A consultation to gauge support for the creation of a town council in Tonbridge showed a majority of those responding in favour of the proposal.
More than 3,000 people completed a survey as part of the borough council review of local governance which was prompted by a vote among borough councillors and a petition.
The six-week consultation, which opened in June, found that 72 per cent of those who took part favoured the creation of a town council, while almost a quarter (23 per cent) were opposed. Five per cent of respondents were unsure. Ninety-six per cent of those taking part were residents of Tonbridge, with a further two per cent working in the town.
The result paves the way for a further review work to be undertaken during the autumn. A final decision on whether to proceed with the creation of a town council will be subject to a full vote of borough councillors in February 2026.
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. While the borough council would continue to provide most local services, 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.
The consultation questionnaire allowed those responding to provide reasons for their preference. Among those supporting the town council proposal, the chief reasons given were that it that it would give the residents of Tonbridge a stronger voice in local decisions (47 per cent) and it would offer better facilities and support for the town (31 per cent). A further 19 per cent said it would enhance the status of Tonbridge.
For those opposed to the creation of a council, 41 per cent cited concerns about additional costs added to their tax bill while 27 per cent said that the borough council (and any future unitary council) already provides the services that a town council would. Adding to local bureaucracy was also a concern in 27 per cent of responses.
A total of 3,257 responses to the consultation were received, a response rate of 12 per cent.
The next step of the process will be a report to a meeting of the full council on 28 October. Councillors will vote on whether to proceed with the next stage of the review which could include a second consultation on arrangements for setting up the town council. If a new town council is formed, it is expected that elections could take place in 2027 to align with other parish and town councils.
Damian Roberts, Electoral Registration Officer at Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council, said: “I’d like to thank everyone who took part in this initial consultation exercise and provided feedback on the proposal.
“If a town council is created, Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council will have a vital role to play in ensuring it is set up to succeed and that it meets the expectations of all the residents and businesses that it serves.”
Read more about the community governance review.