View source for Kent County Council

{{Short description|British administrative authority}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2015}}
{{Use British English|date=March 2015}}
{{Infobox legislature
| name = Kent County Council
| coa_pic = Arms_of_Kent_County_Council.svg
| coa_res = 180px
| coa_alt = <!--Heraldry description needed-->
| coa_caption = Coat of arms
| logo_pic = Kent County Council logo.svg
| logo_res = 180px
| logo_caption = Council logo
| session_room = File:County_Hall_Maidstone_001.jpg
| house_type = Non-metropolitan county
| leader1_type = [[Chairperson|Chairman]]
| leader1 = Richard Palmer
| party1 = <br/>[[Reform UK]]
| election1 = 22 May 2025<ref name=Barlow/>
| leader2_type = [[Leader of the Council|Leader]]
| leader2 = [[Linden Kemkaran]]
| party2 = <br/>[[Reform UK]]
| election2 = 22 May 2025
| leader3_type = [[Deputy leader|Deputy Leader]]
| leader3 = Brian Collins
| party3 = <br/>[[Reform UK]]
| election3 = 22 May 2025
| leader4_type = [[Chief Executive]]
| leader4 = Amanda Beer
| party4 = <!-- Non-political role -->
| election4 = July 2023
| leader5_type = [[Leader of the Opposition]]
| leader5 = [[Antony Hook]]
| party5 = <br/>[[Liberal Democrats (UK)|Liberal Democrats]]
| election5 = 1st May 2025
| seats = 81 councillors
| structure1 = File:Kent County Council.svg
| structure1_res = 250
| structure1_alt = 
| political_groups1 = ; Administration (47)
: {{nowrap|{{Color box|{{party color|Reform UK}}|border=darkgray}} [[Reform UK]] (47)}}
; Other parties (34)
: {{nowrap|{{Color box|{{party color|Liberal Democrats (UK, 2025)}}|border=darkgray}} [[Liberal Democrats (UK)|Liberal Democrat]] (12)}}
: {{Color box|{{party color|Independent politician}}|border=darkgray}} [[Independent politician|Independent]] (7)
: {{Color box|{{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}|border=darkgray}} [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]] (5)
: {{Color box|{{party color|Green Party of England and Wales}}|border=darkgray}} [[Green Party of England and Wales|Green]] (5)
: {{Color box|{{party color|Independent Reformers}}|border=darkgray}} [[Independent Reformers]] (2)
: {{Color box|{{party color|Labour Party (UK)}}|border=darkgray}} [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]] (2)
: {{Color box|{{party color|UK Independence Party}}|border=darkgray}} [[UK Independence Party|UKIP]] (1)

| term_length = 4 years
| last_election1 = [[2025 Kent County Council election|1 May 2025]]
| next_election1 = 2029
| voting_system1 = [[First-past-the-post voting|First-past-the-post]]
| meeting_place = [[County Hall, Maidstone|County Hall]], County Road, [[Maidstone]], ME14{{nbsp}}1XQ
| website = {{URL|www.kent.gov.uk}}
}}

'''Kent County Council''' is a [[county council]] that governs the [[non-metropolitan county]] of [[Kent]] in England. The non-metropolitan county is smaller than the [[ceremonial county]], which additionally includes the [[Unitary authorities of England|unitary authority]] of [[Medway]]. Kent County Council is the upper tier of elected local government, below which are 12 [[non-metropolitan district|district council]]s, and around 300 [[Parish councils in England|town and parish councils]]. The county council has 81 elected councillors. It is one of the largest local authorities in England in terms of population served and the largest local authority of its type.<ref group="notes">With a population of 1,576,100 at the 2021 census, Kent is the most populous non-metropolitan county in a two tier arrangement.</ref> The council is based at [[County Hall, Maidstone|County Hall]] in [[Maidstone]]. It had been under [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]] majority control from 1997 to 2025 when [[Reform UK]] took control.

==History==
Elected county councils were created in 1889 under the [[Local Government Act 1888]], taking over many administrative functions that had previously been performed by unelected [[magistrate]]s at the [[quarter sessions]]. The areas covered by the new county councils were termed [[administrative county|administrative counties]]. In Kent the administrative county differed from the [[Historic counties of England|historic county]] in a few places:<ref>[[Local Government Act 1888]]</ref>
*The north-western part of the historic county around [[Greenwich]], [[Lewisham]] and [[Woolwich]], which had been administered by the [[Metropolitan Board of Works]] since 1856, was transferred to the new [[County of London]].
*[[Canterbury]], which had been a self-governing [[county corporate]] since 1471, retained its independence by being made a [[county borough]].
*[[Urban sanitary district]]s which straddled county boundaries were placed entirely in one county, which saw [[Tunbridge Wells]] placed entirely in Kent, having previously straddled Kent and [[Sussex]].

