Wikipedia

Kent County Council

Kent County Council (KCC) is a county council that governs the non-metropolitan county of Kent in England. The non-metropolitan county is smaller than the ceremonial county, which additionally includes the unitary authority of Medway. Kent County Council is the upper tier of elected local government, below which are 12 district councils, and around 300 town and parish councils. The county council has 81 elected councillors.

Kent County Council
alt=Arms: Gules a Horse forcene Argent. Crest: Issuant from a Mural Crown proper three Masts rigged with courses set and topsails furled proper flying from each masthead a Pennon Argent charged with a Cross Gules. Supporters: On either side a Sea Lion or gorged with a Collar Gules pendent there from an Escutcheon the dexter of the Arms of the See of Canterbury and the sinister of the Arms of the Cinque Ports. Motto: 'INVICTA' - Unconquered
Coat of arms
Logo
Council logo
Type
Type
Leadership
Jeremy Eustace,
Reform UK
since 21 May 2026[1]
Linden Kemkaran,
Reform UK
since 22 May 2025
Amanda Beer
since July 2023
Structure
Seats81 councillors [2][3]
Graph of the party split among 81 seats.
Political groups
Administration (47)
  Reform (47)
Other parties (34)
  Liberal Democrat (12)
  Restore (7)
  Conservative (5)
  Green (5)
  Labour (2)
  Better Way Of (1)
  Independent (2)
Length of term
4 years
Elections
First-past-the-post
First election
January 1889
Last election
1 May 2025
Meeting place
County Hall, County Road, Maidstone, ME14 1XQ
Website
www.kent.gov.uk

It is one of the largest local authorities in England in terms of population served and the largest local authority of its type.[notes 1][better source needed] The council is based at County Hall in Maidstone. The council has been under Reform UK majority control since 2025.

History

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Under the Local Government Act 1888, Kent County Council was one of several created the following year. At the time, the administrative county differed from the historic county.[4]

Following the initial elections and appointment of county aldermen, the council came into being on 1 April 1889, on which day it held its first official meeting at the Sessions House in Maidstone. With Lord Brabourne in the chair, Sir John Farnaby Lennard was elected as the first chairman of the council.[5]

Boundary changes

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The county council's duties at first were few, but gradually it absorbed school boards, the rural highway boards and the boards of guardians. The county council adopted the Sessions House as its meeting place.[6]

In 1965, the London Government Act 1963 abolished the existing county of London and replaced it with a larger administrative area called Greater London, which took over the Bexley and Bromley areas from the administrative county of Kent. In 1974, the Local Government Act 1972 saw Kent re-classified as a non-metropolitan county and it gained the formerly independent county borough of Canterbury.[7] Until 1974, the lower tier of local government had comprised numerous boroughs, urban districts and rural districts. As part of the 1974 reforms, the lower tier was reorganised into fourteen non-metropolitan districts.[8]

In 1998, the districts of Gillingham and Rochester-upon-Medway were removed from the non-metropolitan county of Kent to become a new unitary authority called Medway, whilst remaining part of the ceremonial county of Kent.[9]

Local government reorganisation

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In December 2024, deputy prime minister Angela Rayner announced proposals for local government reorganisation (LGR).[citation needed]

In February 2026, KCC and Medway Council held a residents' LGR consultation regarding the abolition of the 14 existing councils and replacement with several larger unitary authorities; layouts of both three and four councils were proposed.[10]

In July 2026, it was confirmed that in April 2028, Kent would be reconstituted into four unitary authorities. Elections for the four new shadow councils (North Kent, West Kent, Mid Kent and East Kent) will be held in April 2027, with the new councils taking charge in April 2028.[citation needed]

Reform UK administration (2025–)

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In the 2025 Kent County Council election, Reform UK won outright control of the council and Linden Kemkaran was elected leader.[11] After being elected she said “we will simply put the people of Kent at the heart of everything we do”.[12]

One key policy is a new cabinet role, held by Gravesham Councillor Matthew Fraser Moat, inspired by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) as promoted by Elon Musk.[13]

