Sevenoaks Town Council raises concerns about potential cost of District Council community asset transfers following NALC report
Published: 25 February 2026
At Sevenoaks Town Council’s (STC) Finance and Delivery Committee meeting on 23rd February, councillors considered the National Association of Local Councils (NALC) Case Studies in relation to community asset transfers as part of the Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) process.
This NALC resource brings together practical examples of devolution of assets to parish and town councils across the country. It highlights how councils of varying sizes and at different stages of devolution are approaching the transfer of assets and services from upper-tier authorities.
The following is written about the case studies on the NALC website, “The resource supports councils that are considering, negotiating or delivering devolved responsibilities, providing real-world insight into what works, what to watch for and how others have approached similar decisions…The resource reflects a growing trend of responsibilities being passed to parish and town councils.”
The NALC report includes a summary outlining different councils’ precepts and expenditure levels, alongside the types of assets proposed to be transferred. These range from market rights and theatres to parks, playgrounds and youth services.
Sevenoaks Town councillors noted that in none of the examples in the NALC case studies are upper-tier authorities shown to be charging town or parish councils to take on these assets. Instead, arrangements often involve grants or service level agreements to support the transfer of responsibilities.
The STC Finance and Delivery Committee members noted that this national context is highly relevant as town and parish councils across the Sevenoaks District prepare expressions of interest and business cases for the potential transfer of community assets as part of LGR. At a recent Sevenoaks District Council Finance & Investment Advisory Committee meeting, assets were agreed to be transferred to parish and town councils at a cost.
The NALC report indicates that such an approach would be exceptional. Councillors expressed concern that charging town and parish councils to take on publicly owned assets risks creating an artificial cost for residents. For Sevenoaks Town Council, any requirement to pay for the transfer of assets would have implications on its precept and for local taxpayers.
Councillor Claire Shea, Leader of Sevenoaks Town Council, remarked, “It’s quite astonishing that Sevenoaks District Council is trying to charge taxpayers for assets that they already own. No other council in the entire country is double charging residents in this way.
“Many of these assets were given to Sevenoaks District Council or its predecessors for the public to use. So why are they in effect being sold to the public now?
“It makes no sense and, more importantly, will throw the future viability of much-loved assets such as the Stag Theatre into doubt.
“We would urge Sevenoaks District Council to reconsider and its councillors to stand up for their communities rather than some hypothetical balance sheet.”
Sevenoaks Town Council is actively requesting and trying to negotiate with Sevenoaks District Council for certain assets to be transferred prior to the District Council’s dissolvement and the creation of a new unitary, starting with:
- Stag Community Arts Centre
- Hollybush Recreation Ground
- Land at Bradbourne Vale Road (Horses Field)
- Land at High Street – Market Rights
- The Shambles
Sevenoaks Town Council believes that the local Town Council is the most suitable authority to own and operate these community assets and be custodians for current and future generations, rather than a remote new Unitary Authority who will have considerable financial and operational constraints on resources particularly surrounding social care. The Town Council have also agreed to ‘overage’ conditions to prevent the Town Council trying to gain financially from the transfer of the asset.
The NALC case studies have been shared with Sevenoaks District Council. Town Councillors maintain that devolution should strengthen local stewardship of assets, rather than impose additional financial burdens on residents.