Introduction

Seventeen elected council members represent residents in the following wards – Gillingham Town, Milton on Stour, Ham, Wyke and Gillingham Rural. At the Annual Council meeting, held at the end of May each year, the Council elects a new Mayor and Deputy Mayor.

The Town Clerk Julie Hawkins, is the executive officer for the Town Council leading a team of operational and administrative staff consisting of a Deputy Town Clerk, a Responsible Financial Officer, an Office Manager and Project Administrator. Eight permanent outside grounds and maintenance staff including a Works Manager maintain the land and buildings owned by the Town Council.

The Council Tax paid by Gillingham Households includes the spending requirements of Dorset Council, Dorset Police and Gillingham Town Council. Many people do not realise that the Town Council does not receive any revenue support from central government, unlike the Dorset Council, neither does it receive any funding from local businesses and retailers by their payment of the non-domestic rate.

Each year the Town Council agrees it’s percept to raise the budget to provide its services to the residents of Gillingham Parish. This is the sum Gillingham Town Council levy on Dorset Council and which is collected by them as a proportion of the total Council Tax paid by Gillingham households.

Meetings normally take place on Monday evenings, commencing at 7.30pm, except for Bank Holidays when they are moved to the Tuesday evening. The Annual Town Assembly is held on the last Wednesday in April each year. Agendas for meetings are published on the Monday prior to the meeting and placed on the Town Council notice boards which can be found at the following locations:-

• High Street opposite the Town Meadow
• Milton-on-Stour

The Press and public are welcome to attend all meetings and time is set aside at the start of the Committee meetings for comments and questions from members of the public and at the end of Full Council meetings. Members of the public can also speak prior to the start of a specific agenda item with the permission of the Chairman.