The council will not fly the rainbow flag for Pride Month.[14] Kemkaran said she saw having a Ukrainian flag in the council chamber as a "distraction".[15] Kemkaran also said she intends to reduce the impact of illegal migration on residents in Kent.[16]

In July 2025, Kemkaran shared a social media post claiming Reform had removed books containing transgender themes from the county's libraries with immediate effect. This was later found to be untrue with the challenged book simply moved from a display at the entrance to an adult section.[17][18] Kent Libraries went on to post a statement that they would no longer allow displays of transgender books to be in areas accessible by children.[19]

Suspensions and defections

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In August 2025, Cliftonville councillor Daniel Taylor was suspended from the party after threatening to kill his wife. Councillor Amelia Randall defected from Reform UK to UKIP the following month,[20] but in March 2026 left UKIP to establish her own party, Better Way Of.[21]

In October 2025, councillor Robert Ford was suspended from Reform UK after allegations of misconduct from several women.[22][23] In the same month, the council faced scrutiny after leaked footage of an August meeting showed Kemkaran shouting down other councillors using profanities, apparently over disagreements regarding the council's response to national plans for local government reform.[24][25] Kemkaran said those who leaked the video were "weak" and "foolish", and accused them of "treachery".[26] On 20 October, Reform UK announced that four councillors were being suspended: Paul Thomas, Oliver Bradshaw, Bill Barrett and Maxine Fothergill.[27] On 27 October, Barrett, Bradshaw, Ford and Thomas, plus Brian Black, were expelled from Reform UK.[28][29]

On 29 October 2025, Barrett announced a new KCC grouping named the Independent Reformers or Independent Reform Group, consisting of him and Ford;[30][31] Bradshaw, Black and Thomas continued to support Reform UK and said they would not join the group.[32] On 5 November, councillor Isabella Kemp was listed as an independent on the KCC website, having left Reform UK 10 hours before KCC was to meet.[33] On 8 January 2026, she announced that she had joined the Independent Reformers, after being in talks to join the Liberal Democrats.[34] On 18 February 2026, Black, Bradshaw, Ford, Fothergill, Kemp and Thomas, plus Dean Burns, joined Restore Britain,[35] making it the third largest party on the Council.

By-election

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On 9 April 2026, the Greens won the Cliftonville by-election, with Rob Yates replacing imprisoned councillor Daniel Taylor, as a Green gain from Reform.[36]

Council structure

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Cabinet members
Leadership
Deputy leader
Brian Collins
Adult Social Care and Public Health
Diane Morton
Community and Regulatory Services
Paul Webb
Local Government Efficiency
Chris Hespe
Economic Development and Special Projects
David Wimble
Education and Skills
Beverley Fordham
Environment, Coastal Regeneration and Special Projects
Paul King
Integrated Children's Services
Christine Palmer
Highways and Transport
Peter Osborne

The council is structured as follows:[37]

Cabinet

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The cabinet is made up of ten county councillors, all members of Reform UK. The cabinet meets monthly and makes decisions collectively, its current composition is visible in the infobox.[38]

County council

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The County Council is made up of 81 elected county councillors.[39] The full council meets seven times yearly to agree the council's Constitution and amendments to it, is responsible for appointment of the Leader and approval of the policy framework and budget (including the level of Council Tax).

Local boards

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Local boards are local community groups that hold regular public meetings across Kent. They also allocate funding to local projects. There are 12 local boards in Kent, and every county councillor is required to be a member of one local board.

Governance

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Kent County Council provides county-level services. District-level services are provided by the twelve district councils:

Much of the county is also covered by civil parishes, which form a third tier of local government.[40][8]

Political control

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The county council has been under Reform UK majority control since 2025.[41]

Political control of the council since the 1974 reforms has been as follows:[42]

Party in control Years
Conservative 1974–1993
No overall control 1993–1997
Conservative 1997–2025
Reform 2025–Present

Leadership

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The leaders of the council since 1974 have been:

