Published: Friday, 5th June 2026
Councillors are set to consider options for the Stag, which would ensure the much-loved arts centre could remain in local control well into the future.
Sevenoaks District Council has received a Community Asset Transfer request from the Sevenoaks Town Council for the Stag, which is currently leased to the Town Council on a 25-year lease with nine years left to run.
Having carefully considered advice and guidance from Central Government and the Council’s independent external auditors, Sevenoaks District Council is proposing to offer Sevenoaks Town Council two long-term options for the future of The Stag.
These include the opportunity to purchase the asset outright at a lower, existing use valuation of £650,000, or to enter into a new 30‑year lease at a peppercorn rent.
Both options would allow the Stag Trustees and the Town Council to secure new funding to invest in the Stag and its future as a valued cultural and community space for the District.
A 30-year lease option at a peppercorn rent would ensure that a future local authority cannot make any adverse decision on the future of the Stag without the Town Council’s agreement. It also would not hinder the Town Council from discussing the lease and the freehold with the new unitary authority once it is established.
Both options have been considered by the Council’s Section 151 Officer as compliant with Government requirements for asset transfer and disposal, particularly in the context of forthcoming Local Government Reorganisation.
Disposal of the entire freehold of the Stag for free is not deemed to be legally acceptable within the established national guidance.
Should the Town Council decide not to accept either offer, the Stag and the existing lease will automatically transfer to Sevenoaks District Council’s successor authority, where the existing nine-year lease will remain unchanged.
Cllr Julia Thornton, the Council’s Cabinet Member for Finance, says: “This year, we have received 24 Community Asset Transfer applications with 16 already approved and The Stag also now recommended for transfer, demonstrating our clear commitment to enabling community stewardship of some of our most beloved public assets.
“The Stag Community Arts Centre is a much cherished cultural and community asset providing theatre, cinema, and a place for arts and education not just for Sevenoaks town residents, but also communities throughout the District and beyond.
“Therefore, I am very pleased that we are now in a position to be able to offer the Town Council the option to either purchase the Stag freehold based on its existing use valuation or a new 30-year lease at a peppercorn rent.
“Both of these long-term options would allow the Town Council to invest in the Stag as they have indicated they wish to do so.
“We have always been clear that we support the transfer of The Stag to the Town Council to enhance local stewardship, so we have done everything we can to offer the best possible deals allowed within the law and guidance.
“Should the Town Council decide not to take up either of these long term offers, the Stag will continue to remain in public ownership for community use and its existing lease arrangement will be transferred to the new unitary authority that will be taking over from this Council in a couple of years’ time.”
The Stag Community Asset Transfer will be considered by the Sevenoaks District Council’s Finance and Investment Advisory Committee on 9 June 2026, Cabinet on 16 June 2026 with a final decision taken by Council on 14 July 2026.
From April 2028, Sevenoaks District Council is expected to become part of a new unitary authority as part of Local Government Reorganisation.
Leading up to this, the Council has introduced a Community Asset Transfer scheme so certain Council-owned property could be transferred to the local town or parish council so they could be managed closer to the communities they serve.
These assets would be transferred in accordance with the Council’s Disposals Policy and financial values based on advice and guidance from Central Government and Sevenoaks District Council’s independent external auditors.
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