Tunbridge Wells council aim to help and improve lives of those people that work, live and visit Tunbridge Wells.

Tunbridge Wells council have many senior offices with an organisational structure, which is shown below.

The Chief Executive is a man named William Benson (Tel: 01892 554211 | Email: William.benson@tunbridgewells.gov.uk) . His personal assistant is Lesley Simpson (Tel: 01892 554211 | Email: lesley.simpson@tunbridgewells.gov.uk)

William Benson, Chief Officer and Head of Paid Service, heads up the overall responsibility for the effective strategic, corporate and operational management for Tunbridge Wells Council. Mr. Benson acts as the principle adviser to the leader and elected members on the development of the council’s strategic aims.

Mr. Benson’s main job is to work closely with members providing the council with strong transformational leadership as well as direction, ensuring that the values, aims and aspirations of the council are all met across the organisation.

While those are the main aims of the borough council, there are many other aims they wish to achieve.  Another aim is to enhance customer satisfaction as well as ensuring that the community and business needs come into account in all that the council does. Another aim is to develop and encourage strategic partnerships, adding value.

They also want to inspire and develop the workface, creating a culture of learning and innovations, while trying to create more jobs. As well as that, the council wants to promote the reputation and standing of the council, making a good name for it.

Chief Executive, Mr. Benson has many colleagues that help in reaching all of these targets and aims, and have regular meetings in order to make sure they are heading in the right direction and reaching the correct goal, making sure that the council’s films are in the correct order.

Nazeya Hussain heads up the Policy and partnership section where they are responsible for policy, partnerships and performance as well as democratic and community engagement. They also cover community safety, elections and communication.

Val Green is the HR Manager, who heads up organizational development and employee relations.

Jonathan MacDonald (Tel: 01892 554130 | Email: jonathan.macdonal@tunbridgewells.gov.uk) is director of regeneration and sustainability. His personal assistant is Debra Thackeray (Tel: 01892 554130 | Email: debra.thackeray@tunbridgewells.gov.uk).

Jim Kehoe is head of planning and responsible for the following areas. He takes control of planning, which includes development control, enforcement, conservations and heritage as well a policy. He is also responsible for building control.

David Candlin, who is head of Economic Development, is responsible for economic development and regeneration as well as property and estates. He is also in charge of parking, tourism and farmers market.

Gary Stevenson heads up Environment and Streetscene. This makes him responsible for Environmental Health, including food hygiene, private sector housing as well as environmental protection. He role also covers licensing and sustainability, emergency planning and business continuity, management or procurement contracts, cemetery and crematorium as well as waste recycling collection, street cleaning, sports centre and parks and ground maintenance.

Paul Taylor is Director of Change and Communities, (Tel: 01892 554130 | Email: paul.taylor@tunbridgewells.gov.uk) His personal assistant is Debra Thackeray (Tel: 01892 554130 | Email debra.thackeray@tunbridgewells.gov.uk)

Mr. Taylor runs the financial services, overview and scrutiny, together with performance management, committee and democratic services. He is also responsible for legal services, humane resources, customer’s access, customer’s care and communications and transformation and delivery. 

Kevin Hetherinton who is head of housing ad wellbeing is responsible for the running of housing and homelessness as well as health, revenue and benefits, theatre and museum and community development and community centres.

Lee Colyer, head of finance and governance is responsible for finance, audit and legal services.

Andrew Cole, head of customer access, transformation and delivery is responsible for Information, Computing Technology, project management and gateway.

Nazeya Hussain, who is head of Policy and Partnerships (Tel: 01892 554158 email: nazeya.hussain@tunbridgewells.gov.uk ) runs the community safety and development, strategic planning and local strategic partnership. She is also responsible for research including Ward Walks and developing and maintaining effective partnerships.

Lee Colyer, Head of Finance and Governance ( Tel: 01892 554132 | email: leg.colyer@tunbridgewells.gov.uk)

Mr. Colyer is Tunbridge Wells Council Chief advisor on all the financial and governance queries and matters and is a member of the council’s management board.

Performance

Vision2026 is based upon information from a variety of sources, provided by many people. It has been borne out of a ‘Councilor Convention’, which brought the three tires of local government together, discussing important challenges affecting the borough and councilors’ views, developing priorities for the future.

With a survey-taking place, budget consultation and other exercises, a range of evidence was collected, as well as complaints and suggestions. The borough then came up with four priorities, which are:

Prosperous

Green

Healthy

Confident

To deliver these priorities, Tunbridge Wells borough Council must achieve delivering high quality services to customers as well as improving customers service and satisfaction. The last priority that must be achieved is ensuring that they are well managed, proactive and deliver value for money services.

Corporate Priorities

The Tunbridge Wells Borough Council corporate priorities and objectives were decided in line with their 2026 Vision. Putting the needs and aspirations of the community first. The priorities aim to inform all the work undertaken by the Council, which includes reports by managers to Cabinet. This will ensure that the Council will work as a partnership with individuals and organisations to improve the quality of life, satisfaction and enjoyment for all those living in the Tunbridge Wells Borough. 

Plans, Strategies and Policies

Tunbridge Wells Council has an aim and vision to help everyone in Tunbridge Wells to Love Where The Live!

They also have values that the council, and all those who work for it or are elected to govern it, will show Respect, Openness, Aspiration and Responsibity in all that they say and do.

By upholding this aim and these values, they want to improve quality of life and have pride in the borough of Tunbridge Wells and be known for it.