Councillor Tony Clayton – Mayor of Sevenoaks
Councillor Tony Clayton was elected the Mayor of Sevenoaks on Monday 12th May 2025.
Councillor Clayton was first elected to Sevenoaks Town Council in 1987, and in 2024/25 he held the position of Deputy Mayor. Councillor Tony Clayton previously held the position of Sevenoaks Town Mayor in 1995/96.
The Mayor and his wife, Gill, have lived in Sevenoaks since 1983, after moving from Glasgow with their two children.
Councillor Clayton has also served as a District Councillor for much of the time he has worked as a Town Councillor. As the Vice Chair of Housing, he oversaw major investment in the quality and sustainability of social homes. As the Chair of Town Centre Development, he supervised the evolution of the Bligh’s Shopping Centre plan, and the commissioning of the successful developer.
The Mayor has spent most of his career working as an economist, specialising in performance improvement and marketing strategy, for companies in Kent, across the UK and internationally. He has also held roles in the Office for National Statistics, including Director of Economic Analysis, and worked as the Chief Economist of the UK Intellectual Property Office. Since retiring from the Civil Service, he has worked as a consultant on intellectual property economic projects.
Since he first held the position of Sevenoaks Town Mayor in 1995/96, Councillor Clayton has been working to promote cycling in Sevenoaks. He continues to cycle and is often seen around Sevenoaks on a locally made e-bike. The Mayor is particularly interested in green initiatives, including promoting tree planting, supporting sustainable energy, and improving recycling.
Councillor Clayton said, "We have big decisions to make on the future of Sevenoaks this year. Local government reorganisation should give the Town a chance to take more local control of parks and other services. There’s an exciting sports development at Greatness Recreation Ground due to start with Sevenoaks Football Club. We’re starting to develop ideas for community building at Greatness Lakes, as well as thinking about the long-term potential of the Stag to grow and play an even bigger role in plans for the Town Centre. I hope we can involve even more members of the Sevenoaks community to make the most of all these opportunities." The Mayor added, “Town and Parish Councils will live through the local government changes affecting Districts and Counties, and will continue to speak for their communities. Sevenoaks Town Council will aim to capture the widest possible range of voices in charting the future of our wonderful town.”