Councillor Party From To Notes
John Grugeon[43] Conservative 1974 1982
Bobby Neame[44] Conservative 1982 1984
Tony Hart[45] Conservative 1984 1992
Brenda Trench[46] Conservative 1992 1993
Jim Little Labour 1993 1994 Joint leaders[47]
Alison Wainman Liberal Democrats
John Ovenden[48] Labour 1994 1997 Joint leaders[49]
Alison Wainman Liberal Democrats
Sandy Bruce-Lockhart[50] Conservative May 1997 12 Oct 2005
Paul Carter[51][52] Conservative 12 Oct 2005 17 Oct 2019
Roger Gough[53][54] Conservative 17 Oct 2019 May 2025
Linden Kemkaran[55][56] Reform 22 May 2025

Composition

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The current council was formed after the 2025 election. Since then, eight Reform UK councillors have been suspended and/or expelled from the party; seven former Reform UK councillors have joined Restore Britain.[35]

Of the two Independent councillors, Swale East councillor Rich Lehmann - originally elected as a Green councillor - continues to sit with the Green group,[57] and Ashford Rural South councillor Bill Barrett sits with the Conservative group,[58] having originally been elected as a Reform UK councillor.

Until April 2026 there was a vacancy in the Cliftonville division following the conviction and imprisonment of former councillor Daniel Taylor.[59][36]

Cllr Amelia Randall for the Birchington and Rural division, originally elected as Reform UK, defected to UKIP, then left to form her own party Better Way Of.[20][21]

Party Councillors
Elected[60][61] Current[62][63] Differ­ence
Reform 57 47 Decrease 10
Liberal Democrats 12 12 Steady
Restore 0 7 Increase 7
Conservative 5 5 Steady
Green 5 5 Steady
Labour 2 2 Steady
Independent 0 2 Increase 2
Better Way Of 0 1 Increase 1
Total 81 81 Steady

The next local elections (likely for three or four unitary authorities) are due in 2027.

Elections

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See also: Kent County Council elections

Since the last boundary changes in 2019 the council has comprised 81 councillors representing 72 electoral divisions, with each division electing one or two councillors. Elections are held every four years.[64]

Premises

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The council is based at County Hall, a complex of buildings on County Road in Maidstone which incorporates the old Sessions House of 1824, which had been the meeting place of the quarter sessions which preceded the county council.[6] The council has various other buildings around the county as well.[65]

Responsibilities and directorates

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The council is responsible for public services such as education, transport, strategic planning, emergency services, social services, public safety and waste disposal.[66]

Transport

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Kent Top Travel,[67] established in 2005, was owned by Kent County Council. It operated the council's bus network[68] and a coach charter fleet. The majority of its route portfolio comprised rural, evening and Sunday services won under competitive tender from KCC and other local authorities in open competition with private bus operators. Kent Top Travel operated Canterbury City Council's park & ride service from October 2008 until 2013.[69][70] Buses were painted in a white and green livery; the Canterbury park & ride fleet was silver and green. Coaches were painted both white and red, and yellow. Following an independent report criticising KCC's trading companies, in December 2012 it was decided to close Kent Top Travel once its existing contracts expired.[68][71][72] Kent Top Travel ceased trading on 1 October 2013.[73]

Directorates

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The work of the council is organized into two executive departments and three directorates. Each directorate is led by a Corporate Director who reports to the Chief Executive.

Chief Executive and Deputy Chief Executive’s Departments

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The two executive departments support the work of the directorates and the council as a whole by providing specialist expertise and strategic direction. The departments also lead and co-ordinate major change and organisational development. The Chief Executive’s Department includes the council’s finance, infrastructure and public health divisions, as well as in-house strategic and legal services. The Deputy Chief Executive’s Department manages internal support services such as HR, procurement, technology, customer relations and democratic services. The statutory roles of Section 151 Officer (Corporate Director Finance), Monitoring Officer (Head of Law) and Director of Public Health all report to the Chief Executive.

Children, Young People and Education

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Led by the statutory Director of Children’s Services, the directorate combines Education and Special Educational Needs (SEN) services with universal and targeted services for children and young people designed to reduce demand for specialist services, also provided or commissioned by this directorate. These include Family Hubs and Youth Justice services. The strategic focus is on prevention and early intervention, with the aim of reducing demand for more specialist social services by helping families earlier, improving parenting skills and the health and educational outcomes of young children, ensuring they are school ready. The directorate is also responsible for the delivery of statutory Adult Education services.

