Reform UK\u2019s showcase council in Kent faces \u201cextreme risk\u201d and \u201cinstability\u201d, opposition politicians have warned, after it passed its first budget.<\/p>\n
The party\u2019s councillors voted it through on Thursday night after their leaders announced a 3.99% council tax increase, one percentage point under the limit before a referendum is required, despite promising before their election win not to raise tax.<\/p>\n
While it was described by the council leader, Linden Kemkaran, as a \u201csensible, low-tax budget,\u201d opposition parties said it left the council\u2019s reserves \u201cdangerously low\u201d and exposed to financial risk totalling more than \u00a3410m on the local authority\u2019s risk register.<\/p>\n
The vote was carried with 48 councillors in favour \u2013 the number who are still with Reform after a period of turmoil in which several left Nigel Farage\u2019s bloc on the council \u2013 with 26 against and one abstention.<\/p>\n
The plan was described as a \u201ccasino budget\u201d by Antony Hook, the Liberal Democrat opposition leader, who brought along letters and leaflets delivered by Reform before last year\u2019s local council elections which pledged to cut council tax.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt contains [Kent county council\u2019s] highest ever exposure to financial risk \u2013 \u00a3411m of immediate risk in this year (up 60% from last year) and almost all is rated \u20184 out of 5\u2019 in likelihood,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Accusing Reform of mounting an \u201cattack on the vulnerable\u201d, Hook singled out cuts of \u00a31.2m from fostering services and \u00a3700,000 from fostering for children with disabilities.<\/p>\n
Funding for infrastructure was static and did not keep pace with inflation, he added. \u201cSo, in real terms, Reform are cutting the highways budget. More potholes, more road collapses and a crumbling network.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Green party\u2019s Stuart Heaver described the budget as \u201ca victory of political posturing over the interests of residents\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is a showcase council for Nigel Farage and it was obvious the key priority for them is cosmetics \u2013 looking good \u2013 not serving the interests of Kent,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe statutory financial assurance report was alarming to say the least \u2013 their budget risks the stability of the entire council. That doesn\u2019t matter if they can boast that council tax was raised less than their predecessors.\u201d<\/p>\n
During the debate, the council\u2019s deputy leader, Brian Collins, described the budget as being \u201ccarefully thought through\u201d, adding: \u201cSome people call it risky, I call it bold.\u201d<\/p>\n
Kemkaran had said Reform would prefer not to propose a council tax increase at all but given \u201cthe dire legacy we inherited\u201d, alongside an unprecedented rise in demands and costs for services such as social care, \u201cthis is simply not possible\u201d.<\/p>\n
Budget documents showed that adult social care and health was \u201cone of the most critical threats to the council\u2019s financial resilience\u201d with an estimated annual \u00a368m risk.<\/p>\n
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