The first elections to the county council were held in January 1889 and it formally came into being on 1 April 1889, on which day it held its first official meeting at the [[County Hall, Maidstone|Sessions House]] in [[Maidstone]]. [[Lennard baronets|John Farnaby Lennard]] was appointed the first chairman of the council.<ref>{{cite news |title=Kent County Council |url=https://www.findmypast.co.uk/search-newspapers |access-date=22 October 2023 |work=Kentish Express and Ashford News |date=6 April 1889}}</ref>

The county council's duties at first were few, but gradually it absorbed school boards, the rural [[highway board]]s and the boards of guardians. The county council adopted the Sessions House as its meeting place.<ref name=sessionshouse>{{NHLE|desc=The Old Sessions House, Maistone|num=1086392|access-date=8 September 2019}}</ref>

=== New Borders ===

In 1965, the [[London Government Act 1963]] abolished the existing county of London and replaced it with a larger administrative area called [[Greater London]], which took over the [[London Borough of Bexley|Bexley]] and [[London Borough of Bromley|Bromley]] areas from the administrative county of Kent. In 1974, the [[Local Government Act 1972]] saw Kent re-classified as a [[non-metropolitan county]] and it gained the formerly independent county borough of Canterbury.<ref>{{cite legislation UK|type=act|act=Local Government Act 1972|year=1972|chapter=70|access-date=22 October 2023}}</ref> Until 1974 the lower tier of local government had comprised numerous [[municipal borough|borough]]s, [[Urban district (England and Wales)|urban district]]s and [[rural district]]s. As part of the 1974 reforms, the lower tier was reorganised into fourteen [[non-metropolitan district]]s.<ref name=1972act>{{cite legislation UK|type=si|si=The English Non-metropolitan Districts (Definition) Order 1972|year=1972|number=2039|access-date=22 October 2023}}</ref>

=== Medway Split ===

In 1998 the districts of [[Gillingham, Medway|Gillingham]] and [[City of Rochester-upon-Medway|Rochester-upon-Medway]] were removed from the non-metropolitan county of Kent to become a new [[unitary authorities in England|unitary authority]] called [[Medway]], whilst remaining part of the [[ceremonial county]] of Kent.<ref>{{cite legislation UK|type=si|si=The Kent (Borough of Gillingham and City of Rochester upon Medway) (Structural Change) Order 1996|year=1996|number=1876|access-date=22 October 2023}}</ref>

=== New arrangements with Medway ===

Kent County Council co-operates with the [[unitary authority|unitary]] [[Medway|Medway Council]] in many ways, for instance in the Kent and Medway Local Plan, and together they run joint agencies. Kent is combined with Medway for the purposes of representation in [[Parliament of the United Kingdom|Parliament]]. The combined area elects 17 MPs, of whom 14 represent seats entirely within the Kent County Council area and another whose constituency is in both Kent and Medway.

== Reform UK administration (2025) ==

In the [[2025 Kent County Council election]],  [[Reform UK]] won outright control of the council and [[Linden Kemkaran]] was elected leader.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-05-08 |title=New KCC Reform UK leader reveals plan for council |url=https://www.kentonline.co.uk/kent/news/new-kcc-reform-uk-leader-reveals-plan-for-council-324062/ |access-date=2025-06-03 |website=Kent Online |language=en}}</ref> After being elected she said “we will simply put the people of Kent at the heart of everything we do”.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-05-22 |title="We will simply put the people of Kent at the heart of everything we do" - Leader's first speech at County Hall |url=https://news.kent.gov.uk/articles/full-council-article |access-date=2025-06-03 |website=news.kent.gov.uk}}</ref>

One key policy is a new cabinet role, held by Gravesham Councillor Matthew Fraser McMoat, inspired by the [[Department of Government Efficiency]] (DOGE) as promoted by [[Elon Musk]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-05-22 |title=Reform UK take control of Kent County Council with new cabinet |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cj099p8j95eo |access-date=2025-06-03 |website=BBC News |language=en-GB}}</ref>

The council will not fly the [[Rainbow flag (LGBTQ)|rainbow flag]] for [[Pride Month]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Murphy-Johns |first=Stanley |date=2025-05-22 |title=New Reform-led council will remove Pride and Ukrainian flags |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/kent-county-council-kent-hook-pride-reform-uk-b1229255.html |access-date=2025-06-03 |website=The Standard |language=en}}</ref> She said she saw having a [[Ukrainian flag]] in the council chamber as a "distraction".<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-05-08 |title=Reform UK councillors select new leader at Kent County Council |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c7v757r571po |access-date=2025-06-03 |website=BBC News |language=en-GB}}</ref> Kemkaran also said she intends to reduce the impact of illegal migration on residents in Kent.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-05-11 |title=I'll confront impact of migrants - new Kent leader |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cwy79ewqwneo |access-date=2025-06-03 |website=BBC News |language=en-GB}}</ref>

