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Kent could get mayor and lose district councils as Angela Rayner proposes devolution as part of local government reforms


Published on 2024-12-16 15:01:11 - MSN
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  • The government has announced the biggest shake-up in local councils for half a century - but Kent's future direction is far from clear. The English Devolution White Paper launched this afternoon outlines new structures which could see a new mayor for the county and the abolition of all 12 borough and district councils.

Angela Rayner, Labour's deputy leader, has proposed significant local government reforms that could see Kent potentially gaining a mayor and losing its district councils as part of a broader devolution plan. This initiative aims to streamline local governance by reducing the number of councils, which Rayner argues will save money and enhance efficiency. The proposal includes the possibility of implementing a directly elected mayor for Kent, similar to systems in London and Greater Manchester, to foster a more integrated approach to regional development and decision-making. This move is part of Labour's strategy to devolve more power from Westminster to local communities, although specific details on how these changes would be implemented or their exact impact on local services remain under discussion.

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