Tonbridge Bean

A impassioned debate unfolded at Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council (TMBC) on Monday 8 July, as councillors voted on a controversial amendment to the constitution—limiting the number of public speakers allowed at planning committee meetings.

The new rule, passed by 23 votes to 18, introduces a cap of five speakers per application, or six in unparished areas like Tonbridge (where no town or parish councils exist to represent local voices.) Each speaker will now be limited to three minutes, marking a significant shift from the previous system where no cap was enforced.

Democracy vs. Efficiency?

The changes sparked fierce debate across party lines, with several councillors arguing that the proposal undermines public engagement and weakens local democracy.

Councillor Mark Hood, Chair of the Area One Planning Committee and a member of the Green Party, spoke passionately against the changes:

“Often the only time a resident will come into contact with this council will be in relation to a planning application”.

Councillor Tatton added,

“I’m perfectly happy to give my time and give my full attention to listening to their (residents) concerns and points of view”.

Later, Councillor Tatton expressed that she felt that councillors would be failing in their civic duty if limitations to the number of speakers were put in place.

Councillor Banks articulated wider concerns about civic engagement, warning:

“I believe that to be honest at this time with politics in the state that it’s in to actually reduce the public involvement in these important planning committee decisions would be a big mistake and I think members would come to regret it. So I would implore members maybe across the the aisle to think very carefully about basically the strength of democracy and let the people speak.”

Several councillors supported an amendment to increase the cap to ten speakers as a compromise—a move many felt would balance public participation with procedural manageability. But the compromise was ultimately rejected.

Green Party Responds

Following the meeting, the Tonbridge & Malling Green Party issued a strong statement on social media, condemning the decision:

“The Tonbridge & Malling Green Party expresses our extreme disappointment with the Conservative administration’s decision to push through changes to the Constitution that significantly weaken local democracy. The changes to the Rules for Public Speaking at Planning Committee Meetings are especially worrying in Tonbridge, where—unlike other parts of the borough—residents do not have a town council to speak for residents. In that context, giving the public a meaningful voice at borough-level meetings is vital.”

The statement also confirmed that all Green councillors—Mark Hood, Lee Athwal, Anna Cope, and Bethan Parry—opposed the speaker cap and supported the ten-speaker amendment. They reaffirmed their commitment to ensuring residents “have time to speak and be heard.”

A Conservative-Led Reform

Defending the change, the Conservative administration argued that the amendment brings TMBC in line with neighbouring and comparable authorities.

Council Leader Matt Boughton pointed out that:

“Sevenoaks allow only one speaker for, one against, and one parish councillor.” He later added that with 5 or 6 speakers “we would still maintain our position as one of the most open authorities.”

Councillor Mehmet dismissed concerns raised by opponents as exaggerated:

“I can’t agree with the hysteria. Every other council basically in the whole country sets a sensible limit on it.”

Supporters of the proposal also stressed that written comments from residents on planning applications will remain unaffected. One councillor remarked:

“The reality is that our residents, if we are doing our job properly, have access to us and are in a position at any stage in the process to come to us and state their views.”

What Now?

While the changes only affect verbal contributions at planning committee meetings, clearly many councillors see this as a larger conversation about how local democracy functions in Tonbridge—especially in the absence of a town council.

The debate has exposed a clear divide between those prioritising procedural pragmatism and those advocating for a more idealistic, participatory approach to local governance.

With the new rules now passed, they are expected to be implemented and adopted into the TMBC constitution—reshaping how residents in Tonbridge and beyond can voice their opinions.

If you’re keen to find out more, you can watch the full council meeting on YouTube here.

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