In July, Kemkaran shared a social media post claiming Reform had removed books containing transgender themes from the county's libraries with immediate effect. This was later found to be untrue with the challenged book simply moved from a display at the entrance to an adult section.<ref>{{Cite web |first1=Michael |last1=Keohan |first2=Christian |last2=Fuller |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c6257p2vry3o |title=Backlash after trans books removed from children's library section |date=4 July 2025 |website=BBC News |publisher=BBC |access-date=4 July 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last1=Walker |first1=Peter |last2=Creamer |first2=Ella |date=2025-07-04 |title=Reform councillor's boast about removing 'trans-ideological' books from children's library sections falls flat |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2025/jul/04/reform-councillors-boast-about-removing-trans-ideological-books-from-childrens-library-sections-falls-flat |access-date=2025-07-05 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> Kent Libraries went on to post a statement that they would no longer allow displays of transgender books to be in areas accessible by children.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kent Libraries |title=Update 4 July. 9.30pm |url=https://www.instagram.com/p/DLsMh3QqjV6/ |access-date=2025-07-05 |website=instagram.com}}</ref>

==== Suspensions and Defections ====

In August, councillor Daniel Taylor was suspended from the party after threatening to kill his wife.<ref>https://www.kentonline.co.uk/thanet/news/suspended-reform-councillor-to-stand-trial-over-threats-to-328944/</ref>

In September, councillor Amelia Randall defected from Reform UK to UKIP.<ref name="bbc01">{{Cite web |date=2025-09-08 |title=Reform UK county councillor defects to UKIP in Kent |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cly67nddy12o |access-date=2025-11-06 |website=BBC News |language=en-GB}}</ref>

In October, councillor Robert Ford was suspended from Reform UK after allegations of misconduct from 'several women', when approached about this by the BBC, he claimed "There is not one shred of evidence against me," adding he now gets "filthy looks in the street".<ref name="kent01">{{Cite web |date=2025-10-13 |title=Reform councillor suspended amid investigation into ‘lewd remarks’ |url=https://www.kentonline.co.uk/maidstone/news/reform-councillor-suspended-amid-misconduct-allegations-from-331118/ |access-date=2025-11-06 |website=Kent Online |language=en}}</ref><ref name="bbc02">{{Cite web |date=2025-10-27 |title=Five Reform UK councillors booted out of party in Kent |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c867g72nzq4o |access-date=2025-11-06 |website=BBC News |language=en-GB}}</ref> In the same month, the council faced scrutiny after leaked footage of an August meeting showed Kemkaran shouting down other councillors using profanities, apparently over disagreements regarding the council's response to national plans for local government reform (LGR), as well as threatening to mute another councillor.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Quinn |first=Ben |date=18 October 2025 |title='Suck it up': leaked video exposes bitter infighting at Reform UK's flagship Kent council |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2025/oct/18/suck-it-up-leaked-video-exposes-bitter-infighting-at-reform-uks-flagship-kent-council |access-date=18 October 2025 |work=The Guardian}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Harbert |first=Joe |date=18 October 2025 |title=Reform UK's Kent County Council leader, Linden Kemkaran, tells members to "f*****g suck it up" during discussions of local authority's finances |url=https://www.kentonline.co.uk/maidstone/news/reform-s-kcc-leader-tells-councillors-to-f-g-suck-it-up-331362/ |access-date=18 October 2025 |work=Kent Online}}</ref>

Kemkaran later messaged her members, calling those who leaked the video "weak" and "foolish", and accusing them of "treachery".<ref>{{Cite news |last=Finlay |first=Simon |date=18 October 2025 |title=Kent County Council Reform UK leader Linden Kemkaran pledges hunt for "cowards" behind video leak "treachery" |url=https://www.kentonline.co.uk/maidstone/news/reform-uk-leader-pledges-hunt-for-cowards-behind-video-lea-331366/ |access-date=18 October 2025 |work=Kent Online}}</ref> On Monday 20 October, Reform UK announced that four councillors were being suspended – Paul Thomas (Maidstone South), Oliver Bradshaw (Maidstone Central), Bill Barrett (Ashford Rural South) and Maxine Fothergill (Sevenoaks Rural North East) – supporting the leader, Linden Kemkaran in her contention that ". . . we are the shop window in KCC. People are looking at us, they are judging us every single minute of every single day. Nigel knows that. He is super aware that we are the flagship council.”<ref name="Independent Reform UK Councillors suspended">{{cite news |last1=Cooke |first1=Millie |last2=Mitchell |first2=Archie |title=Reform UK councillors suspended over leaked video |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/reform-uk-nigel-farage-kent-council-video-b2848323.html |work=The Independent |issue=20 October 2025 |date=2025 |language=en}}</ref>