Adult Social Care and Health

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Led by the statutory Director of Adult Social Services, the directorate provides support and care for adults who need assistance due to age, disability or health conditions. It aims to help individuals live as independently as possible while ensuring their well-being and safety.[74] The directorate also commissions or delivers in-house a variety of statutory and non-statutory enablement and support services, including day centres and respite care for adults with learning disabilities.

Growth, Environment and Transport

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This directorate oversees the majority of the council’s public-facing services outside of education and social care. It has strategic responsibility for the future of the county in terms of planning, economic development, transport policy and major transport improvement schemes, waste disposal and recycling services. It delivers a number of statutory functions, including libraries and registration services, as well as a range of leisure and cultural facilities such as country parks and the Turner Contemporary. It also delivers enforcement services, including trading standards and community safety,[75] and provides the funding and operational support for the statutorily independent coroner’s service.

Notable members

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See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ With a population of 1,576,100 at the 2021 census, Kent is the most populous non-metropolitan county in a two tier arrangement.

References

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  1. ^ "KCC appoints new Chairman and presents progress on strategic priorities at Kent County Council's annual meeting". Kent County Council. 21 May 2026. Retrieved 4 August 2026.
  2. ^ "Kent councillors by party — OpenCouncilData UK". OpenCouncilData.co.uk. Retrieved 20 January 2026.
  3. ^ "Ex Reform UK members form new council group". BBC.co.uk. 17 February 2026. Retrieved 18 February 2026.
  4. ^ Local Government Act 1888
  5. ^ "Kent County Council". Kentish Express and Ashford News. 6 April 1889. Retrieved 22 October 2023.
  6. ^ a b Historic England. "The Old Sessions House, Maistone (1086392)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 8 September 2019.
  7. ^ "Local Government Act 1972", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, 1972 c. 70, retrieved 22 October 2023
  8. ^ a b "The English Non-metropolitan Districts (Definition) Order 1972", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, SI 1972/2039, retrieved 22 October 2023
  9. ^ "The Kent (Borough of Gillingham and City of Rochester upon Medway) (Structural Change) Order 1996", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, SI 1996/1876, retrieved 22 October 2023
  10. ^ Finlay, Simon (9 February 2026). "Residents asked for thoughts on council reform". BBC News. Retrieved 27 February 2026.
  11. ^ "New KCC Reform UK leader reveals plan for council". Kent Online. 8 May 2025. Retrieved 3 June 2025.
  12. ^ ""We will simply put the people of Kent at the heart of everything we do" - Leader's first speech at County Hall". news.kent.gov.uk. 22 May 2025. Retrieved 3 June 2025.
  13. ^ "Reform UK take control of Kent County Council with new cabinet". BBC News. 22 May 2025. Retrieved 3 June 2025.
  14. ^ Murphy-Johns, Stanley (22 May 2025). "New Reform-led council will remove Pride and Ukrainian flags". The Standard. Retrieved 3 June 2025.
  15. ^ "Reform UK councillors select new leader at Kent County Council". BBC News. 8 May 2025. Retrieved 3 June 2025.
  16. ^ "I'll confront impact of migrants - new Kent leader". BBC News. 11 May 2025. Retrieved 3 June 2025.
  17. ^ Keohan, Michael; Fuller, Christian (4 July 2025). "Backlash after trans books removed from children's library section". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 4 July 2025.
