Photo: David Anstiss · CC BY-SA 2.0No party holds a majority on Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council
Larkfield is run by Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council and Kent County Council, with East Malling and Larkfield parish council for local matters. No party holds a majority on Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council. Reform UK has a majority on Kent County Council. Most of Larkfield is in Maidstone and Malling (MP Helen Grant, Conservative); 35% of residents are in Chatham and Aylesford (MP Tristan Osborne, Labour).
£2,502
Band D, a year, the middle band every council sets its tax from.
Where it goes →How Larkfield’s politics has changed since 2021
No majority on Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council
The Conservatives, the largest group, hold 20 of its 44 seats as elected, 3 short of the 23 needed. The Liberal Democrats hold 11, the Greens 8, Labour 3 and independents 2. Who’s in charge ↓
Kent in 2025
Kent County Council, which runs schools, social care and roads, has a Reform UK majority at the May 2025 election: Reform UK won 56 of 82 seats. Kent ↓
Council tax
A Band D bill in Larkfield is £2,498 for 2026–27; Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council keeps 10% of it. The council area’s Band D has risen 55% in ten years, against England’s 56%. Council money ↓
Written from the data on this page: Democracy Club results since May 2021, the UK Parliament Members API and MHCLG council tax.
Who holds the seats on Larkfield’s councils
Seats by party as elected. A party needs 23 of Tonbridge and Malling’s 44 or 42 of Kent’s 82 seats to run the council alone.
- Conservative20
- Liberal Democrat11
- Green8
- Labour3
- Independent2
Latest election: May 2023.
- Reform UK56
- Liberal Democrat12
- Conservative6
- Green6
- Labour2
Latest election: May 2025.
Seats are counted from election results: each ward’s most recent winners until its seats are filled. Councillors who have since changed party or resigned aren’t reflected, and which parties lead the council, and who is leader, comes from the council itself.
Results: Democracy Club (CC BY 4.0), elections since May 2021; seats per ward from its EveryElection.
Two tiers of council, and a parish tier
Larkfield has two tiers of council: the county runs the big services, the district the local ones.
Local matters: allotments, play areas, halls, footpaths and benches; it is consulted on planning and adds a precept to the council tax bill. A town council is a parish council by another name.
54% of Larkfield’s residents · Band D precept £101
The parish council for the part of Larkfield inside Ditton parish.
Who runs Larkfield: same source as Who runs Larkfield, above.
The parish council for the part of Larkfield inside Aylesford parish.
Who runs Larkfield: same source as Who runs Larkfield, above.
The parish council for the part of Larkfield inside Leybourne parish.
Who runs Larkfield: same source as Who runs Larkfield, above.
Bins and recycling, planning, housing, environmental health, leisure, and collecting council tax.
Website ↗Schools, social care, roads and transport, libraries and waste disposal.
Website ↗Who to ask
From GOV.UK’s “Understand how your council works”: in two-tier areas the district or borough runs local services and the county the big ones.
Councils from ONS lookups (wards and councils May 2026, parishes 2025), names and websites from GOV.UK’s local council finder; parish councils from MHCLG’s 2026–27 list of precepting parishes.
From the parish to Westminster
Every elected tier that speaks for Larkfield, from the most recent elections.
- 1Town or parish4 parish councilsEast Malling and Larkfield parish councilDitton parish councilAylesford parish councilLeybourne parish council
- 2Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council5 wards · 14 councillorsLiberal Democrat 8 · Conservative 6 · all 14
- 3Kent County Council3 divisions · 3 councillorsTrudy DeanAndrew Malcolm KennedyDodger Sian
- 4Police and crime commissionerKent Police · elected May 2024Matthew Scott
- 5House of CommonsSplit between 2 constituencies
Party colours are neutral on purpose: they tell parties apart and aren’t the parties’ own. Tap an MP’s name for their contact page on parliament.uk.
14 councillors for 5 wards
Wards with at least 2% of the town’s residents, or half their own inside it. Each shows who won its most recent elections, newest first, until its seats are filled.