On 27 October, Bill Barrett and Robert Ford were expelled from Reform UK for undermining the interests of the party, while Oliver Bradshaw, Brian Black, and Paul Thomas were expelled for  "a pattern of dishonest and deceptive behaviour which [Reform UK] will not tolerate".<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-10-27 |title=Reform expels three more councillors for 'dishonest and deceptive' behaviour |url=https://www.kentonline.co.uk/kent/news/reform-expels-three-more-councillors-for-dishonest-and-dece-331723/ |access-date=2025-10-27 |website=Kent Online |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-10-27 |title=Five Reform UK councillors booted out of party in Kent |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c867g72nzq4o |access-date=2025-10-27 |website=BBC News |language=en-GB}}</ref>

On the 5 November, councillor Isabella Kemp was listed as an independent on the KCC website, as she had left the party 10 hours before KCC was to meet.<ref>https://www.itv.com/news/meridian/2025-11-06/more-reform-uk-losses-in-largest-council-run-by-the-party</ref>

==== Independent Reformers ====

On the 29th of October 2025 expelled Ashford councillor Bill Barrett announced a new grouping to sit on KCC known as the Independent Reformers or Independent Reform Group, consisting of him and Robert Ford.  He said his motivation in creating this group was, "It's basically for the people that we represent, to give them elected councillors with a democratic mandate and to carry on with the work of representing them in the best way possible".<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-10-29 |title=Expelled county councillor announces new Kent ‘Independent Reformers’ group |url=https://www.kentonline.co.uk/kent/news/expelled-county-councillor-announces-new-kent-independent-r-331850/ |access-date=2025-11-07 |website=Kent Online |language=en}}</ref>

KCC Leader Linden Kemkaran, after being asked if the move worried her, said "No, not really, because we are united and we are strong and we are determined to carry on. We are doing things for the people of Kent".<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-10-30 |title=Reform’s KCC chief brushes off talk of rival group |url=https://www.kentonline.co.uk/kent/news/reform-s-kcc-chief-brushes-off-talk-of-rival-group-331876/ |access-date=2025-11-07 |website=Kent Online |language=en}}</ref>

Councillors Oliver Bradshaw, Brian Black and Paul Thomas, who were part of the group expelled, pledged their support for Reform UK and stated they would not join the Independent Reformers Group.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-11-04 |title='Outright lie’: Kent leader slams Rachel Reeves' comments over tax increases - Yahoo News UK |url=https://uk.news.yahoo.com/outright-lie-kent-leader-slams-175816412.html |access-date=2025-11-07 |website=Yahoo News |language=en-GB}}</ref>

==Council structure==
{{Infobox Legislature
| name = Cabinet Members
| leader1_type = [[Leader of the Council|Leader]]
| leader1 = [[Linden Kemkaran]]
| party1 = <br/>[[Reform UK]]
| leader2_type = [[Deputy leader|Deputy Leader]]
| leader2 = Brian Collins
| party2 = <br/>[[Reform UK]]
| leader3_type = [[Secretary of State for Health and Social Care|Adult Social Care and Public Health]]
| leader3 = Diane Morton
| party3 = <br/>[[Reform UK]]
| leader4_type = [[Secretary of State for the Home Department|Community and Regulatory Services]]
| leader4 = Paul Webb
| party4 = <br/>[[Reform UK]]
| leader5_type = [[DOGE|Local Government Efficiency]]
| leader5 = Matthew Fraser McMoat
| party5 = <br/>[[Reform UK]]
| leader6_type = [[Chancellor of the Exchequer|Economic, Developmental and Coastal Regeneration]]
| leader6 = Paul King
| party6 = <br/>[[Reform UK]]
| leader7_type = [[Secretary of State for Education|Education and Skills]]
| leader7 = Beverley Fordham
| party7 = <br/>[[Reform UK]]
| leader8_type = [[Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs|Environment]]
| leader8 = David Wimble
| party8 = <br/>[[Reform UK]]
| leader9_type = [[Secretary of State for Education|Integrated Children's Services]]
| leader9 = Christine Palmer
| party9 = <br/> [[Reform UK]]
| leader10_type = [[Secretary of State for Transport|Highways and Transport]]
| leader10 = Peter Osborne
| party10 = <br/> [[Reform UK]]
}}

