The Tunbridge Wells Town Forum has condemned a lack of consultation by the Liberal Democrat-controlled Borough Council after news that the Borough plans to abruptly stop work on forming the Town Council.

A motion will be put before a meeting of the Borough Council next week to order a pause to the process.

The Town Forum, which is made up of ward councillors and local representatives, has called this a “retrograde step.”

The Borough Council says the decision is due to the Labour government’s decision to pause local government reorganization in Kent.

Sevenoaks has always retained its own Town Council despite being the centre of a District Council, while Tonbridge will elect its first Town Council in May.

A leading Liberal Democrat in Sevenoaks has also criticised the decision and appealed to his fellow party members in Tunbridge Wells to push on with the Town Council.

Opposition parties been critical too, but the Leader of the Council, Ben Chapelard, has not responded to a request for an explanation.

The Tunbridge Wells Town Council would have covered voters in the “unparished” areas of the town (shown below) who – unlike Southborough and Rusthall – don’t have any local parish or town council to deal with parks and other community buildings.

The motion put to the Full Council on Wednesday 14th October outlines the pause and also proposes “to defer taking any further steps to create the Town Council until the Government provides (i) a clear decision that Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) across Kent is to proceed and (ii) a revised programme and timetable for LGR.”

Because the Liberal Democrats have an overwhelming majority on the Borough Council, the leadership’s stance on the Town Council will almost certainly prevail.

This is a statement from Adrian Berendt, who is Deputy Chair of the Town Forum, which was set up in 2005 to to reflect views of people living in the town:

“The proposed motion to postpone work on the new Town Council for Royal Tunbridge Wells is a retrograde step. Having decided to form a Town Council just a few months ago, the postponement is being done with no consultation and with just a week’s notice to residents of the town.

“The Town Forum has long argued for a Town Council for Royal Tunbridge Wells, something the town had had for almost 100 years until 1974. Residents of the town already contribute £2.9m through their council tax to maintain our lovely Commons, parks and other amenities and it’s high time there was democratic accountability and transparency about how that money is spent.

“If the establishment of the Unitary Council for West Kent were to be delayed, this is the perfect time to work on establishing the new Town Council without the distraction of all the work in setting up the new Unitary. It will enable the Town Council to start in a small way, in consultation with the Borough Council and gradually expand over time, according to the wishes of the town’s residents.

“The Town Forum urges the Borough Council to think again and to continue the preparatory work for the Royal Tunbridge Wells Town Council.”

Meanwhile, last year’s Liberal Democrat mayor of Sevenoaks, Tony Clayton, also objected to Ben Chapelard’s motion.

Lib Dem Tony Clayton posted on the Nextdoor forum: “Please don’t block the process of developing a Tunbridge Wells Town Council. Look at what we’ve achieved here to give Sevenoaks residents a real say in how their town develops. You can do this!”

UPDATE 9th October:

Further concern has been expressed by the Tunbridge Wells Alliance Party’s leader, Ellen Neville (pictured below).

She issued this statement:

“I am surprised that there is now a move to reverse the decision to establish a Royal Tunbridge Wells Town Council, without further consultation or discussion through the cross-party working group.

“At our meeting of councillors representing the unparished wards, attended by Tom Dawlings and myself, it was agreed to proceed towards a Vesting Day of 1 April 2027. The aim was to get the Town Council operational, initially taking responsibility for allotments and planning future services for residents.

“The Government’s position on pausing Local Government Reorganisation was already known. So, what has changed?

“Having seen the value of parish councils first-hand, I know how important local representation is. A Town Council can work closely with residents, the Town Forum and the BID to deliver for the community.

“With Council Tax bills arriving in April, just weeks before the May 2027 elections, it is fair to ask whether electoral considerations in the unparished wards are influencing the Liberal Democrats’ position.

“Reversing a full council decision without proper consultation or involving the cross-party groups doesn’t come across as particularly liberal or democratic. We should be getting on with establishing a Town Council for Royal Tunbridge Wells, not putting its future in doubt.”