17/06/2026
Press release: District Council confirms £650,000 required from Sevenoaks town residents for the Freehold of Stag Theatre & Cinema
On Monday 15th June 2026, Sevenoaks Town Council held an Extra Ordinary Council Meeting to discuss the three options put forward from Sevenoaks District Council on the future of the Stag:
1) Transfer of Freehold at a cost of £650,000
2) 30-year peppercorn lease (silent on tenancy rights to renew)
3) Remain with current remaining lease, to be transferred to the new Unitary Authority when created.
Prior to Monday, the Town Council had tried to hold meetings with the District Council and made a financial offer for the Stag which had been rejected.
Due to Sevenoaks District Council’s continued public reports and statements that Sevenoaks Town Council is requesting the District Council to act illegally by requesting that the Stag Community Arts Centre can be transferred at a nominal value, the Town Council sought legal advice on this matter. A copy of the legal advice has been circulated to Town Councillors and the District Council as per advice from King’s Counsel (KC). The Legal Advice is not currently in the public domain. However, it should be noted that the Legal Advice clearly states that Sevenoaks District Council can legally transfer the Stag at a nominal value.
At the beginning of the meeting, the Town Council received and noted a presentation by Helena Gieniusz providing her own insights on the impact of The Stag on the town, on her own experience as a performer, the aspirations for the future of the Stag, and the current options presented by Sevenoaks District Council. Helena was congratulated on providing such an informative presentation highlighting the educational and wellbeing element of the Stag for the younger and future generations.
Following a debate, the Town Councillors Resolved the following:
"Sevenoaks District Council (SDC) has previously stated it was not legal to transfer the Freehold of the Stag at a nominal fee and for this reason, and others set out by SDC, therefore must charge Sevenoaks Town Council and Sevenoaks residents £650,000.
"Sevenoaks Town Council does not believe the public should be asked for public money to retain a public asset in community use just because it was moving from one local authority to another, as confirmed by recent King’s Counsel (KC) legal opinion.
"Having received legal advice, Sevenoaks Town Council would want to enter into negotiation for the Freehold of the Lease to be transferred.
"If Sevenoaks District Council says it is unwilling or unable to agree a negotiated sum recognising cultural, social, economic, educational and environmental value, Sevenoaks Town Council would accept the Option of a 30-year peppercorn lease on terms to be negotiated. However, this would be strictly without prejudice to the Town Council’s continuing position that the Freehold should be transferred.
"Acceptance of the lease would not diminish, replace or detract from Sevenoaks Town Council’s ongoing position that the Freehold should be transferred for the reasons set out in its Stag Business Proposal.
"To be very clear, Sevenoaks Town Council does not want to progress with Option 3 as it would be detrimental to cultural facilities in the town and district."
On Tuesday 16th June 2026, Sevenoaks District Council held its Cabinet Meeting and the Community Asset Transfer of the Stag was one of the Agenda Items. The District Council remained adamant that its lawful options were as above.
Next steps: following the outcome of the two meetings, Sevenoaks Town Council will continue to negotiate for the Freehold of the Stag.
The ownership of the Freehold is important for the community and for the investment aims for the future. The £650,000 required by the District Council is an ethical concern for the Town Council (using public funds for paying for a public building). It is also a practical concern about obtaining the funds and would require the Town Council to consider borrowing, raising the Precept and/or fundraising.
The Stag Sevenoaks