The council is structured as follows:<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20070207120402/http://www.kent.gov.uk/council-and-democracy/about-the-council/how-the-council-works/council-structure-1.htm Council structure<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>

=== Cabinet ===

The cabinet is made up of ten county councillors. The cabinet is responsible for the strategic thinking and decisions that steer how the council is run. The cabinet meets monthly and takes decisions collectively, its current composition is visible in the infobox.<ref>https://www.kent.gov.uk/about-the-council/how-the-council-works/the-cabinet</ref>

=== County Council ===
The County Council is made up of 81 elected county councillors. The full council meets seven times a year to agree the council's Constitution and amendments to it, appoint the Leader, and approve the policy framework and budget (including the level of [[Council Tax]]).

=== Local Boards ===
Local boards are local community groups that hold regular public meetings across Kent, so that the people of Kent can voice issues that affect their community. They also allocate funding to local projects. There are 12 local boards in Kent, and every county councillor is required to be a member of one local board.

==Governance==
Kent County Council provides [[non-metropolitan county|county-level]] services. [[Non-metropolitan district|District-level]] services are provided by the twelve district councils:
{{Div col}}
* [[Ashford Borough Council]]
* [[Canterbury City Council]]
* [[Dartford Borough Council]]
* [[Dover District Council]]
* [[Folkestone and Hythe (District)|Folkestone and Hythe District Council]]
* [[Gravesham Borough Council]]
* [[Maidstone Borough Council]]
* [[Sevenoaks District Council]]
* [[Swale Borough Council]]
* [[Thanet District Council]]
* [[Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council]]
* [[Tunbridge Wells Borough Council]]
{{Div col end}}

Much of the county is also covered by [[civil parish]]es, which form a third tier of local government.<ref name=electionmaps>{{cite web |title=Election Maps |url=https://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/election-maps/gb/ |publisher=Ordnance Survey |access-date=17 October 2023}}</ref><ref name=1972act/>

===Political control===
The county council has been under [[Reform UK]] majority control since 2025.<ref name=BBC>{{cite web | title=LIVE: Reform win control of Kent County Council | website=Kent Online | date=2025-05-02 | url=https://www.kentonline.co.uk/kent/news/parties-to-learn-fate-with-local-election-count-set-to-begin-323715/ | access-date=2025-05-02}}</ref>

Political control of the council since the 1974 reforms has been as follows:<ref name=compositions>{{cite web |title=Compositions Calculator |url=https://www.electionscentre.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/composition_calc.html |access-date=5 March 2025 |website=The Elections Centre |publisher=University of Exeter}} (Put "Kent" in search box to see specific results.)</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
! colspan=2|Party in control || Years
|-
| {{Party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}} || 1974–1993
|-
| {{Party name with colour|No overall control}} || 1993–1997
|-
| {{Party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}} || 1997–2025
|- 
| {{Party name with colour|Reform UK}} || 2025–Present
|}

===Leadership===
The [[leader of the council|leaders of the council]] since 1974 have been:

