The Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council Parish Partnership Panel met on 28 August 2025, and discussed the Local Government Reorganisation, the role of parish and town councils in planning consultations, and the progress of the Local Plan. The panel also heard updates on the Community Governance Review into a town council for Tonbridge, and agreed that the Cabinet Member for Planning would provide a written summary of key points on the Local Plan to parishes following the next meeting of the Housing and Planning Scrutiny Select Committee on 21 October 2025 and/or subsequent decision taken by Cabinet at its extraordinary meeting on 29 October 2025. Finally, the Leader of the Council agreed to respond to questions raised by East Peckham Parish Council in a letter.

Local Government Reorganisation and Community Governance Review

The Chief Executive, Mr Damian Roberts, and the Leader of the Council, Councillor Matt Boughton, provided an update on the ongoing Local Government Reorganisation and Devolution process.

Mr Damian Roberts drew attention to the seven models under consideration for Kent and Medway, including three, four, and five unitary authority options, as well as Kent County Council's proposal of a single unitary with three Area Assemblies. He noted that the three Unitary option, based on initial consultancy analysis, proved to be a more financially sustainable model compared to the four Unitary option, and was the preferred option by the Borough Council alongside another four Councils in Kent and Medway.

With regard to the Neighbourhood Area Committees as introduced in the latest feedback from the Government, it was understood that these committees were intended to address concerns about local democracy and responsiveness, but their exact powers and relationship with parish councils remained to be determined.

The proposal submission deadline of 28 November 2025 for all Councils within Kent and Medway was reiterated, with government feedback and possible public consultation to follow in early 2026, elections to the new Unitary Councils in May 2027, and full implementation in April 2028.

Concerns were raised about the distribution of existing debts, particularly the risk of West Kent authorities inheriting a disproportionate share. It was noted that discussions with the Government and MPs to advocate for fair allocation were ongoing, noting that the new Unitary Councils would inherit both assets and liabilities, and that financial sustainability would be a key criterion for the proposals.

In response to questions raised by parish representatives about the implications of the Local Government Reorganisation for Town and Parish Councils, including precepts, asset ownership, and the role of Neighbourhood Area Committees, it was advised that parish assets and precepts would remain unchanged and that, while the relationship between Neighbourhood Area Committees and parishes was yet to be fully defined, there was no expectation that parish councils would be replaced or subsumed.

There was concern raised over the impact of the Local Government Reorganisation on council staff, particularly regarding job security, staff transfers and the risk of staff leaving for other authorities that were included in the Devolution Priority Programme. Mr Damian Roberts explained that, based on what happened elsewhere in the country where reorganisation had taken place, the vast majority of staff would transfer on existing terms and conditions to the new Unitary Council and continue to deliver the services that residents needed.

However, the main risk identified was retaining and attracting sufficient staff to maintain service delivery, due to retirements as a result of an aging profile and existing difficulty across the sector in recruiting to specialist roles.

Finally, reference was made to a communications campaign being coordinated across all 14 Councils in Kent and Medway to raise awareness among residents about the forthcoming reorganisation.

In the second part of the presentation, the Head of Electoral Services provided an update on the outcome of the consultation in respect of a Community Governance Review into a town council for Tonbridge, showing a strong support from 72% of the 3,257 respondents for establishing a Tonbridge Town Council, although a 12% response rate of the electorate was noted.

A full report on the results of the consultation and the recommended next steps as part of the Community Governance Review would be presented to the next meeting of Council on 28 October 2025 for a final decision to be taken and, subject to approval by Members, legal orders would be prepared and elections for the new town council could take place in May 2027, aligning with the local election cycle.

Planning Consultation

With regard to a query raised by parish representatives at a previous meeting around the '21-day rule' in respect of the legal consultation period that Town and Parish Councils as well as other statutory consultees were required to submit representations on planning applications, Councillor Mike Taylor, Cabinet Member for Planning, explained that, while town/parish councils were required to submit responses within the 21-day statutory consultation period as set out in Article 25 of the Town and Country Planning (Development Management Procedure) (England) Order 2015, late submission of representations before an application was determined would still be accepted, although with less likelihood of it being fully considered and reflected in the case officer's report.

Town and Parish Councils were reminded of the merit of early submission and were also made aware of an early Member engagement plan in respect of major and strategic development proposals, subject to approval by Council, which was aimed to enhance engagement with Members at an early stage of a major application and create an opportunity for input from local Members around key planning issues or concerns.

Local Plan

During an update provided by Councillor Mike Taylor, the importance of progressing the Local Plan and meeting the submission deadline set by the Government to avoid imposed plans was reinforced, with reference made to the uplifted housing need requirement from the Government placed on the Borough Council and the increased complexity created by the forthcoming Local Government Reorganisation.

Members noted that in accordance with the approved Local Development Scheme, the second stage of the Regulation 18 consultation was expected to be undertaken before Christmas this year, with Regulation 19 consultation and submission to the Planning Inspectorate by the December 2026 deadline. Depending on the capacity of the Inspectorate, the examination in public could potentially occur in late 2027 or early 2028.

In order to ensure Town and Parish Councils were kept up-to-date on the key dates and developments regarding the Borough Council's Local Plan process, it was agreed that Councillor Mike Taylor would provide a concise written summary of key points to parishes following the next meeting of the Housing and Planning Scrutiny Select Committee on 21 October 2025 and/or subsequent decision taken by Cabinet at its extraordinary meeting on 29 October 2025, both of which would focus on the second stage of the Regulation 18 Local Plan.

Other Business

The Chair of Kent Association of Local Councils (Tonbridge and Malling), Parish Councillor S Barker, reminded the panel that a letter had been sent by East Peckham Parish Council raising a number of questions, to which Councillor Matt Boughton advised that subject to clarification a response would be provided as soon as possible and could be shared with other interested parishes for transparency.

Councillor Mike Taylor was compiling an informal landfill register and encouraged parishes that had not responded to provide the relevant information.