  18. ^ Walker, Peter; Creamer, Ella (4 July 2025). "Reform councillor's boast about removing 'trans-ideological' books from children's library sections falls flat". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 5 July 2025.
  19. ^ Kent Libraries. "Update 4 July. 9.30pm". instagram.com. Retrieved 5 July 2025.
  20. ^ a b "Reform UK county councillor defects to UKIP in Kent". BBC News. 8 September 2025. Retrieved 6 November 2025.
  21. ^ a b Bailes, Kathy (15 March 2026). "Former Reform county councillor for Birchington who defected to UKIP now quits group to create own political party". Isle of Thanet News. Retrieved 15 March 2026.
  22. ^ "Reform councillor suspended amid investigation into 'lewd remarks'". Kent Online. 13 October 2025. Retrieved 6 November 2025.
  23. ^ "Five Reform UK councillors booted out of party in Kent". BBC News. 27 October 2025. Retrieved 6 November 2025.
  24. ^ Quinn, Ben (18 October 2025). "'Suck it up': leaked video exposes bitter infighting at Reform UK's flagship Kent council". The Guardian. Retrieved 18 October 2025.
  25. ^ Harbert, Joe (18 October 2025). "Reform UK's Kent County Council leader, Linden Kemkaran, tells members to "f*****g suck it up" during discussions of local authority's finances". Kent Online. Retrieved 18 October 2025.
  26. ^ Finlay, Simon (18 October 2025). "Kent County Council Reform UK leader Linden Kemkaran pledges hunt for "cowards" behind video leak "treachery"". Kent Online. Retrieved 18 October 2025.
  27. ^ Cooke, Millie; Mitchell, Archie (2025). "Reform UK councillors suspended over leaked video". The Independent. No. 20 October 2025.
  28. ^ "Reform expels three more councillors for 'dishonest and deceptive' behaviour". Kent Online. 27 October 2025. Retrieved 27 October 2025.
  29. ^ "Five Reform UK councillors booted out of party in Kent". BBC News. 27 October 2025. Retrieved 27 October 2025.
  30. ^ "Expelled county councillor announces new Kent 'Independent Reformers' group". Kent Online. 29 October 2025. Retrieved 7 November 2025.
  31. ^ "Reform's KCC chief brushes off talk of rival group". Kent Online. 30 October 2025. Retrieved 7 November 2025.
  32. ^ "'Outright lie': Kent leader slams Rachel Reeves' comments over tax increases - Yahoo News UK". Yahoo News. 4 November 2025. Retrieved 7 November 2025.
  33. ^ "Reform UK loses another councillor on Kent County Council". ITV News. 6 November 2025. Retrieved 6 November 2025.
  34. ^ "Expelled Reform UK councillor joins new party". 8 January 2026.
  35. ^ a b Gupta, Tanya (18 February 2026). "Ex Reform UK members form new council group". BBC. Retrieved 18 February 2026.
  36. ^ a b "Election results for Cliftonville - Cliftonville by-election - Thursday, 9th April, 2026". Kent County Council. Retrieved 10 July 2026.
  37. ^ Council structure
  38. ^ "The Cabinet - Kent County Council".
  39. ^ "Kent County Council Constitution" (PDF). Kent County Council. 18 September 2025. p. 2. Retrieved 19 January 2026. The legitimacy of the Council derives from the people of Kent through the regular election of its 81 Members.
  40. ^ "Election Maps". Ordnance Survey. Retrieved 17 October 2023.
  41. ^ "LIVE: Reform win control of Kent County Council". Kent Online. 2 May 2025. Retrieved 2 May 2025.
  42. ^ "Compositions Calculator". The Elections Centre. University of Exeter. Retrieved 5 March 2025. (Put "Kent" in search box to see specific results.)
  43. ^ "Sir John Grugeon". The Telegraph. 20 January 2010. Retrieved 7 June 2012.
  44. ^ Protz, Roger (2 December 2019). "Robert Neame obituary". The Guardian. Retrieved 24 July 2022.
  45. ^ "Tony Hart". The Daily Telegraph. 13 July 2009. Retrieved 13 June 2015.
  46. ^ "First woman leader of KCC dies". Kent Online. 16 September 2005. Retrieved 5 March 2025.
  47. ^ Cruickshank, Andrew (25 November 1993). "County truce falling apart". Sevenoaks Chronicle. p. 2. Retrieved 5 March 2025.
