LGR options
Published
Monday 8 September, 2025
Updated
Monday 8 September, 2025
A full council meeting will take place next week to discuss the next steps for Local Government Reorganisation in Swale.
Government ministers are pushing for the biggest shake-up of local government in 50 years, with the aim of abolishing existing councils and creating a smaller number of new unitary authorities across Kent. These new unitary councils would deliver all local services, from education and roads to emptying bins and providing council housing.
Following a meeting of Kent and Medway council leaders last week, two options for new unitary councils have been chosen to proceed to a full business case, funded by a government grant. Swale Borough Council will meet on Wednesday 17 September to consider its position on these two options.
The two proposals being looked at in detail are:
- Three unitary councils, which would see Swale grouped with Medway, Gravesham and Dartford.
- Four unitary councils, which would see Swale grouped with Ashford and Folkestone and Hythe councils.
The meeting of Kent leaders reviewed seven different options in total. Swale's preferred option, which would have seen it grouped with Ashford and Maidstone, was not selected to move forward with the government funding. However, individual councils retain the right to commission and fund business cases for alternative options.
Councillor Tim Gibson, Leader of Swale Borough Council, said:
"The proposed reorganisation of local government is a significant moment for the future of our area.
“The full council will meet on 17 September to discuss the two options that are going forward for a government-funded business case, as well as whether we want to fund our own business case for a different option. It is vital that we get this right.
“We will also be asking the public and our key stakeholders for their views on what is most important to them and what needs to be considered as we move forward."
Business cases for the two government-funded options need to be submitted to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government by 28 November. The final decision on the new structure rests with ministers.
In the meantime, the public engagement exercise to gauge what is important to residents in the reorganisation will begin next week. This follows an initial awareness survey and a publicity campaign across Kent.
For more information about Local Government Reorganisation in Kent, visit the Kent Council Leaders website.
