Source: https://www.folkestone-tc.gov.uk/council/your-councillors/
Read: 2026-11-04
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Your Councillors - Folkestone Town Council
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Home
About
Council
Mayoralty & Covenant
Your Councillors
Officers
Agendas & Minutes
Policies & Procedures
Financial Information
Four Year Plan
Climate Action
Services
Allotments
Assets
Bus Shelters
Christmas Lights
CCTV, Crime & Disorder
Fairtrade
Folkestone Museum
Grant Scheme
Heritage Town Trail
Highways Improvement Plan
Kent Advice Hub
Parks & Gardens
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Proof of Life
ReferKent
Salt Bins
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Your Councillors
Your local Councillor is elected to represent the community, providing community leadership to serve and represent everyone in their Ward.
Town Councillors are responsible for:
Making decisions about the local area
Representing their Ward
Developing and reviewing Council policy
Scrutinising decisions taken by other Councillors
Other administrative and legal duties
Please see Councillor’s profiles below.
Councillors Attendance (2025/26)
Committee Membership (2025/26)
Parish Ward Map
Click to view Councillor Profile
Abena Akuffo-Kelly
Folkestone Central Ward (LAB)
Adrian Lockwood
East Folkestone Ward (LAB)
Belinda Walker
Folkestone Central Ward (LAB/CO OP)
Bridget Chapman
Folkestone Harbour Ward (IND)
Charlie Bain Smith
Folkestone Central Ward (LAB)
Christine Dickinson
Folkestone Harbour Ward (IND)
Connor McConville
East Folkestone Ward (IND)
Jackie Meade
East Folkestone Ward (LAB)
Jane Darling
Cheriton East Ward (LAB)
John Renshaw
Cheriton West Ward (LIB DEM)
Kieran Leigh
Folkestone Broadmead Ward (CON)
Laura Davison
Folkestone Broadmead Ward (LAB)
Liz McShane
Folkestone Central Ward (LAB)
Lucy McGirr
East Folkestone Ward (IND)
Nicola Keen
Folkestone Harbour Ward (LAB)
Peter Gane
Cheriton West Ward (LIB DEM)
Roger West
Cheriton West Ward (LIB DEM)
Tim Prater
Harvey West (LIB DEM)
Training for Councillors
On being elected, all Councillors will be provided with a book of relevant information relating to governance of the Town Council.
Newly elected Councillors will be provided with the opportunity of attending a general training session relating to local councils, normally provided by the County Association.
The newly elected Councillors will be invited to an induction event arranged by the Town Clerk.
All Councillors will be provided with the opportunity to attend topic based training e.g. Planning, Chairing meetings etc, normally provided by the County Association or District Council.
To view the Councillor Training Policy
please click here.
How to become a Councillor
The next local elections are due to take place in 2027.
What do Town & Parish Councils do?
Town & Parish Councils – also called neighbourhood councils or community councils in some areas – are responsible for delivering local services.
What do Town & Parish Councillors do?
Councillors make decisions about policies and services, keep an eye on how well things are working and represent local residents.
They get involved in community initiatives and events and are passionate about their local community.
How do I become a Councillor?
The information provided here can help you to find out if you are eligible to stand for election and how you can apply.
What's in it for me and my community?
You should consider becoming a Town Councillor if:
You Want To Do Something Positive for Your Community
You Want To Spend Your Time Productively
You Can Think, Listen and Act Locally
What Town & Parish Councils do
There are over 10,000 parish/town councils representing around 16 million people across England. They form the most local level of government and cover many rural and urban areas.
Your town or parish council has an overall responsibility for the well-being of your local neighbourhood. Their work falls into three main categories:
representing your local community
delivering services to meet local needs
striving to improve quality of life in the parish
Folkestone Town Council provides, maintains or contributes to the following services:
litter bins
bus shelters
local illuminations
local youth projects
community facilities
parks and open spaces
community safety schemes
planning
crime reduction measures
street cleaning
festivals and celebrations
leisure facilities
traffic calming measures
We often work with the larger councils (district or county) in our area called “principal authorities” and co-operate to ensure the effective delivery of services to the local community.
What Councillors do
Councillors are elected to represent a geographical area known as a ward or – mainly in smaller councils – the parish, town, community or neighbourhood council area as a whole. They are elected by people who live in the area.
Folkestone Town Council is divided into wards and an election is held for each ward, the same way elections are held in district or county wards.
Most parish council elections are on the same cycle as the principal authorities every four years.
Councillors have three main areas of work:
Decision-making: through attending meetings and committees with other elected members, councillors decide which activities to support, where money should be spent, what services should be delivered and what policies should be implemented.
Monitoring: councillors make sure that their decisions lead to efficient and effective services by keeping an eye on how well things are working.
Getting involved locally: as local representatives, councillors have responsibilities towards their constituents and local organisations. This often depends on what the councillor wants to achieve and how much time is available.
The day-to-day work of a Councillor includes:
going to meetings of local organisations
going to meetings of bodies that affect the wider community, such as the police, the Highways Authority, schools and colleges
taking up issues on behalf of members of the public, such as making representations to the principal authorities
running a surgery for residents to bring up issues
meeting with individual residents
Why should I become a Councillor?
As a Councillor you can become a voice for your community and effect real change. Councillors represent the aspirations of the public that they serve.
