Devolution Priority Programme

In December 2024 the Government published the English Devolution White Paper inviting councils to apply for priority status.

The White Paper proposed both the devolution of powers and budgets to elected mayors and the reorganisation of local government resulting in the abolition of county and district councils and the creation of new unitary councils.

Kent County Council and Medway Council responded to the White Paper by asking to be included in the Devolution Priority Programme (DPP).

On 5 February 2025 the Government announced that Kent and Medway had not been included in the DPP.

Find out more in our Devolution webpage.

Leader’s statement

In response to the news Borough Council Leader Ben Chapelard gave the following statement:

"I am disappointed that Kent has not been accepted on to the Government’s Devolution Priority Programme. The news is not in the best interests of the borough or the county’s residents.

All Council Leaders across Kent have worked together to agree a way forward. We have demonstrated a commitment to the Government’s ambitious devolution programme and to reshaping local government for the benefit of residents and businesses. We now need to hear from the Government to understand why the unanimously supported Kent application was rejected and what this now means for transferring power away from Westminster to Kent and Tunbridge Wells.

Devolution and reorganising local councils has the potential to boost local decision making to tackle the issues residents and businesses care about. The Government’s delaying is not in our best interests and we need to get on with it to deliver for the communities we serve."