Reform UK to choose new leader of KCC tonight

By Local Democracy Reporter Simon Finlay

Reform UK will choose the new leader of Kent County Council (KCC) this evening (May 8).

All 57 of the party’s new intake are believed to be attending County Hall in Maidstone for a meeting scheduled for 6.30pm.

Reform UK stormed to victory last Thursday at the polls, sweeping aside the ruling Conservative administration of 28 years.

Several names have been put forward as front runners including Maxine Fothergill (Sevenoaks Rural North East), Linden Kemkaran (Maidstone South East) and Paul Thomas (Maidstone South). Romney Marsh’s David Wimble is believed to be proposed as deputy.

The winner of this evening’s vote will be tasked to steer the authority through some of the most important moments in KCC’s long history.

Not only will Reform UK inherit a council teetering on the edge of bankruptcy but will have to dismantle it entirely to make way for the government’s local government while providing all the statutory services, such as the costly adult social care.

The previous council leadership – as did many others across the country – complained to central government about inadequate levels of funding to meet the soaring cost of services.

A Reform UK spokesman said: “There are a number of candidates who have put their names forward and it will be up to the new members, all 57 of them, to come to their own decision.

“While I am not going to get into the internals of the process, there has been a mandate for serious change at Kent County Council and to lead the council for the next four years.

“The leadership will be a fair and robust process to find the right person to lead KCC.”

The  Conservatives, who were decimated from 57 councillors to just five in what its defeated leader Roger Gough described as an “apocalyptic” result at the count on May 2, have yet to elect a group leader. Malling West member, Harry Rayner, is thought to be the favourite.

The Liberal Democrats, with 12 members, are now the official opposition.

Cllr Rayner said: “I do genuinely wish Reform all the best in the new administration. But the reality is that running a council with a turnover of £2bn has to be faced by newly elected people with little experience of running an authority of this size.”

To add to the challenges faced by Reform UK, the council’s chief executive, Amanda Beer, is stepping down in November.

The recruitment process to replace her was delayed until the outcome of the May election.

Lib Dem opposition leader Cllr Antony Hook said: “The very important recruitment of a new chief executive will start in the summer. It will be interesting to see who will apply for the job now that Reform is in charge.”