Reform UK-Led Kent Council Plans Maximum 5% Tax Hike Amid Failed Cost-Cutting Efforts

Kent County Council, controlled by Reform UK since the 2024 local elections, is poised to increase council tax by the maximum permitted 5% next year due to rising demand and limited options for cutting costs. Despite promises from Nigel Farage's party to eliminate wasteful spending through initiatives inspired by Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), officials admit services are already stretched to the limit and significant savings have been hard to identify. Diane Morton, the cabinet member responsible for adult social care, highlighted that social care and special educational needs constitute about half of the council's £2.5 billion budget, underscoring the financial pressures. Internal tensions have hindered the DOGE unit's effectiveness, leading to an alternative Department of Local Government Efficiency handling cost-cutting efforts instead. Kent's council leader Linden Kemkaran framed the council as a showcase for Reform's national governance approach, though some members acknowledge the difficulty in finding major cost reductions. Meanwhile, other councils such as Norfolk are also considering 5% council tax hikes amid financial challenges posed by inflation and rising demand for services.