A Kent council leader has admitted that a multi-agency coronavirus recovery plan has been created secretively.

Emergency planning group, the Kent Resilience Forum (KRF), which involves local authorities, police and the NHS, has produced a draft action plan to get the economy and county's public services back on their feet post-Covid.

The Conservative administration of Kent County Council (KCC), a leading agency in the KRF, has been criticised for the lack of scrutiny and "democratic accountability" in the plan's construction. The 24-page document was presented to KCC's cabinet for the first time yesterday.

Cllr Roger Gough (Con), the leader at Kent County Council (KCC), admitted there had been a "degree of mystique" to the work completed - describing the process as a "slight Wizard of Oz" - but said there had been involvement from elected members in many different forums.

KCC's leader said: "I think the sense there is something going on under the radar is one that needs to be dispelled, but rather an effort of co-ordination and drawing on the lessons that we all experienced during the Covid crisis."

He added: "The recovery and renewal strategy in terms of the economic side has been sent back to cabinet meetings a number of times and has been shared with wider members and discussed at cabinet committees."

However, Cllr Rob Bird (Lib Dem), KCC's main opposition leader, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: "There has been no democratic accountability."

The draft plan, which is expected to be signed off in early August, has identified 152 key actions needing to take place to restore, rebuild and recover public services across Kent and Medway following the Covid-19 pandemic emergency.

Priorities include lobbying Boris Johnson's government for adequate funding to cover financial gaps for local councils; improving job opportunities for those recently unemployed and ensuring fast broadband access for Kent families.

However, key risks identified range from the winding down of the furlough scheme to fears around the impact of the winter flu and second wave on health and social care.

The plan has had input from 160 individuals over 50 different organisations.

KCC corporate director of strategy, David Whittle, told the cabinet: "It is really important we try to capture the way of working in our response and through recovery and try and ensure that is a residual legacy going forward of Covid.

"It has broken down barriers and given everyone a core set of principles and missions to work towards. It has meant we have been able to respond quickly and in an agile way, which I think has been to the benefit of Kent and Medway residents."

Despite this, KCC opposition party leaders have been critical of the process, which they say has largely taken place behind closed doors.

KCC Green Party leader, Cllr Martin Whybrow, added: "I do feel the recovery action plan to date has lacked transparency and member involvement, I believe there is a need to be more inclusive."

Cllr Bird added: "I think the Kent Resilience Forum has set itself a large number of challenges and I am sure all members will wish to see regular reports on progress being made in tackling the many outstanding issues with Covid.

A final version of the action plan will likely be published on Monday, August 10.

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