Proposals to streamline Kent County Council’s committee structure will be presented at next week’s Selection and Member Services Committee. The changes aim to improve efficiency, ensure compliance with statutory and constitutional requirements, and strengthen Member engagement.

Under the proposals, some committees will be merged to reduce duplication and simplify governance.

The Selection and Member Services Committee and the Electoral and Boundary Review Committee would combine into a single Electoral and Member Arrangements Committee, bringing together responsibilities for Member appointments, constitutional changes, grants, and election arrangements.

The Member Development Sub-Committee would be discontinued, with Member development delivered through alternative engagement methods.

Similarly, the Planning Applications Committee and Regulation Committee would merge into a new Planning and Regulation Committee, reflecting the limited business of the main Regulation Committee and creating a more efficient structure.

Cabinet Committees will also be streamlined, with the Environment and Transport Cabinet Committee and the Growth, Economic Development Cabinet Committee merging into a single Growth, Environment and Transport (GET) Cabinet Committee.

These changes are expected to deliver significant savings. The reduction in the number of Committees alongside further operational efficiencies including the use of AI-assisted generation of minutes will deliver £75,000 of savings annually.

The report will ask the Committee to recommend the changes to Full Council for decision at its 18 December meeting.

Source & picture credit: Kent County Council