Councillor Tejan, proposed the following amendment:

That Council agree to provide the following steer to Cabinet, namely that Medway Council submit option 3A, for the establishment of three unitary authorities, as set out at Appendix 2 to the Cabinet report, to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG), for Local Government Reorganisation across the region of Kent and Medway.

In accordance with Rule 12.4 of the Council Rules, a recorded vote on the amendment was taken:

For: Councillors Anang, Brake, Clarke, Doe, Etheridge, Filmer, Gulvin, Hackwell, Hyne, Joy, Kemp, Perfect, Spalding, Tejan and Wildey. (15)

Against: Councillors Bowen, Browne, Campbell, Cook, Coombs, Crozer, Curry, Field, Finch, Gurung, Hamandishe, Hamilton, Hubbard, Jackson, Jones, Lammas, Mahil, Mandaracas, Maple, McDonald, Murray, Myton, Nestorov, Nestorova, Paterson, Peake, Pearce, Louwella Prenter, Mark Prenter, Sands, Shokar, Stamp, Mrs Turpin, Van Dyke, Vye and Williams. (36)

Abstain: None.

The amendment was lost.

Councillor Finch, supported by Councillor Lammas, proposed the following amendment:

‘Council notes:

·       That tonight’s debate is expressly to provide a non-binding steer to Cabinet ahead of its decision on Tuesday 18 November 2025, with the submission to the Secretary of State due by 28 November 2025.

·       That Kent Leaders initially worked collectively to narrow options, selecting 3A and 4B for joint work, but later multiple councils pursued separate, self-funded cases (KCC for 1A; Medway for 4D; Gravesham & Dartford for 5A),  ...  view the full minutes text for item 431.