Recently, ReformUK pubished a list of financial savings they claim to have found since taking control of Kent County Council earlier this year. Here is the true story.
ReformUK’s Claim: “£206,000 saved by imposing a 5% cut across all councillor allowances.”
The truth: There was a vote to reduce allowances by 5%, supported by councillors from all parties, but the money was not a saving. The funds ‘saved’ were reallocated to the Councillors’ Grants, so it was still spent, but in another way. There was no budget saving.
ReformUK’s Claim: “£5.5 million saved after negotiating a discount from the £50 million we paid-off from long term debt 40 years early - saving £1,820 a day in interest payments alone.”
The truth: ReformUK state the interest on this loan was £1,820 a day, equating to £664,300 per year. This means the interest rate on the loan was 1.32% pa.
The money used to repay this loan was taken from KCC’s Treasury. These are funds collected from taxpayers but not yet spent on services. These surplus funds are invested in short term “Treasury Loans” for which KCC receives interest of between 4%-5%.
Had the £50 million used to repay the loan been invested, KCC would have received around £2 million a year in interest. This is £1.3 million more than they have saved by repaying the loan early!
ReformUK’s Claim: “£14 million saved by staying-put in Sessions House and scrapping the proposed move and renovation of Invicta House.”
The truth: Sessions House is not fit for purpose and does not meet any of modern workplace standards. Cancelling the move has resulted in the £600,000 already spent on surveys and legal fees being written off. Taxpayers will now have to meet £2 million a year running costs plus £10 million of urgent repairs to make the building legally compliant. Plus KCC have lost the £7 million proceeds from the sale. Reform UK have burdened Kent taxpayers with a costly White Elephant which will be a financial burden for years to come for the sake of a cheap soundbite.
ReformUK’s Claim: “£1.5 million saved by bringing Children’s Homes back into KCC ownership.”
The truth:The decision to bring Children’s Homes back into KCC ownership was taken in February 2025 by Sue Chandler, the then (Conservative) KCC Cabinet Member for Integrated Children’s Services. At the time the policy was adopted, the Conservatives ran the council. ReformUK have not found this saving, they have simply continued a policy introduced by the Conservatives before they were elected.
ReformUK’s Claim: “£2.5 million saved from ‘home to school’ transport by careful budget planning during August.”
The truth: As with the Children’s Homes, the decision to reorganise ‘home to school’ transport was taken in 2024 and signed-off by Rory Love, the then (Conservative) KCC Cabinet Member for Education and Skills. Once again, this is a case of ReformUK simply implementing a Conservative policy already agreed before they took control.
ReformUK’s Claim: “£7.5 million saved by 2030 by scrapping the transition to electric vehicles, and £32 million saved by undeclaring the climate emergency.”
The truth: There was never £7.5 million (or £32 million) commitment in the budget. KCC had expressed a willingness to transition to electric vehicles and meet other Net Zero objectives if (and only if) external government funding was provided to do so. Cancelling spending that was never going to be spent is not a saving.
ReformUK’s Claim: “£50,000 saved by scrapping crisis grants.”
The truth: Sadly, this one is true. The £50,000 was used for grants (in the form of supermarket vouchers) for families in in abject poverty and unable to buy food for their children. Perhaps not a cut that we should be making?
