New Council Approved for Tonbridge Town

On By southboroughnews

Elections are to be held next year for a brand new Tonbridge Town Council.

A decision to go ahead with the extra tier of local government was taken at a meeting of Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council on Tuesday.

Support for a Tonbridge Town Council was strengthened by the Labour government’s plans to abolish Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council and replace it with a much larger unitary authority, likely to be more distant from Tonbridge residents – probably in Maidstone.

This new unitary authority is set to also mean the winding up of Kent County Council in a plan the government hopes will lead to reduced administrative duplication and more efficient local government.

Southborough and Sevenoaks already have town councils as well as Borough councils and Kent County Council covering the same area. All other areas in Tonbridge and Malling Borough also already have either a town or parish council (town and parish councils have the same powers).

Town Councils generally look after local parks, cemeteries and smaller venues, like village halls.

The new Tonbridge Town Council will begin work in May 2027 following the scheduled elections.

The second consultation on the Town Council proposal was held during November and December 2025 and attracted 897 responses. 62% of people that responded stated they believe the town council should have a mayor.

The first consultation ran from June to July 2025 and received 3,257 responses, representing approximately 12% of the eligible population. 72% of respondents supported the creation of a town council for Tonbridge, while 23% were opposed and 5% were unsure.

There will be 18 elected councillors in six wards across the town.

The wards will have the same boundaries as the existing six borough wards:

  1. Cage Green and Angel – 4 Councillors
  2. Higham – 3 Councillors
  3. Oast – 1 Councillor
  4. Judd – 3 Councillors
  5. Trench – 3 Councillors
  6. Vauxhall – 4 Councillors

There would be an overall increased cost to Tonbridge council tax payers arising from the additional overheads and any extra services the town council chose to deliver. The town council will charge a precept on top of the Borough’s bill.

Charges for businesses would not be affected as they are subject to business rates, which are calculated separately from council tax.

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