Borough stops work on creating town council in light of pause to local government reorganisation
- Details
Ashford Borough Council has paused proposals for the creation of Ashford Town Council, in light of the Government’s review of Local Government Reorganisation (LGR).
The borough council decided in July 2026 to create a town council following the outcome of a Community Governance Review.
The review was initiated by the council to check whether its local democratic arrangements were “best designed to serve residents and communities” in light of LGR in Kent, which would see the borough council replaced by a larger unitary council in 2028.
Ministers have since asked councils to pause work that depends on a specific LGR decision, including activity based on the proposed four-unitary model for Kent and Medway.
In light of this, Ashford’s Full Council decided at a meeting on 15 October to pause implementation of the town council.
Ashford Borough Council said: “Although proposals for an Ashford Town Council were not part of LGR, the decision to create one was based on LGR taking place in 2028.
“The proposal has not been cancelled, but the council will await further government guidance on LGR before reviewing its future. As a result, the Town Council will no longer be established in April 2027 as planned.”
Ashford Town Council was due to be established on 1 April 2027, with the first elections taking place on 6 May 2027.
The council informed residents that these dates will no longer be met.
Lottie Winson
