The Sevenoaks District Council Cabinet met on 18 September 2025, and among other things, agreed to defer a decision on the community asset transfer of The Stag Community Arts Centre, approved the White Oak Leisure Centre residential scheme, and approved the disposal of several properties, prioritising sales to parish councils where possible. The Cabinet also endorsed a three-year financial planning approach and adopted the financial strategy.

Community Asset Transfer - The Stag Community Arts Centre

The Cabinet deferred a decision on the community asset transfer of The Stag Community Arts Centre, pending further analysis to ensure compliance with best value obligations.

Sevenoaks Town Council had requested the freehold transfer of The Stag for a nominal sum as part of the Community Asset Transfer (CAT) process. However, the Cabinet was informed that external auditors, Grant Thornton, had raised concerns about the council's ability to demonstrate compliance with its Best Value duty¹ in the proposed transfer. According to the supplementary agenda, Grant Thornton urged the Cabinet to defer any decision until the financial case was more fully developed and the council could demonstrate compliance with its statutory duties. The auditors also noted their concerns were not limited to this transaction alone, but to the precedent it may set for future decisions of a similar nature.

The Portfolio Holder stated that while keen to protect assets as Local Government Reorganisation progressed, he requested that Cabinet agree for officers to undertake work to satisfy Grant Thornton's requirements, with further engagement with Sevenoaks Town Council.

The Corporate Director for Finance & Trading, Adrian Rowbotham, advised that conversations with Grant Thornton had continued, with the focus on best value.

White Oak Leisure Centre Residential Quarter, Swanley

The Cabinet agreed to proceed with the preferred tenderer for the White Oak Leisure Centre Residential Quarter scheme, subject to planning consent being granted. This project involves building 60 homes using traditional construction methods, instead of modern methods of construction (MMC) after the previous contractor, TopHat, ceased trading in 2024. The project remains within the budget approved by the council in April 2023. The residential scheme is an enabling development, with capital receipts from the sale of the residential properties contributing to the delivery of the White Oak Leisure Centre.

Disposals - Tranche 3

The Cabinet approved the disposal of eleven properties, with priority given to disposing of assets to parish councils, where possible. The properties declared as surplus to the Council's requirements are:

• Land to rear of 42 Clarks Lane, Halstead (dispose to registered provider subject to affordable housing provision or dispose at auction)
• Land adjacent to 1 Southdene, Halstead (dispose to parish council with restrictions)
• Land adjacent to 6 Parkside, Halstead (dispose to parish council with restrictions)
• Land to rear of 2-12 Northfield, Hartley Longfield (dispose at auction)
• Land at the junction of Brambledown & Hawthorns, DA3 7ER (dispose at auction)
• Land at the junction of Brambledown & Hawthorns, DA3 7ER (dispose at auction)
• Land at north of recreation area at junction of Caxton Cl & Woodland Avenue – DA3 7DL (dispose to parish council or dispose at auction)
• Land between 8 & 10 Porchester Close – DA3 7DQ (dispose at auction)
• Land opposite 16 – 20 Vernon Close – TN15 6JY (dispose to parish council with restrictions or dispose at auction)
• Palace Approach, Otford (dispose to parish council with restrictions)
• Land at Small Grains, Fawkham (dispose to parish council with restrictions or dispose to registered provider subject to affordable housing provision or dispose at auction)

The Cabinet noted that the Small Grains, Vernon Close and Land at north of recreation area at junction of Caxton Close and Woodland Avenue sites were currently being considered through the Council's Community Asset Transfer process, and agreed that if the Community Asset Transfer applications were successful, any decision taken by Cabinet in relation to these sites would not then be taken forward.

Bevan Place, Swanley

The Cabinet agreed to proceed with a hotel development on the Bevan Place site, which will include a public restaurant, associated car parking, and public realm improvements. The Cabinet recommended to Council that the scheme is delivered either directly by the Council or in partnership with a development partner and that it procures an hotel operator under an hotel management agreement, and that the provision of £18,454,106 in the Capital Programme to deliver the scheme within the parameters set in the report be approved. Subject to Council's approval of the capital provision of £18,454,106 in the Capital Programme, Cabinet delegated authority to the Strategic Head of Property, Development and Economy to submit a planning application and to enter into any necessary contracts to facilitate the development and construction of the proposed scheme.

The Corporate Director for Finance & Investment advised that it was intended that the site would be developed and result in a capital receipt that would help to fund White Oak Leisure Centre where over £5m of capital receipts were still required.

Financial Prospects and Budget Strategy 2026/27 and Beyond

The Cabinet endorsed the three-year financial planning approach and principles set out in the Financial Prospects and Budget Strategy 2026/27 and Beyond report, and adopted the financial strategy. The report proposed a move from a 10-year balanced budget to a three-year balanced budget with a 10-year plan, and a single budget briefing for all members instead of reports to all advisory committees. The current three-year position showed an annual gap of £527,000.

Prevent Action Plan

The Cabinet approved the Sevenoaks District Community Safety Partnership Prevent Action Plan 2025-2030, a five-year plan to work together tackling counter terrorism. The plan has three main objectives: tackling the cause of radicalisation, safeguarding and supporting those most at risk, and enabling those who have engaged to disengage and rehabilitate. The plan had six priorities: partnership working, partnership plan, local risk assessment, referral pathway, training programme, and use of local authority resources.

Financial Monitoring 2025/26

The Cabinet noted the Financial Monitoring 2025/26 report, which set out the financial monitoring to the end of July 2025 and gave a forecast position as at 31 March 2026, of an adverse variance of £255,000. The Head of Finance advised that the pay award had now been approved at 3.2% and this was forecast to cost £256,000 above budget, and that the cessation of the Trade Waste Service had been approved and resulted in an adverse variance of £188,000.

Treasury Management 2024/25 Annual Report

The Cabinet approved the Treasury Management Annual report for 2024/25, a review of the Treasury performance for the year 24/25. The report looked at the investment outturn performance, the capital programme, the Council's borrowing activity and investment strategy. The Head of Finance advised that due to slowly falling interest rates during 2024/25 investment interest receipts were greater than budgeted, and that overall, the income from interest was £866,000, achieving an average interest rate of 4.97%.

Other Matters

The Cabinet also addressed questions from members regarding Community Asset Transfers, waste management, and Bevan Place. Additionally, they considered references from the Scrutiny Committee concerning assurances from Everyone Active² regarding compliance with the Equality Act, and assurances for the processes being followed appropriately and transparently for Community Asset Transfers.