A new budget to fund delivery of Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council services was agreed by councillors last night [24 February].

Members voted to set the council tax bills for waste collection, recycling, planning, parks, leisure and other local services at an average of £4.85 a week for a Band D home. The annual bill will be £252.65, an increase of £7.35 on the current year. 

Bills also fund services provided by Kent County Council, such as education, highways and social care, the costs of which account for around 70 per cent of bills. In addition, it raises income for the Kent Police Services, Kent and Medway Fire and Rescue Authority and parish and town councils.  

The combined bill for an average Band D household in Tonbridge and Malling from April 2026 will be made up as follows: 

Kent County Council                                  £1,758.60 (+3.99%)  

Tonbridge and Malling BC                          £252.65 (+3.00%) 

Kent Police Services                                  £285.15 (+5.55%)   

Kent and Medway Fire and Rescue           £99.81(+5.22%)                      

Parish/town councils (av)                           £75.62 (+3.21%)    

Total:                                                          £2,471,83 (+4.09%) 

Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council’s income from council tax for the year from April 2026 is forecast to be £13.8m, up from £13.2m last year.  

For this financial year Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council has seen a 15% reduction in central government funding compared to 2024/25 - the second biggest drop in the country. The annual Revenue Support Grant is essential funding allocated to local authorities to help pay for essential public services. Despite that, the council’s medium term financial strategy now has a nil funding gap over the next 10 years.  

Council tax income receipts ensure delivery of a range of borough services, including:   

• Collecting recycling and refuse from 120,000 bins each week  

• Answering almost 65,000 calls to our Contact Centre 

• Processing more than 1,600 planning applications   

• Operating 40 car parks 

• Managing 400 areas of public open space 

• Planting over 1,000 trees per year in the borough 

• Providing licences for more than 3,600 businesses, shops, pubs and taxis  

• Inspecting more than 500 food outlets annually 

Over the last year, Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council has focussed on addressing areas of priority to residents, with projects and investment that will benefit the borough and its communities.  

This includes a new modular housing scheme to provide more temporary homes for local people. The project, largely funded by a government grant, will build 12 energy efficient, self-contained units on the former Blue Bell Hill commuter car park and was unanimously approved by council members, with work due to begin later this year.  

Elsewhere in the borough, designs for a multi-million-pound new Angel Centre  in Tonbridge were recently revealed to the public ahead of submission for planning approval. It’s the first project to come from the new Tonbridge Town Centre Masterplan, which was adopted in October 2025. This blueprint for development demonstrates the council’s commitment to future-proofing the town centre and encouraging economic regeneration of the riverside in an underutilised part of town.   

Also underway is the £100,000 initiative to install riverside lighting along a 380-metre path linking the Town Lock area and the retail parks at Vale Road and Cannon Lane. The new lighting will significantly improve visibility and security, supporting the council’s strategy of town centre improvements, opening up footpaths along the River Medway and promoting walking, cycling and sustainable travel.   

The council continued to focus on reducing carbon emissions in leisure facilities, with the implementation of the latest in air source heat pump technology at Poult Wood  golf course due for completion later this year. Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council secured a grant of nearly £210,000 from the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme for the project, with its own contribution of £28,000. It’s forecast to cut carbon emissions by around 37 tonnes a year and follows similar schemes at Larkfield Leisure Centre and Tonbridge Swimming Pool.   

Parks and outdoor spaces from the north to the south of the borough have benefited from investment too, including Leybourne Lakes Country Park where a programme of pathway maintenance is underway and the play equipment has been improved. The tennis courts and outdoor gym at the Racecourse Sportsground underwent major refurbishment last year, with more facilities, accessible outdoor equipment and a pickleball court. The five-a-side pitch at Tonbridge Farm has also recently been replaced. This work ensures that residents have access to green space to improve their health and well-being     

Environmental goals in waste services included a push to further improve recycling rates, despite already having one of the top records in Kent. The roll out of food waste recycling bins to flats was completed and a high-profile campaign targeting domestic food waste was undertaken. This focus has seen an increase of over 19% in food waste recycling. The council turns this unwanted food into clean green electricity powering over 3,000 local homes and produces field fertiliser for local farms.   

Reflecting the Council’s commitment to preserving the borough’s heritage it celebrated the successful completion of a six-month restoration programme at Tonbridge Castle. The Scheduled Ancient Monument saw the replacement of its 20-year-old zinc roof, restoration of timbers and historic stonework, with upgraded lighting fitted in the Great Hall. Funded by the Council at a cost of £420,000, the project ensures that the castle can serve the community for years to come.  

Looking ahead to this year Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council will continue to work towards creating a thriving town centre, installing new EV charging points across the borough, improving parks, and open areas. Haysden Country Park and the Tonbridge Racecourse Sportsground will seek to renew their internationally accredited Green Flag status for outstanding management.  If successful it will be the 21st consecutive year for Haysden Country Park. And at the Racecourse Sports Ground a new wood will be planted as part of the council’s commitment to plant 1,000 new trees a year across the borough – in 2025/6 that goal was smashed with 2,865 saplings planted in the borough. 

Cllr Martin Coffin, the council’s cabinet member responsible for finance, said: “Once again we’ve seen how our careful approach to managing costs and maximising efficiency has allowed us to deliver an excellent standard of day-to-day services whilst continuing to invest in the future of our borough.  

"For many local authorities it’s been another difficult year, with some struggling to provide key services. Not here. It's good to see Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council continuing to invest in its services, the local economy and its communities - taking care of our surroundings and our heritage whilst planning and innovating for a thriving and resilient future.“ 

Source: Tonbridge & Malling Borough Council