Please read the following important background information before filling out the survey below. The survey seeks public opinion on any District Council-owned assets which the Town Council could potentially consider requesting the transfer of, in the near future.
Local District and Borough Councils are due a significant reorganisation into several larger Unitary Councils, as part of the Central Government's "Local Government Reform". Alongside its fellow counterparts, Sevenoaks District Council is working on a statutory request from the Government to produce detailed proposals on how they plan to merge with neighbouring District and Borough Councils, to form one of these Unitaries. Once complete, Sevenoaks District Council will liaise with the public and interested parties on these proposals.
The default position is that all assets will transfer to the new Unitary Authority. The District Council is therefore working with town and parish councils to enable the protection of local assets via transfers, if possible, to town and parish councils or to voluntary organisations. Sevenoaks Town Council will need to produce Business Proposals for each asset, demonstrating that the transfer is both supported by residents, and that its transfer to local ownership will have a considerable benefit to the local community.
Sevenoaks Town Council is providing Expressions of Interest for the transfer of several assets and has requested that these are considered as a ‘package’. Some of the assets will be income generating and some only having outgoing costs. The aim is that the overall ‘package’ will be cost neutral where possible both to the new Unitary Council and the local taxpayer.
Sevenoaks Town Council has asked for the transfer of the following assets to be considered in the first tranche of discussions. The Town Council considers that their local ownership and operation will be of a considerable benefit to the community:
- Stag Theatre & Cinema (currently leased from SDC)
- Bradbourne Vale Road horse field (currently leased to Sevenoaks Riding for the Disabled)
- Hollybush Recreation Ground & Related Assets
- Land & Market Rights in the High Street
- St John’s Hill Car Park & Public Toilets (public toilets currently leased from SDC)
- St James Car Park
The following is a list of additional assets owned by Sevenoaks District Council, which would therefore transfer to the new Unitary Authority if and when established. Sevenoaks Town Council are keen to hear from the local community as to whether they think there is a need for these to be moved to the Town Council and operated locally. Please note that any further assets applied for which would not generate their own income could have cost implications which would require investigation and careful consideration.