{| class=wikitable
! Councillor !! colspan=2|Party !! From !! To !! Notes
|-
| [[John Grugeon]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/politics-obituaries/7038110/Sir-John-Grugeon.html|title=Sir John Grugeon|publisher=The Telegraph|date=20 January 2010|access-date=7 June 2012}}</ref> || {{Party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}} || align=right|1974 || align=right|1982 ||
|-
| Bobby Neame<ref>{{cite news |last1=Protz |first1=Roger |title=Robert Neame obituary |url=https://www.theguardian.com/food/2019/dec/02/robert-neame-obituary |access-date=24 July 2022 |work=The Guardian |date=2 December 2019}}</ref> || {{Party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}} || align=right|1982 || align=right|1984 ||
|-
| [[Tony Hart (politician)|Tony Hart]]<ref name="telegraph.co.uk1">{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/politics-obituaries/5819641/Tony-Hart.html|title=Tony Hart|date=13 July 2009|work=The Daily Telegraph|access-date=13 June 2015}}</ref> || {{Party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}} || align=right|1984 || align=right|1992 ||
|-
| Brenda Trench<ref>{{cite news |title=First woman leader of KCC dies |url=https://www.kentonline.co.uk/ashford/news/first-woman-leader-of-kcc-dies-a20332/ |access-date=5 March 2025 |work=Kent Online |date=16 September 2005}}</ref> || {{Party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}} || align=right|1992 || align=right|1993 ||
|-
| Jim Little || {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}} || rowspan=2 align=right|1993 || rowspan=2 align=right|1994 || rowspan=2|Joint leaders<ref>{{cite news |last1=Cruickshank |first1=Andrew |title=County truce falling apart |url=https://www.findmypast.co.uk/image-viewer?issue=BL%2F0003588%2F19931125&page=2 |access-date=5 March 2025 |work=Sevenoaks Chronicle |date=25 November 1993 |page=2}}</ref>
|-
| Alison Wainman || {{Party name with colour|Liberal Democrats (UK)}}
|-
| [[John Ovenden]]<ref>{{cite news |title=John is new head of Labour group |url=https://www.findmypast.co.uk/image-viewer?issue=BL%2F0004721%2F19940401&page=4 |access-date=5 March 2025 |work=Isle of Thanet Gazette |date=1 April 1994 |location=Margate |page=4}}</ref> || {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}} || rowspan=2 align=right|1994 || rowspan=2 align=right|1997 || rowspan=2|Joint leaders<ref>{{cite news |last1=Francis |first1=Paul |title=Hundreds of jobs to go in huge cutback |url=https://www.findmypast.co.uk/image-viewer?issue=BL%2F0005424%2F19970213&page=9 |access-date=5 March 2025 |work=Kentish Express |date=13 February 1997 |location=Ashford |page=9}}</ref>
|-
| Alison Wainman || {{Party name with colour|Liberal Democrats (UK)}}
|-
| [[Sandy Bruce-Lockhart, Baron Bruce-Lockhart|Sandy Bruce-Lockhart]]<ref>{{cite news |title=Sir Sandy quits as council leader |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/kent/4237472.stm |access-date=24 July 2022 |work=BBC News |date=12 September 2005}}</ref> || {{party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}} || align=right|May 1997 || align=right|12 Oct 2005 ||
|-
| [[Paul Carter (politician)|Paul Carter]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Council minutes, 12 October 2005 |url=https://democracy.kent.gov.uk:9071/Data/County%20Council/20051012/Agenda/$Minutes.doc.pdf |website=Kent County Council |access-date=5 March 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Francis |first1=Paul |title=Kent County Council Conservative leader Paul Carter to step down |url=https://www.kentonline.co.uk/kent/news/kent-county-council-leader-to-step-down-211729/ |access-date=5 March 2025 |work=Kent Online |date=5 September 2019}}</ref> || {{party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}} || align=right|12 Oct 2005 || align=right|17 Oct 2019 ||
|-
| Roger Gough<ref>{{cite web |title=Council minutes, 17 October 2019 |url=https://democracy.kent.gov.uk:9071/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=113&MId=8426 |website=Kent County Council |access-date=5 March 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Maisner |first1=Stuart |title=Reform wins control in Kent after Tory wipeout |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c367lry5ypxo |access-date=1 June 2025 |work=BBC News |date=2 May 2025}}</ref> || {{party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}} || align=right|17 Oct 2019 || align=right|May 2025 ||
|-
| [[Linden Kemkaran]]<ref name=Barlow>{{cite news |last1=Barlow |first1=Patrick |title=Reform launch 'DOGE' role at first council meeting |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cj099p8j95eo |access-date=1 June 2025 |work=BBC News |date=22 May 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Council meeting, 22 May 2025 |url=https://democracy.kent.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=113&MId=9527 |website=Kent County Council |access-date=1 June 2025}}</ref> || {{party name with colour|Reform UK}} || align=right|22 May 2025 || ||
|}

===Composition===
The current council was formed after the [[2025 Kent County Council election|2025 election]]. Since then, seven Reform UK councillors have been suspended and/or expelled from the party
<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bailes |first=Kathy |date=2025-07-06 |title=Call for by-election after charges against county councillor for Cliftonville are revealed |url=https://theisleofthanetnews.com/2025/07/06/call-for-by-election-after-charges-against-county-councillor-for-cliftonville-are-revealed/ |access-date=2025-07-07 |website=The Isle Of Thanet News |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref name="kent01" /><ref>{{Cite news |last=Quinn |first=Ben |date=20 October 2025 |title=Reform suspends four Kent councillors after Guardian publishes leaked video of fierce infighting |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2025/oct/20/reform-suspends-four-kent-councillors-after-leaked-video-exposes-fierce-infighting |access-date=20 October 2025 |work=The Guardian}}</ref><ref name="bbc02" /> another has defected to UKIP and one has resigned from Reform, two expelled councillors have formed the Independent Reformers.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Finlay |first=Simon |date=1 November 2025 |title=Expelled Kent county councillor announces rival group |url=https://www.kentlive.news/news/kent-news/expelled-kent-county-councillor-announces-10614421 |access-date=6 November 2025 |website=Kent Live |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=6 November 2025 |title=Reform UK loses another councillor on Kent County Council |url=https://www.itv.com/news/meridian/2025-11-06/more-reform-uk-losses-in-largest-council-run-by-the-party |access-date=6 November 2025 |website=ITV News}}</ref><ref name="bbc01" /><ref name="bbc02" />

