REFORM UK’s flagship local authority has passed its first budget despite official warnings of long-term financial risks posed by a lack of tax revenue.

Opposition parties at Kent County Council warned the 3.99 per cent council tax increase would leave reserves “dangerously low” and the authority’s “highest ever exposure to financial risk” totalling more than £410 million on the risk register. 

The levy is 1 per cent less than the limit before a referendum is required.

A statement from the council’s head of finance, David Shipton, stated: “The decision to raise the council tax household charge below the level permitted without a referendum poses a long-term financial risk as a result of the council tax income forgone.”

His Section 25 assurance, which is legally required to be considered for the budget, also warned that the level of forecast overspend for this financial year poses a “significant risk” to the council’s reserves and financial sustainability.

Opposition leader, Liberal Democrat Antony Hook, said that it is a budget that is “built on broken promises to the taxpayer” after Reform promised not to raise council tax.

He described it as a “casino budget” where Reform has already “lost control” this year with a forecast overspend of £36.5m.

Leader of the independent group, Paul Thomas, described the budget as “blind ambition” and “potentially reckless.”

Their concerns were brushed aside however, as all 48 Reform councillors backed the measures in the 75-seat authority on Thursday evening.

Insisting the budget is “carefully thought through,” the council’s deputy leader Brian Collins added: “Some people call it risky, I call it bold.”

Council leader Linden Kemkaran described it as a “sensible, low-tax budget.”