This month, the Government confirmed that Kent will not be included in the fast-tracked devolution programme.
You will know from my previously newsletters, that I have opposed this proposal since it was first discussed last year. I do not want to lose Sevenoaks District Council (SDC) and all the great things it does locally for us all. For instance, we are the last authority in Kent to provide a weekly bin collection. They maintain our clean streets, provide leisure facilities, community support and activities. It is no wonder that it has previously been recognised at awards for being the best council in the country, and in response to regular resident surveys, these show high levels of satisfaction when compared to other councils.
While I support the principle of devolving more power to counties, districts, and boroughs, I strongly oppose this being used as a pretext to abolish our excellent SDC and shift power to Maidstone.
The Government is still demanding that Kent councils submit an interim proposal by 21 March on how Kent and Medway could be divided into unitary authorities, with full proposals due by 28 November. Where is the opportunity for public consultation before these drastic changes are rushed through? This is not true devolution - it is a top-down mandate designed to centralise power further.
I see no direct benefit to our area, so and as such, I will continue to stand up for SDC, its officers and our hard-working councillors.
As ever, if there are any local issues you wish to raise with me, please do not hesitate to get in touch at [email protected].
Laura Trott
MP for Sevenoaks and Swanley
To see Laura's newsletter in full click here