Sevenoaks Town Council seriously concerned about District Council’s recommendations for Community Asset Transfers
Published: 21 April 2026
Ahead of expected Local Government Reorganisation, the local Community Asset Transfer discussions are ongoing. Sevenoaks Town Council is aware that Sevenoaks District Council will be required to transfer all major commercial assets such as large car parks, commercial office buildings, and a hotel to the new Unitary Authority. For this reason, the Town Council have not been requesting any of the larger commercial assets, only those community assets originally donated to the town’s people.
Sevenoaks Town Council’s aim is to preserve and enhance current community assets for current and future communities. It is requesting that community assets be transferred at ‘Best Value’ which takes into account social, economic and environmental well-being. Community Assets can legally be transferred at a nominal or nil transfer value if valued under £2m.
The Resolution passed at the Sevenoaks Town Council Finance Meeting on 20th April 2026 states:
Sevenoaks Town Council have serious concerns about Sevenoaks District Council’s Recommendations for Community Asset Transfers which are due to be considered at their Cabinet meeting tomorrow evening.
The Town Council had hoped to have had a liaison meeting to discuss these concerns with the District Council.
The Town Council believes that the Recommendations do not reflect Best Value for local residents and what is best for the community in relation to economically, socially and for their wellbeing.
The proposed charges for land arbitrary set at £5 sqm and potentially Market Value for the Stag at £650k is one of the serious concerns, as the funding of these transfers will fall direct to local residents to pay for assets already owned by the public.
It is therefore Recommended that if Sevenoaks District Council does not agree to handing over the following Community Assets (Stag, Hollybush Recreation Ground, Horses Field, Market Rights and Shambles) at nominal value as allowed by legislation, Sevenoaks Town Council will use all avenues and resources available to contest this in the best interest of the current and future generations of Sevenoaks residents.
It is hoped that other parish councils whose residents will be similarly impacted will join us.