3 Independent Councillors have pledged to vote with and support Reform UK.<ref name=":0" />

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|-
! colspan="2" rowspan="2" class=unsortable style="width:40%; vertical-align:middle;" | Party
! colspan="3"                              style="vertical-align:top;" | Councillors
|-
! data-sort-type=number style="width:20%;" | Elected<ref>{{cite web |title=County councillors |url=https://www.kent.gov.uk/about-the-council/how-the-council-works/county-councillors |website=Kent County Council |access-date=5 March 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=County Council - Thursday, 1st May, 2025 |url=https://democracy.kent.gov.uk:9071/mgElectionResults.aspx?ID=51&RPID=283932096 |access-date=20 October 2025 |website=Kent County Council}}</ref>
! style="width:20%;" | Current<ref>{{Cite web |title=County councillors |url=https://www.kent.gov.uk/about-the-council/how-the-council-works/county-councillors |access-date=31 October 2025 |website=www.kent.gov.uk}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Open Council Data UK - compositions councillors parties wards elections emails |url=http://www.opencouncildata.co.uk/council.php?c=12&y=0 |access-date=2025-10-31 |website=www.opencouncildata.co.uk}}</ref>
! style="width:20%;" | Differ&shy;ence
|-
| {{Party name with colour|Reform UK}} || 57 || 47 || {{decrease}} 10
|-
| {{Party name with colour|Liberal Democrats (UK)}} || 12 || 12 || {{steady}}
|-
| {{Party name with colour|Independent}} || 0 || 7 || {{increase}} 7
|-
| {{Party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}} || 5 || 5 || {{steady}}
|-
| {{Party name with colour|Green Party of England and Wales}} || 5 || 5 || {{steady}}
|-
| {{Party name with colour|Independent Reformers}} || 0 || 2 || {{increase}} 2
|-
| {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}} || 2 || 2 || {{steady}}
|-
| {{Party name with colour|UKIP}} || 0 || 1 || {{increase}} 1
|-
! colspan=2 style="text-align:left;"|Total !! 81 !! 81 !! {{steady}}
|}

The next election is due in 2029.<ref>{{cite web |title=Kent |url=https://www.localcouncils.co.uk/councils/?council=kent |website=Local Councils |publisher=Thorncliffe |access-date=1 June 2025}}</ref>

===Elections===
{{see also|Kent County Council elections}}
Since the last boundary changes in 2019 the council has comprised 81 [[councillor]]s representing 72 [[Wards and electoral divisions of the United Kingdom|electoral divisions]], with each division electing one or two councillors. Elections are held every four years.<ref>{{cite legislation UK|type=si|si=The Kent (Electoral Changes) Order 2016|year=2016|number=658}}</ref>

===Premises===
The council is based at [[County Hall, Maidstone|County Hall]], a complex of buildings on County Road in Maidstone which incorporates the old Sessions House of 1824, which had been the meeting place of the quarter sessions which preceded the county council.<ref name=sessionshouse/> The council has various other buildings around the county as well.<ref>{{cite web |title=Our offices |url=https://www.kent.gov.uk/about-the-council/our-offices#tab-1 |website=Kent County Council |access-date=22 October 2023}}</ref>

==Responsibilities and Directorates==
The council is responsible for public services such as education, transport, strategic planning, emergency services, social services, public safety and waste disposal.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20081203185407/http://www.kent.gov.uk/council-and-democracy/about-the-council/how-the-council-works/constitution/executive-summary.htm Executive summary]</ref>

===Transportation===
{{anchor|Kent Top Travel}}
[[File:Kent Top Travel logo.png|left|thumb|upright=.5]]
Kent Top Travel<ref>[http://data.companieshouse.gov.uk/doc/company/05242900 Companies House extract company no 5242900] Kent Top Temps Limited</ref> was owned by Kent County Council, and was established by them in 2005. It operated the council's bus network.<ref name=Buses>[http://www.busesmag.com/view_article.asp?ID=5456 Kent takes axe to council bus operation] ''[[Buses (magazine)|Buses]]'' 13 January 2013</ref> It was argued that its existence stimulated competition. It also operated a coach charter fleet. The majority of Kent Top Travel's route portfolio comprised rural, evening and Sunday services won under competitive tender from Kent County Council and other local authorities in open competition with private bus operators. Kent Top Travel operated [[Canterbury City Council]]'s [[park & ride]] service from October 2008 until 2013.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20120213141439/http://www.canterbury.gov.uk/main.cfm?objectid=1797 Park & Ride Contract] Canterbury City Council</ref><ref>[http://www.busandcoach.com/newspage.aspx?id=2151&categoryid=0 Kent Top Travel takes on Canterbury park] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131021184054/http://www.busandcoach.com/newspage.aspx?id=2151&categoryid=0 |date=2013-10-21 }} ''Bus & Coach Professional'' 24 October 2008</ref> Kent Top Travel operated both single and double deck buses as well as charter coaches. Buses were painted in a white and green livery, the Canterbury park & ride fleet silver and green. Coaches were painted both white & red, and yellow.

