Kent County Council leader warns of tough times with finances

The leader of Kent County Council has warned of a "tough" 2024 for the local authority as financial pressures mount.

Conservative Roger Gough said while some other councils have declared effective bankruptcy, Kent continues to "keep that wolf from the door".

In December the government announced a 6.5% increase in the grant to local government for the financial year 2024/25.

Mr Gough said he was "hugely disappointed" with the settlement.

In his new year message, he stressed Kent is not a reckless authority, a stance he said was backed up in December by the Local Government Information Unit which described it as "perfectly well-run".

Mr Gough said: "We are not a council that has been reckless with its finances, and our sound decisions have given us the best possible chance to stave off what has been coming down the track. However, we are not immune to the impacts."

Travel disruption at the Channel ports and the arrival of unaccompanied asylum seeking children had put pressure on resources, he added.

"There is no doubt that times are exceedingly tough," Mr Gough said.

"Across the country, some councils have headed into effective bankruptcy. We continue to keep that wolf from the door."

The council was told by an external auditor in July that it needed to save £86m in the next financial year. It was already having to make savings of £58m last year.

Cost-cutting has prompted some opposition, including with a plan to close up to four household waste sites.

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