Reform UK’s showcase council in Kent faces “tremendous risk” and “instability”, opposition politicians have warned, after it passed its first budget.
Party councilors announced a 3.99% council tax rise on Thursday night, despite promising to increase the tax by one percentage point over the pre-referendum cap and no tax increase before an election victory.
The council’s leader, Linden Kemkaran, described it as a “sensible, low-tax budget”, while opposition parties said it left the council’s balances “dangerously low” and the local authority’s risk register exposed to a total financial loss of more than £410m.
The vote was 48 councilors in favor – the number still reforming after a tumultuous period in which many left Nigel Farage’s coalition on the council – with 26 against and one abstention.
The plan was described as a “casino budget” by Liberal Democrat opposition leader Antony Hook, who brought letters and pamphlets through the reform pledging to cut council tax ahead of last year’s local council elections.
“It has [Kent county council’s] The highest ever exposure to financial risk – immediate risk this year is £411m (up 60% on last year) and almost all are likely to be rated ‘4 out of 5’,” he said.
Accusing the reform of increasing “attacks on the vulnerable”, Hooke cut £1.2m from establishment services and £700,000 from fostering children with disabilities.
He said that funding for infrastructure is stable and does not keep pace with inflation. “So, in real terms, the reforms are reducing the highways budget. More potholes, more road collapses and a crumbling network.”
The Green Party’s Stuart Heaver described the budget as “a triumph of political posturing over the interests of residents”.
“This is a showcase council for Nigel Farage and it’s their main priority is cosmetics – looking good – not serving the interests of Kent,” he said.
“The statutory financial assurance report is dire to say the least – their budget puts the whole council’s sustainability at risk. Never mind that they brag that council tax has been raised less than their predecessors.”
During the debate, the council’s deputy leader, Brian Collins, described the budget as “carefully thought out”, adding: “Some call it risky, I call it bold.”
Kemkaran said the Reform Council prefers not to propose a tax increase, saying “it’s simply not possible” because of the “terrible legacy we’ve inherited”, along with unprecedented increases in demands and costs for services such as social care.
Budget documents showed adult social care and health were “one of the most critical threats to the council’s financial resilience”, with an estimated annual risk of £68m.
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