Following an independent report criticising Kent County Council's trading companies, in December 2012 it was decided to close Kent Top Travel once its existing contracts expired.<ref name=Buses/><ref>[http://www.kentonline.co.uk/kentonline/home/2012/december/13/top_travel.aspx End of road for Kent County Council bus company Kent Top Travel] ''KentOnline'' 13 December 2012</ref><ref>[http://issuu.com/rouncymedia/docs/binder1092_1 Kent County Council to abandon Kent Top Travel] ''[[Coach & Bus Week]]'' issue 1092 19 June 2013 page 5</ref> Kent Top Travel ceased trading on 1 October 2013.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20130818042617/http://www.kenttoptravel.co.uk/ Thank you for visiting the Kent Top Travel website] Kent Top Travel 18 August 2013</ref>

=== Directorates ===
The work of the council is organized into directorates:

=== Strategic and Corporate Services ===
supports the work of the directorates by providing specialist expertise and strategic direction. The department also leads and co-ordinates major change and organisational development.: It manages services that include human resources, finance, governance, law and democracy, strategic commissioning, property and infrastructure, information technology, media and communications, consultation and engagement, customer relations including gateways and contact centre, business intelligence and policy.

=== Children, Young People and Education ===
It combines Education services with universal and targeted services for children and young people designed to reduce demand for specialist services, also provided in this directorate. By focusing on prevention and early intervention, their aim is to reduce demand in specialist children's social services by helping families earlier, improving parenting skills and the health and educational outcomes of young children, ensuring they are school ready. KCC will intervene earlier to support families in crisis through area based working and joined up teams providing a more seamless service and better working arrangements with partner organisations.: This encompasses the Kent Youth County Council which provides the young people of the county to have a voice on the issues that matter to young people aged 11–18. Successes of the youth council include the introduction of the [[Kent Freedom Pass]] in 2007, which later rebranded in 2019 to The KCC Travel Saver. The scheme offers significant discounts on bus travel for children and students within Kent, enabling cost savings of up to 50% for eligible users.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.kent.gov.uk/education-and-children/schools/school-transport/KCC-travel-saver| title=KCC Travel Saver}}</ref> The Youth County Council holds its elections every November, and four young people from each of the 12 districts are elected to a two-year term. The Kent Youth County Council is also affiliated with the [[UK Youth Parliament]] and [[British Youth Council]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kent.gov.uk/kycc|title=Kent Youth County Council|publisher=Kent.gov.uk|access-date=12 September 2011|archive-date=6 September 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080906121820/http://www.kent.gov.uk/kycc|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Adult Social Care and Health ===
Provides support and care for adults who need assistance due to age, disability, or health conditions. It aims to help individuals live as independently as possible while ensuring their well-being and safety.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.kent.gov.uk/social-care-and-health/adult-social-care/what-to-expect-from-us|title=What to expect from Kent adult social care}}</ref>

=== Growth, Environment and Transport ===
This includes strategic responsibility for the future of the county in terms of planning, economic development, transport policy, and major transport improvement schemes, waste disposal and recycling services. In addition to a range of leisure and cultural facilities including the Turner Contemporary; country parks; libraries; and enforcement services including trading standards and community safety.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.kentleadership.co.uk/About-us/Structure-of-KCC|title=Kent Leadership {{!}} Kent County Council - Structure of KCC|website=www.kentleadership.co.uk|access-date=2017-05-02}}{{Dead link|date=May 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

==See also==
* [[List of Members of Parliament in Kent]]
* [[White horse of Kent]]

==Notes==
{{Reflist|group=notes}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.kent.gov.uk/ Kent County Council]

{{County councils of England}}
{{Local authorities in Kent}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Kent County Council| ]]
[[Category:Local government in Kent]]
[[Category:Politics of Kent]]
[[Category:County councils of England]]
[[Category:Local authorities in Kent]]
[[Category:1889 establishments in England]]
[[Category:Local education authorities in England]]
[[Category:Major precepting authorities in England]]
[[Category:Leader and cabinet executives]]