  48. ^ "John is new head of Labour group". Isle of Thanet Gazette. Margate. 1 April 1994. p. 4. Retrieved 5 March 2025.
  49. ^ Francis, Paul (13 February 1997). "Hundreds of jobs to go in huge cutback". Kentish Express. Ashford. p. 9. Retrieved 5 March 2025.
  50. ^ "Sir Sandy quits as council leader". BBC News. 12 September 2005. Retrieved 24 July 2022.
  51. ^ "Council minutes, 12 October 2005" (PDF). Kent County Council. Retrieved 5 March 2025.
  52. ^ Francis, Paul (5 September 2019). "Kent County Council Conservative leader Paul Carter to step down". Kent Online. Retrieved 5 March 2025.
  53. ^ "Council minutes, 17 October 2019". Kent County Council. Retrieved 5 March 2025.
  54. ^ Maisner, Stuart (2 May 2025). "Reform wins control in Kent after Tory wipeout". BBC News. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
  55. ^ Barlow, Patrick (22 May 2025). "Reform launch 'DOGE' role at first council meeting". BBC News. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
  56. ^ "Council meeting, 22 May 2025". Kent County Council. 22 May 2025. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
  57. ^ "Find councillor". Kent County Council. Retrieved 13 March 2026.
  58. ^ "Find councillor". Kent County Council. Retrieved 13 March 2026.
  59. ^ Keohan, Michael; Buchan, Craig (20 February 2026). "'Nasty' councillor jailed for coercive behaviour". BBC News. Retrieved 17 March 2026.
  60. ^ "County councillors". Kent County Council. Retrieved 5 March 2025.
  61. ^ "County Council - Thursday, 1st May, 2025". Kent County Council. May 2025. Retrieved 20 October 2025.
  62. ^ "County councillors". www.kent.gov.uk. Retrieved 31 October 2025.
  63. ^ "Open Council Data UK - compositions councillors parties wards elections emails". www.opencouncildata.co.uk. Retrieved 31 October 2025.
  64. ^ "The Kent (Electoral Changes) Order 2016", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, SI 2016/658
  65. ^ "Our offices". Kent County Council. Retrieved 22 October 2023.
  66. ^ Executive summary
  67. ^ Companies House extract company no 5242900 Kent Top Temps Limited
  68. ^ a b Kent takes axe to council bus operation Buses 13 January 2013
  69. ^ Park & Ride Contract Canterbury City Council
  70. ^ Kent Top Travel takes on Canterbury park Archived 2013-10-21 at the Wayback Machine Bus & Coach Professional 24 October 2008
  71. ^ End of road for Kent County Council bus company Kent Top Travel KentOnline 13 December 2012
  72. ^ Kent County Council to abandon Kent Top Travel Coach & Bus Week issue 1092 19 June 2013 page 5
  73. ^ Thank you for visiting the Kent Top Travel website Kent Top Travel 18 August 2013
  74. ^ "What to expect from Kent adult social care".
  75. ^ "Kent Leadership | Kent County Council - Structure of KCC". www.kentleadership.co.uk. Retrieved 2 May 2017.[permanent dead link]
  76. ^ "The Late Chairman", Herne Bay Press, Saturday 24 February 1900, p. 3
  77. ^ "Lennard, Sir John Farnaby, (27 Sept. 1816–27 Dec. 1899), JP, DL". Who's Who. 2007. doi:10.1093/ww/9780199540884.013.U188147.
  78. ^ "Cornwallis, 1st Baron cr 1927, of Linton, Kent, in County of Kent (Fiennes Stanley Wykeham Cornwallis)", in Who's Who, online edition by Oxford University Press, 1 December 2007, accessed 22 November 2025 (subscription required)
  79. ^ Sackville, 3rd Baron cr 1876 (Lionel Edward Sackville-West)" in Who's Who, online edition by Oxford University Press, 1 December 2007, accessed 22 November 2025 (subscription required)
  80. ^ "Cornwallis, 2nd Baron cr 1927, of Linton, Kent, in County of Kent (Wykeham Stanley Cornwallis)", in Who's Who, online edition by Oxford University Press, 1 December 2007, accessed 22 November 2025 (subscription required)
  81. ^ "Pym, Sir Charles (11 Jan. 1879–13 Sept. 1971), DL", in Who's Who, online edition by Oxford University Press, 1 December 2007, accessed 22 November 2025 (subscription required)
  82. ^ "NEW K.C.C. ALDERMAN" Kentish Express, Friday 11 January 1957, p. 9
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