Parish, town, community and neighbourhood Councillors are the most local part of our democratic system and are closest to the public. By standing for your Parish Council you could make a real difference to your local neighbourhood.
Can I become a Town/Parish Councillor?
Most people can stand for election, however there are a few rules. You have to be:
a British citizen, or a citizen of the Commonwealth or the European Union, and
18 years or older on the day you become nominated for election.
You cannot stand for election if you:
are the subject of a bankruptcy restriction order or interim order.
have, within five years before the day of the election, been convicted in the United Kingdom of any offence and have had a prison sentence (whether suspended or not) for a period of over three months without the option of a fine.
work for the Council you want to become a Councillor for.
There are specific rules around candidacy. The full range of disqualifications for candidates is quite complex and some exceptions may apply. Full details can be found on the website of the National Association of Local Councils.
Which Parish Council can I stand for?
You can become a Parish Councillor for any parish in which you on the electoral roll, or during the whole of the preceding twelve months you
occupied land as owner or tenant in it, or
had a principal place of work there, or
resided in or within three miles of it.
How much time will I need to spend?
It is possible to spend a lot of time on council work – but most people have jobs, families and hobbies that also demand a lot of time. However, as with most things, the more you put in, the more you (and your community) will get out.
Generally speaking, the larger your community the larger your workload will be. The times of the meetings vary, as do the venues. Parish Councils normally meet in the evening. It is important to establish the pattern of meetings and venues to make sure they can accommodate your domestic and/or business arrangements. Most councils meet once a month and many also have committees, in which case you would probably be invited to sit on a committee. These usually meet in between the meetings of the Full Council.
Quite often Councillors say that their duties occupy them for about three hours a week. Obviously, there are some Councillors who spend more time than this – and some less, but in the main, being a local Councillor is an enjoyable way of contributing to your community and helping to make it a better place to live and work.
How do I become a Councillor?
To stand for election, you can contact the Council directly, or the Returning Officer at the District Council. If you would like any more information or are still unsure about whether becoming a Councillor is for you – please get in touch with the Town Clerk, or one of our existing Councillors to find out what it’s really like.
Additional Resources can be found on the following websites:
National Association of Local Councils
Information about becoming a Councillor and Parish Councils.
The Electoral Commission
Information about standing as a Councillor, including access to a nomination pack.
Frequently Asked Questions
What title will I have?
An elected member of a Parish Council is called a Councillor, abbreviated to Cllr. Conventionally you will be known as, for example, “Cllr. Bob Smith” or “Cllr. Mrs Jane Smith”.
You can use your title whenever you act, or wish to give the impression of acting, for the Town Council.
What happens if I stand but am not elected?
As in any contested democratic process there is a risk of not winning. If the number of persons nominated is less than or equal to the number of places available then the election is uncontested and you are automatically elected.
If there are more candidates than places and you don’t win enough votes on Election Day then you will have lost the election. Some people may feel awkward about this, particularly as the people voting are quite often your friends, neighbours and community associates, however there is no shame in losing a contested election – it’s part and parcel of public life and there will be other opportunities to get on to the Council, either at the next election or if a vacancy crops up.
Don’t let the fear of losing stop you from putting yourself forward. Just think of what you could achieve if you knew you couldn’t fail!
What support is there for newly elected Councillors?
Being a Councillor is a respected and valued role in a community. There is lots of support available to Councillors, from training and development courses run by the
Kent Association of Local Councils
, to representation by the
National Association of Local Councils
, based in London.
Councillors would in the first instance seek assistance from fellow colleagues and the Town Clerk. Some councils have developed one-to-one mentoring schemes or buddy systems, which are a great way to make sure that new Councillors understand their role. The support and continuous professional development of Councillors is open-ended these days.
Can I get out of it if it’s not for me?
Yes. You can withdraw your nomination if you decide before the election that you don’t want to go through with it.
If you are elected and decide subsequently that council life is not for you then you are free to resign at any time. However, be warned that when you start to make a real difference to community life and see the benefits that being a councillor can bring to you and your community it may just suck you in for life!
Am I personally liable for anything as a Councillor?
Generally speaking, no. The Council is a corporate body, which means that in law it has an identity separate to that of its members.
Anything that the Council decides to do by resolution is the action of the corporate body and any land, property, leases and other contracts are in the name of the Council.
The exception would be in extreme cases of negligence where an individual Councillor has acted contrary to Council policy, which may lead to personal liability.
Will my employer support me if I need time off for Council business in work time?
Yes. You are allowed reasonable time off to go to meetings or to carry out your duties. The time must be agreed with your employer beforehand and your employer can refuse your request if it is unreasonable.
A specific amount of time off is not laid down in law. Your employer doesn’t have to pay you while you take time off for public duties, although many do. Your employment contract will normally say whether you are paid for this time off.
Does it take up a lot of time?
It can, but it doesn’t have to. You will be required to attend meetings of the Full Council (every two months) which are normally 2 to 3 hours long.
You should be well-prepared for meetings and preparation can sometimes take longer than the meeting itself! If you are really getting your teeth in to Council business you may put yourself forward for any committees that the Council has (e.g. Finance & General Purposes or Planning Committees), which will involve further meetings and preparation.
Quite often Councillors say that their duties occupy them for about three hours a week.
Get in Touch
The Town Hall, 1-2 Guildhall St, Folkestone, Kent
CT20 1DY
01303 257 946
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