Kent County Council still mulling legal action over Government decision on reorganisation despite pause

This comes despite the Government announcing earlier this month that following “updated and privileged legal advice”, ministers would review plans for Local Government Reorganisation (LGR).

This meant the decision for Kent has been paused and will be reviewed alongside those for 13 other areas.

At a council meeting on 17 September, Cllr Kemkaran claimed that ministers are “treating LGR as a game”.

She continued: “Members will know from recent reports in the press that I am considering a legal challenge to the 16th of July decision.

“You may ask, why bother? Especially now the government has told us to pause. Well because, a pause is not a withdrawal. The government withdrew its decisions for four areas in the devolution priority programme ahead of court proceedings. It did not withdraw the Kent and Medway decision.

“Any judicial review challenge to the original LGR decision must be brought promptly and in any event within three months. That gives us a deadline of mid-October. We understand that this time limit does not stop running merely because the government has chosen to pause and review its own decision.”

She warned that dividing services between four councils is “risky” and “takes serious preparation”.

According to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG), local elections in May 2027 will “go ahead on existing council boundaries” and the Government “remains committed to effective and sustainable local government and simplifying these structures”.

Angela Rayner told MPs that she had asked the Minister for Local Government, Devolution and Regional Growth to undertake "a rapid review" of the Local Government Reorganisation programme.

Reorganisation in Surrey has not been affected by the review and the two new unitary authorities in the area – East and West Surrey – will still go live in April 2027.  

A Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government spokesperson said: “We recognise the need to provide certainty as quickly as possible so areas have clarity over their future, and we will set out next steps as soon as possible.

“It would not be appropriate to comment on legal proceedings.”

Lottie Winson