Reform Passes First Budget at Kent County Council with 3.99% Council Tax Rise

Reform UK has successfully passed its first budget at Kent County Council, securing approval with 48 votes in favour, 26 against, and one abstention. The 2026/27 budget includes a 3.99% council tax increase, positioning itself below the Government’s permitted threshold of 5% for adult social care authorities.

The vote represents a significant moment for Reform’s leadership following their decisive election victory in May 2025, when the party won 57 of 81 council seats, ending the Conservatives’ 28-year control of the authority.

Debate Marked by Amendments and Disagreements

The budget meeting saw repeated attempts by opposition parties to redirect funding, particularly away from political assistant posts towards frontline services. The Liberal Democrats explicitly framed a series of amendments as forcing Reform to defend their spending choices repeatedly, with one councillor stating the strategy was to “make you do this three times.”

Multiple amendments affecting adult social care, children and young people services, and a proposed in-house homecare pilot were all voted down by the Reform-controlled administration.

During debate on a Conservative amendment regarding political assistant funding, tensions escalated when discussion appeared to be curtailed after nine previous amendments had been fully debated. The Chair ruled the motion would proceed to a vote without extended debate, following earlier observations that discussions had become “very repetitive.”

Budget Strategy and One-Off Funding

Reform has framed the 3.99% council tax increase as a measured approach, contrasting their position with the previous Conservative administration’s 4.99% rise in 2025/26. The council’s draft budget, however, relies on £25 million in temporary one-off funding to balance its finances, which the budget documents acknowledge must be replaced in future years.

Opposition parties highlighted the cumulative effect of not using available council tax flexibility, suggesting that leaving headroom unused creates medium-term financial pressures that may require steeper rises later.

What This Means for Kent Residents

The 3.99% rise translates to modest increases on Band D household bills for the county council element of council tax. However, residents should be aware that the budget’s reliance on temporary funding means future years may face different spending choices or council tax pressures. The debate revealed ongoing disagreements about resource allocation between social care, children’s services, and administrative functions—areas that will likely remain focal points in future budget discussions as Reform consolidates its new administration at County Hall.

Key Takeaways

• Reform UK’s 2026/27 budget passed with a 3.99% council tax increase, remaining below the Government’s 5% permitted threshold
• The budget relies on £25 million in temporary, one-off funding that must be replaced in future years
• Opposition parties made repeated amendments seeking to redirect funds from political assistants to frontline services
• The debate reflected broader tensions within the council about spending priorities and administrative costs