By Local Democracy Reporter Simon Finlay
Cuts to services and the maximum rise in council tax are “inevitable” in Kent, it has been warned.
Opposition parties were reacting to Kent County Council leader Linden Kemkaran’s prediction of “necessary but difficult decisions” as budget setting for next year approaches.
Cllr Kemkaran said the soaring cost of delivering statutory adult social care services would force the authority to make “necessary but difficult decisions” but did not state what they might be.
A monitoring report to go before KCC’s cabinet next Wednesday states that based on quarter two figures and an annual budget of £1.53bn, there is an anticipated overspend of £46.5m or 3%.
The papers say: “The most significant overspend is in adult social care and health (ASCH), totalling £50.9m (7.2% overspend). Of this variance, £20.9m relates to savings which are no longer anticipated to be achieved in this year, leaving £30m of other service-related pressures.”
Cllr Kemkaran said: “The latest monitoring report illustrates the incredible challenges facing the authority, particularly in relation to adult social care.
“When we were elected in May, it became apparent how challenged the adult social care budget was.
“To remedy the situation, we will need to make necessary but difficult decisions, and we will require some additional input from central government.”
Cllr Kemkaran recently impressed the need for setting a council tax rise under the maximum of 4.9%.
But Liberal Democrat deputy opposition leader, Cllr Richard Streatfeild, said a full council tax rise is likely on the way, adding: “We said it during the election, we’ve been saying it since. It seems to have only just dawned on Reform.
“You cannot do anything else if you are going to maintain your statutory obligations and protect vital services. The next quarter is usually the most difficult. Last year, there was a £30m overspend in Q3.
“If Reform can’t get a grip of adult social care it will put a £100m hole in the budget.”
KCC deputy leader and head of finance, Cllr Brian Collins, said the council was looking at all areas for efficiencies but reiterated his stance that no decision has been made on setting the council tax.
But .. but … what about the huge savings brought about by the DOGE team uncovering enormous amounts of wasteful spending?
The savings had already been made before the election by the prior regime-Farage & Co just took credit.
Like DOGE in the US no doubt it has cost far more than to implement than any claimed savings-Trump decided after embarrassing posts/reporters digging & finding they were telling lies & distorting figures that it would all be hidden like the Epstein Files & you just have to believe them.
Even most of the flag waving chumps who voted for this garbage will surely at some point the next few years have to wake up & realise that race grifting, rage baiting & fake patriotism aren’t enough-you need some competent people to run councils & government.
When Reform is such a useless autocracy in any form of power, that people are jumping to the little fascist thug running Nigel’s redundant former one issue party, you know things are bad. Sure the KCC leader is horrendous & will be pushed out eventually, but whoever replaces her will be just as incompetent, even if they are less of a dictator.
Certainly changed her tune from the disastrous Zoom meeting a few weeks or so back.
Where have all the savings gone ? They promised to save a lot from shutting down green policies and also ending policies concerned with equality , fairness and support for minorities.
The fear being felt in local communities under this ‘Reform ‘ group’s ‘leadership’ will cost them dear at the next election.
Local politics is about people coming together so they can do a better job of looking after themselves and each other.
Mrs Goodyear – I Labour Party doomed and totally unelectable again, along with Conservative Party. What are we left with which is my biggest worry. I certainly would not vote Reform or Green Party which leaves me in no man’s land! (contrary to what Mr Nokes thinks of me!)
Efficiency savings by cutting staff, how does that work then?
Council staff are by and large (90%) part-time, clock-watching jobsworths.
40 years in business tells me neither local or county council employees put in a decent days work. On one visit to a council office (I won’t say which one) was staffed by a few obese old women who ignored me until FINALLY one struggled to get her fat backside out of her chair to serve me.
If you halved council wages you would still be overpaying such underperforming wasters.
Apart from being exist, misogynist and unpleasant your post shows all too clearly your level of ignorance.I hope you are slim and fit, because I would not fancy your chances if you turn up to an A&E with that sort of attitude.
One less than productive visit to a local govt officer in 40 years is hardly abundant evidence of the standard of council officials.
I once visited a car showroom where the salesman,and I use that term advisedly, proceeded to stuff a greasy sausage sandwich down his gullet, while trying to sell a car, he wanted to drop on some poor punter.
Now not for one minute do I decry poor customer service at one car dealership, as representing all car dealerships, let alone the private sector, but apparently you do with your negative outcome with the public sector.
I have worked in both sectors, and both have positives and negatives.Both can be forward thinking, responsive and flexible, and both can the exact opposite.
The deindustrialisation suffered in Britain during the 1980’s and 1990’s was not only due to neoliberalism at govt level, it was also due to poor management and a lack of investment in new processes ,in skills training,and leadership. Local government suffers these failings as well.
I am “Fed up”about being in the “Real world”, as I was expecting a rebate on my council tax based on Reform’s allegations of waste and corruption.
Welcome to reality Ms Kemkaran, there are no short cuts and magic bullets to dolge the crisis in local govt finance.
She is right,the Dilnot proposals ought to be implemented, but reorganisation is also necessary and quickly. The continued austerity in local govt finance is highly damaging because it undermines trust and hope that someone, anyone can turn the ship of state around.
I still doubt that failure at this level of government is going to dent Reform’s poll ratings, as there are still too many people out there who believe in fairies.
One thing I am hoping for on this much maligned budget is reform of the council tax bands and tax bases. It cannot be right that a three bedroom semi in Stoke pays more than Buckingham Palace (£1860.00 p.a.).
I have a question for you readers, why do you believe what politicians tell you, look at what it is they are promising you, then conduct some basic common scenes, not to be confused with wishful thinking or hoping that someone different will make an improvement. When you apply common sense you will see that there is not a quick fix, trying to turn the fortune of a failing county or country, will take hard work, and time, it must be planned carefully and whenever required Revised to ensure the target of a successful change remains in site. Not the continued cost cutting and lack of investment from the Tories, not labours, we know best attitude and change for the sake of change without considered planning in advance, not lib demo, good intentions and gimmicks, certainly not reform or whatever they want to call themselves run by a spiv, who makes out he is one of the people, for the people but really is clueless and could not be less like the average hard working person if he tried. Greens, raving loons and whoever else. Ultimately they come to platform on empty promises the have no hope of delivering as the choose a subject or two they know people are grieving about, then f..k up monumentally. We as a country require massive change to our political system and process, it needs balances and checks in place to ensure stability no matter which moron is running county Hall or Westminster, and fixed term of review, so if the are failing, they do not remain. Unitary authority for kent may work over a 10 year period, in the short and medium term until then, it will hurt, partly because there is not a planned tried and tested process in place to accommodate such change in such a large county and partly look at the idiots in county hall. So who are to blame, them or you for putting them there as you got all excited and fell for their bulls..t?
Has Nigel visited his St Petersburg constituency yet?