- David ThornewellLiberal Democrat · May 2023
- Anita Sandra OakleyLiberal Democrat · May 2023
- Timothy BishopLiberal Democrat · May 2023
- Steve HammondConservative · May 2023
- Rob CannonConservative · May 2023
- Colin John WilliamsConservative · May 2023
- Trudy DeanLiberal Democrat · May 2023
- Roger Vincent RoudLiberal Democrat · May 2023
- Michelle TattonLiberal Democrat · May 2023
- Paul Andrew BoxallLiberal Democrat · May 2023
- Bill BanksLiberal Democrat · May 2023
- Roger William DaltonConservative · May 2023
- Dave DavisConservative · May 2023
- Alex McDermottConservative · May 2023
Show as a table, with Kent County Council’s 3 divisions (3 councillors)
| Ward | Seats | Elected | When |
|---|---|---|---|
| Larkfieldall in Larkfield · 9,217 residents3 seats · May 2023 | 3 | David ThornewellAnita Sandra OakleyTimothy Bishop | May 2023 |
| Aylesford South & Dittonmostly in Larkfield · 8,435 residents3 seats · May 2023 | 3 | Steve HammondRob CannonColin John Williams | May 2023 |
| East Malling, West Malling & Offhammostly in Larkfield · 4,970 residents3 seats · May 2023 | 3 | Trudy DeanRoger Vincent RoudMichelle Tatton | May 2023 |
| Birling, Leybourne & Ryarsh48% in Larkfield · 2,996 residents2 seats · May 2023 | 2 | Paul Andrew BoxallBill Banks | May 2023 |
| Aylesford North & North Downs6% in Larkfield · 529 residents3 seats · May 2023 | 3 | Roger William DaltonDave DavisAlex McDermott | May 2023 |
Kent County Council: county divisions
| Division | Seats | Elected | When |
|---|---|---|---|
| Malling Central EDall in Larkfield · 9,217 residents1 seat · May 2025 | 1 | Trudy Dean | May 2025 |
| Malling North East ED43% in Larkfield · 8,964 residents1 seat · May 2025 | 1 | Andrew Malcolm Kennedy | May 2025 |
| Malling North ED30% in Larkfield · 7,966 residents1 seat · May 2025 | 1 | Dodger Sian | May 2025 |
Councillors can resign, change party or sit as independents between elections; a by-election winner replaces someone not named here. Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council’s website lists who sits now.
Results from Democracy Club’s candidates database (CC BY 4.0; elections since May 2021) and ward seats from its EveryElection, matched to ONS wards (May 2026) and county divisions (May 2025).
Tonbridge and Malling council election, May 2023
Results in the wards that make up Larkfield, as declared. Percentages are of votes cast for candidates in each ward; where a ward elects several councillors, each voter has that many votes.
5 wards voted. Every seat in the town’s wards was up.
No election is scheduled yet for Larkfield’s wards in Democracy Club’s list. Councils publish a notice of election about five weeks before polling day.
Who can I vote for? ↗5,085 votes for candidates · 3 seats, so 3 votes each
5,874 votes for candidates · 3 seats, so 3 votes each
6,885 votes for candidates · 3 seats, so 3 votes each
Every ward’s result (2 more)
3,048 votes for candidates · 2 seats, so 2 votes each
5,534 votes for candidates · 3 seats, so 3 votes each
Candidates and results: Democracy Club (CC BY 4.0), from councils’ declared results; polling dates from Democracy Club’s EveryElection.
Larkfield is split between 2 constituencies
The constituencies’ MP and the 4 July 2024 general election, the whole constituency’s result.
Conservative, MP since 6 May 2010
65% of Larkfield’s residents live in this constituency.
Turnout 61% (England 60%).
Majority 1,674 of 46,389 votes (3.6%): the 70th-narrowest of 543 in England.
Labour, MP since 4 July 2024
35% of Larkfield’s residents live in this constituency.
Turnout 54% (England 60%).
Majority 1,998 of 40,845 votes (4.9%): the 96th-narrowest of 543 in England.
46,389 votes for candidates · majority 1,674
Conservative, MP since 6 May 2010.
turnout in July 2024: 46,389 votes from 76,449 registered voters. England: 60%.
Majority 1,674 of 46,389 votes (3.6%): the 70th-narrowest of 543 in England.
Chatham and Aylesford
40,845 votes for candidates · majority 1,998
Labour, MP since 4 July 2024.
turnout in July 2024: 40,845 votes from 75,109 registered voters. England: 60%.
Majority 1,998 of 40,845 votes (4.9%): the 96th-narrowest of 543 in England.
MPs and results: UK Parliament Members API (Open Parliament Licence v3.0); constituencies from ONS (2024 boundaries). Percentages are of valid votes; turnout is votes cast over the electorate.
Larkfield’s Band D council tax is £2,498 a year
Where a Band D bill goes, what it has cost over the years, and what the councils plan to spend per resident.
Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council keeps £252.65 of a Band D bill (10%); the rest goes to the East Malling and Larkfield parish council, Kent County Council, the Kent police and crime commissioner and the Kent Fire and Rescue Authority.
Across the whole town the average Band D is £2,502 (parishes differ; weighted by residents).
Band D since 1993
Tonbridge and Malling’s Band D bill has risen 55% in ten years, from £1,597.03 in 2016–17, against England’s average (56%). It was £528.75 in 1993–94.
