New Town Council to be Created in Maidstone
Local Democracy
A new Town Council will be formed to represent Maidstone Town's unparished area, which makes up the majority of the County Town.
The move aims to give local residents a stronger voice, provide local representation, safeguard the historic Mayor of Maidstone, and be a potential home for local service delivery and ownership of Town assets as Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) progresses and beyond.
The decision was agreed at a meeting of Maidstone Borough Council's Full Council on Wednesday, 29 April 2026, following a comprehensive Community Governance Review. The review included two stages of public consultation exploring models for how local decision‑making, identity and civic representation could be maintained into the future as local government arrangements change.
The creation of a Town Council will ensure that Maidstone's unparished areas have dedicated, locally focused representation. A Town Council can own and manage community assets, invest in local priorities and champion the needs of urban neighbourhoods, ensuring decisions affecting the town are taken as close to residents as possible.
Councillor Stuart Jeffery, Leader of Maidstone Borough Council, said:
"This is a long‑term decision about Maidstone's future as local government changes. Establishing a Town Council ensures our County Town retains its own leadership, identity and civic presence, rather than decisions about Maidstone being absorbed into a much larger authority. It provides a stable framework to carry Maidstone forward through Local Government Reorganisation and beyond."
Councillor Clive English, Deputy Leader of Maidstone Borough Council, added:
"Creating a Maidstone Town Council is about day‑to‑day local democracy, putting residents, neighbourhoods and urban priorities firmly at the centre of decision‑making. It gives people a clear, accountable council focused solely on the town.
"Just as importantly, it secures the future of the Mayor of Maidstone by keeping the role rooted in the town it serves, protecting our civic traditions and sense of place for generations to come."
Public consultation showed clear support for a single Town Council for the urban area. More than 70% of respondents said they preferred this option over alternatives such as multiple smaller parishes or the use of charter trustees, and a petition with 489 signatures supporting the creation of a Town Council was also submitted during the review.
The new Maidstone Town Council will be established as a parish council with town status and will cover the borough's currently unparished urban area. It will consist of 22 elected town councillors representing 10 town wards:
Allington, Bridge, Fant & Oakwood, Hermitage, High Street & South, Park Wood & Mangravet, Penenden Heath, Ringlestone, Shepway, and Vinters Park & Len.
Town and parish councils focus on local representation, community leadership and managing local services and assets. They do not deliver county‑level or borough‑wide services and have no responsibility for functions such as education, highways, social care or waste collection.
A key driver for the review was the future of the Mayor of Maidstone, an office with nearly 500 years of history. The preferred option identified through consultation is for the Mayoralty to transfer to the Town Council if Local Government Reorganisation proceeds, ensuring the role remains firmly tied to Maidstone with a strong local and civic connection.
Full Council also approved the proposed implementation arrangements. These include the creation of a shadow authority, made up of existing borough councillors representing the town area, to prepare the new Town Council for its launch. This work will cover governance, staffing and financial planning.
The Town Council's vesting date will be 1 April 2027, with the first elections taking place in May 2027.
The initial assets proposed to transfer to Maidstone Town Council are local allotments currently managed by Maidstone Borough Council, reflecting the statutory responsibilities of parish and town councils. Any decisions on additional services or assets would be made in future by the elected Town Council.
The Community Governance Review also recommends that, after the Town Council has completed a full electoral cycle, a further review should take place to consider boundaries alongside neighbouring parishes, ensuring arrangements continue to reflect Maidstone's communities as the town grows and changes.
More information about the Community Governance Review and the formation of Maidstone Town Council is available online.
