Kent County Budget 2026-27 and Kent's Roads
Last week, speaking in the debate on the Kent County Council debate of 12 February on the 2026-27 budget, Tim Prater seconded the Liberal Democrat highways amendment.
The amendment proposed an increase to the Highways Asset Maintenance Fund, specifically allocated for pothole repairs across the county. That would be paid for by removing Political Assistant posts and removing the DOLGA Cabinet post and Deputy Cabinet Member posts.
Sadly, every member of Reform present voted against spending more on our roads in that budget meeting.
Tim, Liberal Democrat Councillor for Cheriton, Sandgate and Hythe East, said:
"I'm pleased to be talking about our roads and what this budget will do for them.
"Let’s be clear: you didn't make Kent’s roads as bad as they are today. This is the result of decades of underinvestment. Where you started is the Conservatives' fault.
And before the Cabinet Member for Highways takes offence, the inability to fix it isn't his fault either.
"Peter's job is to spend the budget as well as possible. I'm sure he is. But there is nowhere near enough money in this budget to make things better. This administration is doing nothing to address that.
"You came in on a promise to fix our roads. This budget doesn't have a chance to do so. Pigs will fly first.
"Your own report to Growth, Environment & Transport Cabinet Committee on 13 January on the capital programme explains that simply to stop the roads getting worse next year would cost another £110 million. Not to make them better—just to stop them getting worse.
"That report and paragraph 2.6.5 makes clear that right now, the bill to just fix them stands at £750 million.
"At the end of this year, even if every Cabinet member gets a yellow jacket on, even with more Government funded work than before, our roads will be worse.
"On current progress, the bill to fix them will be around £1 billion by the time we’re abolished.
"'Reform’s Billion Pound Road Debt.' What a legacy.
"In Kent, we used to drive on the left of the road. Now, we just drive on what’s left of them.
"Government increased their contribution by £4 million — barely covering inflation. And this Council? Not even that. After inflation, your contribution to the capital budget will fix less next year than it did this.
"We can't fix your budget. That’s your job. But we can at least show we are putting something into trying to improve the problem.
"I'm here for every person swerving around potholes; every person seeing their tyres shredded; every biker unseated and every journey delayed.
"A real strategy would see a massive increase in investment, alongside Government. But there is no strategy here. You're offering nothing.
“We’re in a hole. A whole series of holes. And I wholeheartedly urge you to support this amendment.”
