Sevenoaks Council's New Conservative Leader

The Conservative Kevin Maskell has been elected leader of Sevenoaks District Council after the previous Conservative leader lost a vote of no confidence last month.

Cllr Maskell represents Westerham and Crockham Hill and is the portfolio holder for finance and investments. 

Cllr Maskell's nomination was seconded by Cllr Julia Thornton of the West Kent Independents Party.

Listen here to the resignation statement, plus thoughts about the future from Cllr Maskell and Cllr Thornton speaking to the Local Democracy Reporting Service:

The council meeting lasted nearly 4 hours, ending with the leadership decision at 10.50pm.

Cllr Maskell received 25 votes, with Cllr Leaman of the Liberal Democrats obtaining 14 votes with one abstention.

The previous leader, Roddy Hogarth (pictured below), told a full council meeting on Tuesday night:

"The last 18 months for me have been both a delight and a challenge. I have found it very rewarding.  I have enjoyed putting challenging initiatives into action and I look forward to their successful conclusion."

Cllr Hogarth concluded: "However, tonight I am honoured to offer this council my resignation."

On Sevenoaks District Council, the Conservatives currently have 24 members, the Liberal Democrats 14, West Kent Independents 9, Green Party four and three other independents.

The West Kent Independents had tabled the motion of no confidence in Cllr Hogarth.  Cllr Hogarth had deposed the leader of the West Kent Independents, Julia Thornton, as leader of the Conservative group in 2024.

The Local Democracy Reporting Service reporter SIMON FINLAY adds:

It is unlikely the West Kent Independents will return to their former group but will be broadly supportive of the administration.

The Liberal Democrat opposition leader, Cllr Alan Leaman, said the Tory group had three leaders in quick succession and SDC continues to be unstable, particularly with local government reorganisation looming on the horizon.

Cllr Leaman described the West Kent Independents as a “wholly owned subsidiary” of the Conservative group.

Former teacher Cllr Maskell has served on Sevenoaks District Council since 2007 and has previously held the housing and finance portfolios. The latter he will retain as leader.

Cllr Maskell is now a governor and trustee for a local school specialising in language development disorder, and a director and trustee for an organisation working on national policy and research development in neurodiversity.

Cllr Maskell said: “It is a huge honour and a privilege to be Leader of the Council. These are exciting times with many major projects underway.

He continued: “I am fortunate to have a talented and highly capable cabinet. Together, we will work to deliver the council’s ambitions for regeneration and economic development whilst providing high-quality services and the best possible value for money.

“From April, we will introduce new waste collections to help our residents recycle more of their waste, benefitting the environment and saving taxpayers’ money by reducing disposal costs."