Response to Local Government Reorganisation consultation

The Parish Council welcomes the opportunity to respond to the consultation on the proposed local government reorganisation in Kent and Medway. We acknowledge and commend the considerable work and detailed analysis that has been undertaken by the Borough, District, and County Councils in preparing the different options now set out for consultation.

As a relatively small parish council, we do not have the specialist resources or capacity to undertake detailed analysis of the comparative merits of each option. We therefore rely on the evidence, research, and modelling prepared by the councils that have submitted proposals to central government.

Nonetheless, as the tier of government closest to residents, we are acutely aware of our communities and the critical value of local councils having first‑hand knowledge of those they represent. On this basis, we are generally supportive of Option 5A, put forward by Dartford Borough Council and Gravesham Borough Council, which proposes five unitary authorities across Kent and Medway. This model appears to offer a reasonable balance between strategic capacity and maintaining a strong connection with local communities, in contrast to options with fewer, larger authorities. We would also urge caution to ensure that reorganisation does not inadvertently move decision-making further away from residents or diminish local engagement.

The Parish Council has particular concerns regarding Option 4D, which would result in Sutton-at-Hone & Hawley being split between two separate unitary authorities. While parish boundaries would not automatically change as part of local government reorganisation, this arrangement would mean a single parish council operating across two principal authorities, creating unnecessary complexity in planning, service delivery, funding arrangements and day-to-day engagement which would inevitably lead to pressure for a future parish boundary review.  More importantly, Sutton-at-Hone & Hawley is one established and cohesive community – an identity we must retain. For these reasons, the Parish Council would not support Option 4D.

We would also like to highlight some broader observations regarding devolution and the role of parish councils:

• By “devolution,” the Government intends to transfer certain powers and decentralise aspects of decision-making, which in principle should increase local influence. In practice, however, the proposed reorganisation would abolish District and Borough Councils, creating unitary authorities that cover much larger areas. This change risks losing some of the advantages these smaller councils provide, such as detailed local knowledge of planning constraints and a nuanced understanding of community priorities.

• Parish councils therefore play a crucial role in maintaining local insight and engagement. The Government has confirmed that District and Borough Councils are expected to work closely with parish councils throughout the reorganisation process. Parish councils will, and should, have an enhanced role, providing vital local intelligence and ensuring that the connection between communities and decision-makers is retained even under larger unitary structures. It is therefore essential that parish councils are properly supported, consulted, and empowered, and that meaningful engagement continues and increases as the reorganisation process evolves, allowing parish councils to contribute effectively to planning, decision-making, and community engagement under any new governance arrangements.

In summary, the Parish Council:

• Supports the principle of local government reform aimed at improving efficiency and service delivery.
• Is generally in favour of the Option 5A model as it appears more likely to retain a closer connection between decision‑making and local communities than models with fewer unitary authorities.
• Option 4D is the least favourable for our parish
• Urges careful consideration to avoid diminishing local engagement and ensure access to services remains close to residents.
• Requests clearer detail on what reorganisation will mean in practice for parish councils, including roles, responsibilities, funding mechanisms, and working arrangements with new unitary structures.

We look forward to further engagement as proposals develop and hope that local voices continue to be heard throughout the implementation of any changes.