The County Council of Kent is scheduled to hold its annual meeting on Thursday, 22nd May 2025. Councillors will elect a chair and vice-chair, and the leader of the council, and will also appoint a leader of the opposition. The meeting will also include the formal submission of the returns of people elected to be county councillors until 2029.

Election of Councillors

The County Returning Officer, Benjamin Watts, is scheduled to submit the returns of people elected to be county councillors until 2029. The election for all 81 County Council seats took place on 1st May 2025, with the results announced on 2nd May 2025.

A list of names is attached to the report as the persons being duly elected as County Councillors from 72 Electoral Divisions at the election held on 1 May 2025¹.

Election of Leader of the Council and Appointment of Leader of the Opposition

The meeting will include the election of the Leader of the Council and the appointment of the Leader of the Opposition.

Proportionality and Appointment to Committees

The report pack indicates that the meeting will also cover proportionality and appointments to committees and other bodies. The details of this discussion are not yet available, but will be included in a document to follow.

Other items

The agenda also includes:

• Election of Chairman
• Election of Vice-Chairman
• Apologies for Absence
• Declarations of Disclosable Pecuniary Interests or Other Significant Interests in items on the agenda
• Minutes of the meeting held on 13 March 2025
• Chairman's Announcements
• County Council Questions
• Report by Leader of the Council