"We need the collective wisdom and ideas of all our members and supporters, to assemble the ideas that will change Kent for the better."

That's the message from County Councillor Antony Hook, Economic Development Spokesmasn for Kent Liberal Democrats. The party in Kent is launching a policy working group on Economic Developement and all party supporters are invited to apply to join it.

Kent residents will suffer increased council tax bills next year as the County Council is set to increase its council tax charge by 4.99%. This means an increase of £52.32 pa for a Band C homeowner. The Government is cutting its funding of the County Council by another £46.4 million. Meanwhile the County Council's Conservative Cabinet is struggling with increased demand for crucial services and cost pressures.

Despite additional council tax revenue from increased housing , KCC is planning savings of £53.4 million largely through service cuts and increased charges. Further staff cuts are planned saving £6.4 million and putting further pressure on KCC's beleaguered workforce. £8.2 million of the planned cuts have not yet been specified.

Kent Liberal Democrats are calling on the County Council to take a lead role in ensuring that crucial preparations are ready for Brexit in March 2019. Failure to put coordinated plans in place now could result in chaos on the county's road network after Brexit.

The Government's refusal to provide information about their preparations for post Brexit road disruption in Kent is a cause for alarm and serious concern. If there really are plans in place, then these need to be shared with all key agencies as a matter of urgency.

At today's County Council meeting Kent's Conservatives voted to increase member allowances by 15%. Liberal Democrat and other opposition councillors voted against the proposal as did one Conservative. Nine Conservative councillors abstained.

Earlier in the debate Conservative councillors set aside the Liberal Democrat proposal that councillors should follow the advice of the independent Member Remuneration Panel which had recommended a modest 1.5% rise.

At Thursday's County Council meeting the Kent Liberal Democrats will propose that the allowances paid to members should follow the recommendations of the independent Member Remuneration Panel. The modest increases proposed by the Panel will restore member allowances to the 2009 levels and set an appropriate indexation for future years.

At the County Council meeting on Thursday, 27th May Rob Bird led the tributes to Trudy Dean who has recently stepped down as Leader of Kent Liberal Democrats.

"Trudy's standing as a County Councillor can be described in one word - 'formidable'. She has made her presence felt in County Hall for 32 years - including 4 years as a Cabinet Member and the past 20 years as Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group.

The Kent Liberal Democrats spokespersons and shadow cabinet members are as follows:

Rob Bird

• Group Leader
• Traded Services
• Strategic Commissioning
• Finance
• Customer, Communications and Performance

Trudy Dean

• Deputy Leader
• Children, Young People and Education,
• Corporate and Democratic Services

Ian Chittenden

At today's meeting of the Kent County Council Liberal Democrat group, Trudy Dean announced that she was stepping down from her position as Group Leader.

Trudy said "All leaders want to step down in favour of the safe hands of a talented successor. I have worked very hard to lead and support the Lib Dem Group as a well informed and constructive group at KCC.