Phase two consultation - a new town council for Royal Tunbridge Wells
Case reference FOI2025/00936
Received 30 September 2025
Published 20 October 2025
Request
Under Freedom of Information I am curious to understand the precise internal reasoning the incumbent Council's decision to even undertake this campaign in the first place.
What are the specific metrics identified as issues in the current configuration of the organisation, how it intends to measure performance and what material benefits it expects to confer on the electorate and the precise costings identified in undertaking such an endeavour - and what that cost to me, as a taxpayer, has been so far to reach this stage of your consultation.
Response
The Council's Terms of Reference, published on its website on 2 June 2025, sets out the reasons why the review is being undertaken. The Terms of Reference can be viewed here: https://tunbridgewells.gov.uk/council/voting-and-elections/cgr/tor
The review does not look to address specific metrics identified as issues in the current configuration of the organisation. The aim of the review is to bring about improved community engagement, better local democracy and efficient, more effective and convenient delivery of local services for the review area.
Should a new town council for Royal Tunbridge Wells be established, it will be for that new town council to set out how it intends to measure performance, what material benefits it expects to confer on the electorate, and the precise costings in undertaking such an endeavour. It is not for the review to set out this information.
To reach this stage of the review, the total cost to date is £6,435.70. This can be broken down as follows:
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Print and delivery of leaflets to households in the review area: £6,250.70
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Pitch at Calverley Road market for in-person engagement events on 29/6 and 27/7: £90.00
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Promotional roller banner for use at in-person events and within the Amelia Scott: £95.00
Before making or publishing its Final Recommendations, in line with legislative requirements, the Council must take full account of the views of local people. The Council chose to comply with legislative requirements by consulting local government electors through a consultation survey, which was promoted within the review area by distributing an information leaflet to households and holding in-person engagement events.
Documents
This is Tunbridge Wells Borough Council's response to a freedom of information (FOI) or environmental information regulations (EIR) request.