Decide the future of town and parish councils
Published
Tuesday 7 April, 2026
Updated
Tuesday 7 April, 2026
Swale Borough Council's Community Governance Review of town and parish councils in the borough, has moved to its second stage consultation.
The council is seeking views on 24 proposals shaped by feedback from more than 600 residents.
The first stage consultation focused on finding out how locals feel about their current local government structures and what they would like to see changed.
The second consultation asks about specific proposals, such as creating a new Sittingbourne Town Council, forming a Halfway Parish Council and changing the boundaries of Faversham’s town and parish councils.
The options that will form part of the second consultation are:
Isle of Sheppey
- changing the name of Warden Parish Council to Warden Bay Parish Council
- creating a Halfway Parish Council
- amending the boundary of Minster-on-Sea Parish Council
- amending the boundary of Queenborough Town Council
- moving Lucas Close from Sheerness Town Council area to Queenborough Town Council
Faversham
- increasing the number of councillors representing Watling Ward and/or Priory Ward
- splitting the existing Faversham Town Council’s (FTC) Watling Ward into two
- extending FTC’s Watling Ward boundaries
- transferring land from Faversham Town Council to Sheldwich Parish Council
- transferring land from Ospringe Parish Council to Faversham Town Council
- transferring land from Selling Parish Council to Faversham Town Council
- transferring land from Graveney-with-Goodnestone Parish Council to Faversham Town Council
Sittingbourne
- creating a Sittingbourne Town Council
- creating a Murston Parish Council
- creating a Great Easthall Parish Council
- extending Tonge Parish Council
- creating a Kemsley Parish Council
- creating a Milton Regis Parish Council
- creating a Meads Parish Council
- extending Bobbing Parish Council
The review seeks to put in place strong, clearly defined local government boundaries that reflect the identities and interests of the communities in that area, in an effective and convenient way.
Have your say by visiting the council’s consultation section on its website here: www.swale.gov.uk/cgr, before Tuesday 2 June.
Cllr Tim Gibson, the leader of Swale Borough Council, said:
“Thank you to everyone who took the time to engage with us around this very important, most-local, level of government.
“Local town and parish councils can help improve local services, give locals a greater voice, attract additional funding and boost the quality of life of our residents.
“But from the outset of our community governance review we wanted to make sure we only implement changes that our resident’s truly want, and having your feedback shape these options is key to this.
“This next consultation will focus on your specific suggestions - such as creating a Sittingbourne Town council, changing Faversham’s boundaries or creating a new parish on the Island - to see if that is something people want.”
There are currently 34 parish councils and three town councils which cover most of Swale, but some areas, such as Sittingbourne, are not currently represented.
With Government set to abolish Swale Borough Council and Kent Council in the future, town and parish councils, which are the most local tier of government, provides a link between decision makers within any new, more remote council and the residents they represent.
Forming 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
- boost the quality of life through tailored initiatives and community projects
- allow for greater accountability and transparency
