Staff at Reform-run Kent County Council are set to pay £4 a day to park at work, just weeks after the authority spent £600,000 on a private car park largely reserved for its most senior figures.
The controversial project, completed at County Hall in Maidstone, focused on reinforcing an internal courtyard to create just eight parking spaces. Six of those spaces are reserved for senior officials, including Reform Council leader Linden Kemkaran and council chairman Richard Palmer.
Under new proposals reportedly being discussed by Reform UK, more junior staff, many of whom cannot access the new parking area, would be required to pay daily charges as part of a plan to raise £1 million a year in additional revenue.
The move has triggered fierce criticism from opposition councillors, who accuse Reform of hypocrisy and misplaced priorities.
Antony Hook, Liberal Democrat councillor for Faversham, described the situation as indefensible.
“It must work out as being one of the most expensive car parks in Britain,” he said.
“Then to hear they’re considering charging staff to park their cars at work; it’s a kick in the teeth to both staff and council taxpayers.”
Internal reports acknowledge the risks. According to those documents, the introduction of parking charges is likely to damage staff morale, make recruitment more difficult and reduce office attendance, all at a time when local authorities are struggling to retain experienced workers.
Reform UK took control of Kent County Council in May 2025 on a promise to cut waste and restore financial discipline. The authority currently faces debts of around £630 million. However, critics argue that the £600,000 parking project sits uneasily with that pledge.
The parking controversy comes amid wider financial pressures. Earlier this month, Reform confirmed plans to raise council tax by 3.99 per cent, above inflation, despite campaigning against tax rises. Further cost-cutting measures are outlined in the council’s draft budget, which is due to be voted on by councillors on February 12.
For many staff, the symbolism is hard to ignore: free parking for those at the top, daily charges for everyone else. As one council insider put it privately, Reform’s promise to cut waste now appears to depend on asking workers to pick up the bill, while senior figures park for free.