Your bill by band
A Band D home in East Malling and Larkfield, 2026–27, before discounts. The Valuation Office Agency’s band search gives any home’s band.
Kent’s councils
Average Band D in each council area, 2026–27, parish precepts included; the 11 nearest of 13. Bars start at £2,200.
Council budgets per resident, 2026–27
Show as a table, with Kent
| Tonbridge and Malling + Kent | Larkfield’s councils | Kent | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adult social care | £505 | £492 | £487 |
| Children’s social care | £262 | £266 | £290 |
| Roads and transport | £56 | £49 | £41 |
| Housing (not council homes’ rents) | £35 | £41 | £61 |
| Bins, street cleaning, environment | £101 | £132 | £119 |
| Libraries, leisure, culture | £40 | £49 | £44 |
| Planning and development | £33 | £29 | £26 |
| Public health | £59 | £61 | £78 |
| Running the council | £81 | £74 | £59 |
| Other | £2 | £6 | £19 |
| Total, schools apart | £1,174 | £1,200 | £1,234 |
Net budgeted service spending, MHCLG Revenue Account budget 2026–27, per resident (ONS mid-2025 estimates). Both tiers added: Tonbridge and Malling per its residents plus Kent per the county’s. Schools are left out: academies are paid for directly by government, so council school budgets depend on how many schools have converted. Kent and England: all their councils together. Police, fire and transport authorities aren’t included.
Band D: MHCLG Band D council tax 2026–27 (each authority’s own figure, excluding parish precepts) and Council Tax statistics for town and parish councils 2026–27; since 1993–94, MHCLG’s area averages including parishes.
Having a say in how Larkfield is run
It takes about five minutes online; the deadline is 12 working days before a poll.
gov.uk ↗Type a postcode to write to each of its councillors and its MP.
WriteToThem ↗GOV.UK sends the report to the council that looks after the road.
gov.uk ↗Council and committee meetings are open to the public, with agendas and minutes online.
tmbc.gov.uk ↗Anyone can comment while an application is open for consultation.
tmbc.gov.uk ↗The rules, nomination papers and guidance for council candidates.
Electoral Commission ↗Questions about how Larkfield is run
Which council runs Larkfield?
Larkfield is run by Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council and Kent County Council. The county council runs schools, social care and roads; the district runs bins, planning and housing.
Does Larkfield have a town council?
Yes: Larkfield has its own parish-tier council (East Malling and Larkfield parish council; town councils are parish councils by another name), which adds £101 to a Band D bill in 2026–27.
Who is the MP for Larkfield?
Larkfield is split between 2 constituencies: Maidstone and Malling (Helen Grant, Conservative) and Chatham and Aylesford (Tristan Osborne, Labour). Parliament’s Find your MP service matches a postcode to its MP.
How many councillors does Larkfield have?
14 ward councillors represent Larkfield’s 5 wards, and 3 county councillors its county divisions.
When are the next elections in Larkfield?
No election is scheduled yet in Democracy Club’s list for Larkfield’s wards. The next UK general election must be held by August 2029.
How much is council tax in Larkfield?
Band D council tax in Larkfield is £2,502 for 2026–27. Your bill depends on your home’s band, from A (6/9 of Band D) to H (18/9).
Who controls Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council?
No party has a majority. As elected, Conservative 20 · Liberal Democrat 11 · Green 8 · Labour 3 · Independent 2 of 44 seats; a majority needs 23. The council’s website lists who leads it now.
Who controls Kent County Council?
Reform UK has a majority: 56 of 82 seats as elected.
Who won the 2023 council election in Larkfield?
In Larkfield’s wards on 4 May 2023, Liberal Democrat 8 · Conservative 6 of the 14 seats up. The Liberal Democrats had the largest share of votes, 53.3%.
Sources: ONS ward, county division, parish, constituency lookups (Census 2021 output areas; Open Government Licence v3.0) · GOV.UK local council finder · Democracy Club candidates (CC BY 4.0) and EveryElection · UK Parliament Members API (Open Parliament Licence v3.0) · MHCLG Band D council tax, parish precepts and Revenue Account budgets 2026–27 (OGL v3.0) · ONS mid-2025 population estimates. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0.
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Contains HM Land Registry data © Crown copyright and database right 2026. Contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right 2026 (ONS boundaries). Northern Ireland: Source: NISRA; contains Land & Property Services data and Ordnance Survey of Northern Ireland information, © Crown copyright, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Scotland: contains National Records of Scotland data, Registers of Scotland data and SEPA data, © Crown copyright / © SEPA 2025, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.