Tunbridge Wells leaders welcome local government reforms

Wednesday, 11 November 2026 at 14:28

Mike Martin MP speaks at Tunbridge Wells Business Show

Three local political leaders have spoken out positively on the proposed re-organisation of local councils across West Kent.

While the re-organisation of local government across Kent is on a temporary pause, politicians and council chiefs across the county are generally enthusiastic about the likely direction of travel.

Speaking st the 2026 Tunbridge Wells Business Fair, held at the Assembly Hall, local MP Mike Martin welcomed the opportunities ahead for more streamlined local government structures, and an elected ‘super’ mayor with greater strategic powers.

Dr Martin said that these larger unitary authorities, such as the one envisaged for West Kent, would be able to better devolve and deliver local services to residents.

The new West Kent strategic authority looks likely to combine the existing Tunbridge Wells, Tonbridge and Malling, Sevenoaks, and Maidstone borough and district councils, with a combined population of 600,000.

Dr Martin said that local tax-raising powers such as a tourist tax would now be possible with ‘fiscal devolution’, together with business tax reforms, which he fully supported as a Liberal Democrat.

William Benson chief executive of Tunbridge Wells Borough Council (TWBC) also welcomed the proposed changes, contrasting Britain”s over-centralised political structures to that of Germany, which has a much more devolved and federalised system.

Justine Rutland, Cabinet Member for Economic Development at TWBC, was likewise optimistic. She said that with the current four-month long pause and review period a final decision was expected by next February, with elections to the new combined authorities, including a town council for Tunbridge Wells, envisaged to take place in May 2028..

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