Major review of town and parish councils
Published
Tuesday 18 November, 2025
Updated
Wednesday 10 December, 2025
The first stage of a major review of local town and parish councils has been agreed.
Members of the Swale Borough Council's policy and resources committee approved the scope of a community governance review (CGR), at a meeting earlier this month.
The proposed review will look at whether any new parish or town councils should be created in the borough and consider potential changes to existing ones.
There are currently 34 parish councils and three town councils in Swale, but some areas, like Sittingbourne, are not currently represented by this most local tier of government.
The plans for the review will be going to full council and, if approved, will consider:
- establishing a new town or parish council for Sittingbourne, including - but not limited to - the electoral wards of Homewood, Roman, Murston, Kemsley, Milton Regis, Chalkwell, The Meads and Woodstock
- creating a new parish council for Halfway
- changing Warden Parish Council’s name to Warden Bay Parish Council
- changes to existing parish or town councils
- and other possible changes could be identified through the consultation process
CGRs can help put in place strong, clearly defined local government boundaries that reflect the identities and interests of the communities in that area.
Town or parish councils can:
- enhance local representation
- improve local services
- give residents a direct voice in local affairs
- attract funding that boosts the local economy
The results of the review could allow for improved community engagement, better local democracy and result in more effective and convenient delivery of local services.
The terms of reference - setting out the scope of the review and what the proposals will be assessed on - will now go to full council for final approval tomorrow (19 November).
If agreed, a first public consultation will be launched. This will ask local people for their views on the proposed areas and any other related issues.
The council will use this feedback to prepare draft recommendations. A second consultation will then take place, asking for people’s views on the specific recommendations.
Another consultation will then be launched to get the public’s views on these proposed changes.
Full council will make a final decision next year, based on all the feedback received.
If you have any comments or suggestions you would like to make, please email: CGR@swale.gov.uk.
Cllr Tim Gibson, chair of Swale Borough Council’s Policy and Resources Committee, said:
“We're planning this review to make sure parish or town councils both represent and benefit local communities, but this has to be with the support of local people.
“When done right, parish and town councils can have great benefits for our local communities, but we want to make sure this is what you want.
“They aren’t free – they are funded through an additional charge on your council tax - but they do have more flexibility to decide how they spend their funding.
“We are still very early in the process, but it is important that we hear from local people during the consultations we will be running. Ultimately, the decision to introduce new councils must be based on what local people want.”
You can find out more about Swale’s current parish councils here.
