Overview

• Reform UK won 57 of 81 seats in May’s local elections to seize its first majority control of Kent County Council.
• The council created the Department of Local Government Efficiency in June to identify £40m in savings by scrapping net zero fleet and property upgrade plans.
• Since taking office, the authority has cut its debt by £16m, saving around £2,000 per day in interest payments.
• Early resignations of DOGE unit leaders and cancelled committee meetings have delayed key decisions during the administration’s initial months.
• Controversial moves have included repackaging £60m of highways projects approved under the previous administration and rejecting a motion on violence against women over disputed nationality claims.