East Kent must be prepared for devolved powers in the county, according to the leader of Shepway council.

The KM's political editor Paul Francis revealed earlier this week that five east Kent councils are in discussions over forming a "super council" in what would be one of the biggest shake-ups to the county's political map for decades.

Speaking publicly for the first time on the negotiations, Cllr David Monk told KentOnline's sister paper the Folkestone & Hythe Express that Shepway needs to be ready.

He warned that in order for governance to remain in control locally there had to be some plan in place.

Those preparations are already under way and Shepway council officers are investigating whether becoming part of the five council super district would work for Shepway.

Shepway, Ashford, Dover, Canterbury and Thanet councils are considering merging into a single "super council".

Cllr Monk faced concerns from Ukip's opposition leader, Cllr Mary Lawes, during Shepway's full council meeting last night that it would be "walking away from local democracy".

He responded that he has "sympathy for the political deficit" and despite the discussions being in extremely early stages, he said he felt Shepway could be well placed to fit into a super council structure.

He said: "We're in a position where we won't struggle to make it in a super district. We've got 30 members and it's possible for a super to have 150.

"We've commissioned a piece of work, the result of which will be analysed by our officers and will bring a report for us to consider.

"It's better to have some evidence to back up rather than going in blind and that's what we're doing."

One early model could be for Kent County Council to become "an overarching strategic" body which could have control of the Kent Police and Crime Commissioner like the Greater London Assembly.

However, Cllr Monk said this "did not find favour with [KCC leader] Paul Carter" and that any decisions need to be unanimously agreed.

Cllr Monk blamed central government cuts to local authorities saying they and the other councils are being "pushed into a position where we need a plan in order to survive".

"The driver to all of this is to fund efficiencies in local government," he added.

"The government is suggesting that local authorities will have to ready themselves for devolved powers."

A joint statement was issued today from the five councils confirming the "initial discussions" between east Kent leaders and chief executives.The statement added that until options have been explored "it is not possible to provide any more detail".