Kent County Council (KCC), the flagship local authority for Reform UK, is confronting a projected financial shortfall of £60 million for the 2026-27 financial year, according to a confidential forecast leaked to the Press Association. The deficit could potentially deepen further, raising fears of severe cuts to public services.
A Growing Financial Crisis
The leaked slideshow, shown to opposition councillors, reveals that even with a planned full 5 per cent increase in council tax, the council faces this "gaping" £60 million gap. This represents a significant deterioration from the £20.1 million unresolved gap left in the plans of the previous Conservative administration.
For a typical Band D property in Kent, the tax hike would mean an annual increase of £84.56, taking the bill from £1,691.19 in 2025-26 to £1,775.75. Despite this maximum permissible rise, the financial pressures are mounting. Former Reform councillor Bill Barrett warned in a full council meeting at Sessions House in Maidstone on Thursday that "the gap" might increase to as much as £100 million in the new year.
Spending Pressures and Controversial Cuts
Reform's new budget plan for 2026-27 is set to increase council expenditure by £31 million above what the Tories had planned. It is understood that the bulk of this extra spending is driven by the soaring costs of adult social care.
In a bid to find savings, KCC has informed providers of certain adult social care services that their funding will be "hugely cut" within three months. These include "navigation and wellbeing services" which support elderly and vulnerable adults on the edge of needing full care packages. Jim Dickson, Labour MP for Dartford, criticised the move, stating that claims these are efficiency savings without a major service impact are "quite clearly wrong."
A study by Involve, an organisation providing such care, found these services lead to "significant reductions" in A&E attendance and the need for acute care.
Political Fallout and a Delayed Budget
The situation has caused clear frustration among opposition groups, as a draft budget has yet to be formally presented. The leaked briefing is understood to be one option for the Reform administration, which is now expected to present its draft budget in early January 2026.
Council leader Linden Kemkaran has pointed to the upcoming fair funding review from the UK Government, which he says will provide an 8 per cent increase in overall funding. However, opposition Liberal Democrat leader Antony Hook dismissed this as a "sticking plaster on a gaping wound."
Hook warned, "In the absence of a budget, everything is in danger... from a Reform administration that doesn't value our public services." The council is scheduled to determine its final budget on 12 February 2026.
Bill Barrett expressed "extreme concern" about the unfolding budget process and the likelihood of severe service reductions. Both KCC and the Reform group were contacted for comment.
