Should Sevenoaks Town Council apply to take over local assets in local government reorganisation?
Published: 25 June 2025
There is still a good deal of uncertainty about the Government's two proposals for Local Government Reform:
1) Devolution - creation of Strategic Authority and Elected Mayor
2) Reorganisation and creation of Unitary Authorities.
It has been confirmed that Kent is not within the fast track for Devolution and therefore a timetable is not available.
Local government reorganisation process has started. District and Borough Councils had to submit outline plans in March 2025 for proposals for disbanding and creating new Unitary authorities which is expected to be several district councils combining. The government is expected to provide a decision and timetable relating to these plans in November/December 2025. Sevenoaks District Council (SDC) will liaise with the public and interested parties on these proposals.
In the meantime, SDC is working with town and parish councils to enable the protection of local assets via transfers, if possible, to town and parish councils or voluntary organisations. It should be noted that the default position being all assets transfer to new Unitary Authority.
This will not be an easy process due to resources required to produce Business Proposals for each asset and current legislation.
SDC SUBMISSION DATES FOR CONSIDERATION OF ASSET TRANSFER (Round 1/Round 2)
• Application opens: 6th May 2025/1st September 2025
• Application deadline: 30th June 2025/31st October 2025
• Finance & Investment Advisory Committee: 2nd September 2025/6th January 2026
• SDC Cabinet:18th September 2025/15th January 2026
• SDC Council: 19th November 2025/24th February 2026
SEVENOAKS TOWN COUNCIL’S TRANSFER OF ASSETS ETHOS
Sevenoaks Town Council is providing Expressions of Interest for the transfer of several assets and requests that these are considered as a ‘package’. Some of the assets will be income generating and some only having outgoing costs. The aim is that the overall ‘package’ will be cost neutral where possible both to the new Unitary Council and the local taxpayer.
Notes:
1. Asset of Community Value (ACV) – STC have registered some assets to date as Assets of Community Value. It is hoped that they would have priority in transfer discussions.
2. Overage – this is expected to be included within transfer to mitigate against STC selling in the future.
3. Market Value – there is still some uncertainty about how market value for assets is going to be established. Transfer of some assets valued at over £2m may have to be signed off by the Secretary of State.
Sevenoaks Town Council has already asked for the transfer of some assets to be considered in the first tranche of discussions: The Town Council believes that these will be of benefit to the community being owned and operated at the most local level.
There is a list of additional assets which are owned by Sevenoaks District Council and would transfer to the new Unitary Authority if and when established. These include Sevenoaks Leisure Centre, Bligh's Car Park, Bus Station, Bradbourne Lakes, Mill Pond and others.
PLEASE TELL US WHAT YOU THINK
Sevenoaks Town Council is keen to hear from the local community on whether there is a need for these in principle to be moved to the Town Council and operated locally. Due diligence on costs would be required to be considered. Please complete the survey online here or collect a paper survey from Sevenoaks Town Council offices on Bradbourne Vale Road.