Council approves community asset transfers

Published: Friday, 24th April 2026

Sevenoaks District Council has agreed a second-round of community asset transfers, passing on valued local facilities to town and parish councils.

The Council has introduced a community asset transfer scheme and invited applications from town and parish councils for the ownership of property and land assets.This scheme is voluntary and was introduced at the Council’s discretion.

Where it is appropriate to do so, the scheme aims for community assets to be devolved as close to local communities as practical. Transferred assets should promote or improve the economic, social or environmental wellbeing of District residents, and are transferred at an appropriate value.

At its meeting held on 21 April 2026, the Council’s Cabinet agreed to transfer the following local assets:

• The Shambles, Sevenoaks – transfer to Sevenoaks Town Council
• Oliver Crescent, Farningham – transfer to Farningham Parish Council
• Alban Crescent, Farningham – transfer to Farningham Parish Council
• Saddlers Park, Eynsford – transfer to Eynsford Parish Council
• Vernon Close, West Kingsdown – transfer to West Kingsdown Parish Council
• Caxton Close, Hartley – transfer to Hartley Parish Council
• Hale Lane Recreation Ground, Otford – transfer to Otford Parish Council

Since January this year, the Council’s Cabinet has agreed to transfer 14 assets to town and parish councils.

Sevenoaks District Council Leader, Cllr Kevin Maskell, says: “We are pleased to have agreed another round of community asset transfers.

“We were one of the very first councils to introduce a community asset transfer scheme and we continue to approve the majority of the applications that we receive.”

Cllr Maskell, also commented on Sevenoaks Town Council’s Community Asset application to transfer the Stag for free, which will be considered later in the year.

“Claims that we intend to sell The Stag, withdraw it from community use, or allow it to fall into commercial hands are false. These statements are irresponsible and have unnecessarily alarmed our residents.

“There is a 25‑year lease, granted in 2009 to Sevenoaks Town Council. Around ten years of that lease remain. We receive no income from the Stag and have consistently treated it as a valued public cultural asset. At no point have we considered selling or remove the Stag from community use.

“What we are doing, correctly and lawfully, is assessing the Town Council’s application against the Government and our independent auditor’s advice and our own property disposal policy.”

“We have a legal duty to secure best value for our residents. Simply giving away a valuable public asset for free would be indefensible, potentially unlawful, and a betrayal of the public interest.

“The Council’s independent auditors, Grant Thornton, have not directed that assets must be transferred. However, their advice requires the Council to demonstrate Best Value, prudence and transparency in decision‑making.”