Council Democracy
Ashford Borough Council makes vital decisions which affect all
residents and visitors, from council tax rates and planning to
street cleaning and housing.
Here you can find out about local government and how the council
works. This section of the website contains information about how
those decisions are arrived at - how the council is structured, how
councillors are elected, committees, budgets, meetings and contact
details for your
elected representatives.
Formed in 1974, the council has 43 elected councillors from
35 wards. Elected councillors serve for a four year term. The
regular election of Councillors is held on the first Thursday in
May every four years; the next election will be held in 2015.
The term of office for a councillor starts on the fourth day after
they are elected and finishes on the fourth day after the date of
the next regular election.
Since 2001 it has operated under an Executive and Leader
system (called Cabinet and Leader at Ashford Borough Council since
May 2011).
Full Council sets the Budget, the Council Tax and the
policy framework within which all decisions must be made.
The council also chooses the Council Leader, who then
chooses his/her own Cabinet Committee.
Leader of the Council - Cllr. P J Wood
Deputy Leader - Cllr. G D Clarkson CBE
Ashford Borough Council has a Constitution which sets out how the council
operates, how decisions are made and the procedures which are
followed to ensure that these are efficient, transparent and
accountable to local people.
The Forward
Plan contains details of Key Decisions to be taken by
the Cabinet over a four month rolling programme, together with
a list of the documents submitted to them for consideration.
The new Code of Conduct for
Members 43Kb PDF was adopted on 24 May 2007.
The public has always had the right to attend meetings of the
council and it's committees to listen to the debate. A
public
participation scheme is in place to enhance
people's ability to contribute to the democratic
process.
For more information contact Member Services, or
by telephone on 01233 330564.
This webpage was updated on
1/30/2012