Sevenoaks District Explained

Sevenoaks is a local government district[1] in west Kent, England. Its council is based in the town of Sevenoaks.

The district was formed on 1 April 1974 by the merger of Sevenoaks Urban District, Sevenoaks Rural District and part of Dartford Rural District.

Geography

The area is approximately evenly divided between buildings and infrastructure on the one hand and woodland or agricultural fields on the other. It contains the upper valley of the River Darenth and some headwaters of the River Eden.

The vast majority of the district is covered by the Metropolitan Green Belt.

In terms of districts, it borders Dartford to the north, Gravesham to the northeast, Tonbridge and Malling to the east, briefly Tunbridge Wells to the southeast. It also borders two which, equal to it, do not have borough status, the Wealden district of East Sussex to the south and the Tandridge district of Surrey to the southwest. It borders the London Boroughs of Bromley and Bexley to the northwest.

In the 2011 Census, the district had a population of 114,893.[2]

Governance

Sevenoaks District Council
Logo Pic:File:Sevenoaks District Council.svg
Logo Res:250px
House Type:Non-metropolitan district
Leader1 Type:Chair
Leader1:Laurence Ball
Party1:
Conservative
Election1:14 May 2024[3]
Leader2 Type:Leader
Leader2:Roddy Hogarth
Party2:
Conservative
Election2:14 May 2024[4]
Leader3 Type:Chief Executive
Leader3:Pav Ramewal
Election3:2013[5]
Members:54 councillors
Structure1:File:UK_Sevenoaks_District Council_2023.svg
Structure1 Res:250
Political Groups1:
Administration (33)
  • Other parties (21)
  • Last Election1:4 May 2023
    Next Election1:6 May 2027
    Session Room:Sevenoaks District Council Offices.jpg
    Meeting Place:Council Offices, Argyle Road, Sevenoaks, TN131HG

    Sevenoaks District Council provides district-level services. County-level services are provided by Kent County Council. The whole district is also covered by civil parishes, which form a third tier of local government.[6]

    In 2009 the Audit Commission named Sevenoaks District Council as one of the four best-run and most efficient councils in the country.[7]

    Political control

    The first election to the council was held in 1973, initially operating as a shadow authority alongside the outgoing authorities before coming into its powers on 1 April 1974. Political control of the council since 1974 has been as follows:

    Party in control Years
    1974–1995
    1995–1999
    1999–present

    Leadership

    The leaders of the council since 1999 have been:[8]

    Councillor Party From To
    Alison Cook 1999 10 May 2005
    Peter Fleming 10 May 2005 7 May 2023
    Julia Thornton 23 May 2023 14 May 2024
    Roddy Hogarth 14 May 2024

    Composition

    Following the 2023 election the composition of the council was as follows:

    PartyCouncillors
    33
    14
    4
    3
    Total 54
    Two of the independent councillors sit together as the "Sevenoaks Independents".[9] The next election is due in 2027.

    Elections

    Since the last full review of boundaries in 2003 the council has comprised 54 councillors, representing 26 wards. Elections are held every four years.[10]

    Premises

    The council is based at the Council Offices on Argyle Road. The offices were built for the council on the site of a large house which had served as the offices of one of the council's predecessors, the Sevenoaks Urban District Council. The new building was formally opened on 3 March 1986.[11]

    Housing and architecture

    The layout of the district is dual-centred:

    In all areas low-rise dominates: the incidence of flats exceeding two storeys is rare.

    See also: Grade I listed buildings in Sevenoaks (district). The number of listed buildings in the district exceeds 150. This includes 16 churches listed in the highest grading in the national listing system (Grade I). Castles and English country houses of the wealthiest in society from the 16th to 18th centuries form part of this district.

    Examples at Grade I include Knole House, Chartwell, Penshurst Place and Chevening House, most of which have their own produce-selling farms. Older with original stone walls are Hever Castle with its -wooded island in a listed parkland. A folly exists at Lullingstone Castle which is a reconstruction of its gatehouse and separate modern house.[12]

    Towns and parishes

    The whole district is covered by civil parishes. The parish councils for Sevenoaks and Swanley are styled as town councils.

    See also

    References

    51.27°N 0.193°W

    Notes and References

    1. http://www.sevenoaks.gov.uk District Council website
    2. Web site: 2011 Census profile: Age and gender profile (unrounded) . Kent County Council . 28 March 2014.
    3. Web site: Council Chairman . Sevenoaks District Council . 7 July 2024.
    4. Web site: The Council's new Leader and Cabinet . Sevenoaks District Council . 7 July 2024 . 15 May 2024.
    5. Web site: Council structure . Sevenoaks District Council . 27 September 2023.
    6. act. Local Government Act 1972. 1972. 70. 31 May 2023.
    7. http://www.sevenoaks.gov.uk/news/2009/december/4052.asp Sevenoaks District Council : 9 December 2009 : Sevenoaks Tops National Performance League Table
    8. Web site: Council minutes . Sevenoaks District Council . 25 July 2022.
    9. Web site: Your Councillors . Sevenoaks District Council . 27 September 2023.
    10. si. The District of Sevenoaks (Electoral Changes) Order 2001. 2001. 3557. 27 September 2023.
    11. News: New offices... Plenty of room in council's new home . 25 July 2022 . Sevenoaks Chronicle . 7 March 1986 . 11.
    12. Hever Castle