Residents and businesses in Tonbridge are being invited to give their view on whether the area should have a locally elected town council.
A consultation which opens today aims to gauge interest in a new local body to represent the town, working alongside Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council.
The results of the six-week survey will feed into a local governance review being conducted by the borough council. It was launched following a vote by councillors and the submission of a public petition. The review can last up to a year with the outcome to be decided by a vote of the full council.
Tonbridge is the only area of the borough which has neither a parish nor town council, with all local services currently provided by the borough and county councils. A new town council, serving around 16,000 households, could take on responsibilities, such as allotments, open spaces, community schemes and support for tourism. It may also represent the interests of the community on a range of matters.
Members of the town council would be elected by voters in the Tonbridge area. National guidance recommends that for an area the size of Tonbridge the number of town councillors should be between 13 and 27.
Town council services and overheads would be funded via an additional precept on Tonbridge council tax bills. The “special expenses” charge currently levied by Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council to pay for such services would be adjusted to reflect any transfer of responsibilities to the new town council. The special expenses element of council tax bills in Tonbridge is currently £77.65 for a band D home.
Leaflets providing details of the review and inviting people to take part in the consultation are being sent to all households in the area. The council is also encouraging participation via social media, its newsletter and through the local media.
The Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council website is providing detailed information and access to the online consultation. The deadline for responses is 5pm on Monday 14 July.
The review comes amid plans for changes to local government in England. The reforms would see the merging of borough, county and smaller unitary councils to create larger unitary authorities, ending the existing two-tier system of county and borough authorities. In Kent, the government is proposing that these new arrangements are established in April 2028.
Damian Roberts, Electoral Registration Officer at Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council, said: “Whether we need a town council for Tonbridge is something that must be decided by those who live and work in the area. That’s why we want as many people as possible to engage with the information we’re making available and voice their opinion through this consultation exercise.
“I’d urge everyone who cares about the future of Tonbridge to make their voice heard on this important decision.”
Read more about the review and respond to the consultation