Disclosures show figures cited by authority’s leader rested on unfunded ideas listed briefly in budget papers
Reform UK’s flagship council has been accused of telling a “blatant lie” after its claim of nearly £40m in savings on net zero were found to be based on hypothetical projects for which there was no documentation.
Kent county council, which has a £2.5bn annual budget, is one of 10 where Nigel Farage’s party has outright control and is seen as a test case for whether the insurgent party can govern competently.
Soon after being elected, Reform council leader Linden Kemkaran promised the party’s “department of local government efficiency”, or Dolge, would bring a “laser like focus on getting value for money”.
The council’s leadership claimed it has found £100m in savings, £39.5m of which come from what it said was two net zero-related projects: £32m by scrapping a programme to make properties more environmentally friendly, and £7.5m by not making the council’s fleet of vehicles electric by 2030.
