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Consideration was given to the recommendations
of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee in respect of the Borough
Council’s preferred option for Local Government
Reorganisation.
 
Due regard was given to the views of the
Committee, the financial and value for money considerations, the
assessment of risk and the legal implications detailed in the
business case attached at Annex 3.
 
Cabinet welcomed the views of the Overview and
Scrutiny Committee, recognised the detailed and robust debate of
Members and shared the concerns expressed regarding the financial
impact of local government reorganisation and the overall
devolution timetable.
 
The business case (attached at Annex 3)
proposed a 3-unitary model  (option 3A)
with a West Kent authority comprising Tonbridge and Malling,
Sevenoaks, Tunbridge Wells and Maidstone areas.  Following positive engagement and collaborative
working with other Kent authorities, this option was potentially
supported by five councils across the County.
 
It was observed that this was an important
decision which would have significant consequences for the future
of the Borough for decades and generations to come.  Particular reference
was made to the views of parish/town councils and Cllr Boughton
proposed that relevant supporting documentation could be included
in the Borough Council’s final submission if provided in
sufficient time.  It was also proposed
by Cllr Boughton that any final drafting changes to the Borough
Council’s submission before the Government deadline be
delegated to the Chief Executive in consultation with the
Leader.  Both of
these proposals were seconded by Cllr Taylor and supported
unanimously.
 
In recognition that the Borough Council had to
submit a response to Government by 28 November 2025 and that option
3A offered the most efficient and least disruptive multi-unitary
option for Kent, enabled long-term financial sustainability and
reflected the position previously confirmed by Tonbridge and
Malling at the interim submission to Government in March 2025, Cllr
Boughton proposed, seconded by Cllr Taylor and Cabinet
 
RESOLVED: 
That
 

(1)            
the comments of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee on the draft
proposals for Local Government Reorganisation, be noted;
 

(2)            
based on the evidence set out in the business case (Annex 3), the 3
unitary model, Option 3a be submitted to the Government by the
deadline of 28 November 2025 as the Borough Council’s
preferred option for Local Government Reorganisation;
 

(3)            
any final drafting changes ahead of the submission deadline be
delegated to the Chief Executive in consultation with the Leader of
the Borough Council; and
 

(4)            
any relevant supporting documentation be included in the Borough
Council’s final submission to Government if received in
advance of the 28 November 2025 deadline.