Have your say on Area Committees
Published
Friday 1 August, 2025
Updated
Monday 4 August, 2025
Swale Borough Council is looking for resident’s views on area committees.
The council has launched a survey as part of a review of their area committee structures, to help shape their future and improve public engagement.
There are four area committees within Swale, Eastern, Sheppey, Sittingbourne and Western, which have been meeting four times a year since September 2020.
Their purpose is to enhance the quality of life and of council services in the relevant area and to bring greater local insight into council decision-making.
An important function of these area committees is to engage with the public, parish and town councils and community groups about issues such as:
- changes to council services
- council led projects in the borough
- new policies and strategies
- changes in government legislation which may impact residents
This engagement is two-way, and residents can raise issues with their local councillors and offer local insight into decisions that affect them.
The council is asking what can be done to improve the meetings, including what should be discussed, which organisations should be invited, and what they should be named.
People who have attended a meeting are also being asked whether they felt they could take part and if the information shared was interesting.
Cllr Tim Gibson, chair of the Policy and Resources Committee, said:
“We want to make sure our area committees are as beneficial as possible, because we believe they are an important link between councillors and our residents.
“They give people the opportunity to let us know the issues they are facing and gives a platform for them to offer local insights which can help guide our decision making.
“It also gives us a place to take important information and updates to and hear direct and immediate feedback from the communities they affect.
“Please reply to our survey and let us know your thoughts on our area committees, this will help shape their future.
“Even if you haven’t attended a meeting yet, we want to hear what we can change that would make these meetings useful for you.”
The consultation ends on 31 August 2025, and you can have your say on the area committee survey page here.
If you have any queries, please email the council at policyteam@swale.gov.uk.
