Resident Meeting to find out more about CGR and ask questions
Swale Borough Council is conducting a Community Governance Review (CGR) to potentially create new Towns and Parish Councils, including Sittingbourne Town Council, and alter boundaries for better local representation. The review, running in 2026, impacts areas like Halfway, Murston, Tonge Kemsley, Milton and Sittingbourne. Residents can submit views on changing parish boundaries and increasing council numbers.
This consultation closes on Tuesday 2 June.
We’re undertaking a Community Governance Review, which looks at a number of options for review across the borough.
Following the first stage of the CGR consultation which closed on 9 February 2026, responses were used to prepare draft recommendations. This consultation aims to get your views on these proposed changes.
A CGR provides an opportunity to review how town and parish councils, and parish areas, are governed and can help put in place strong, clearly defined local government boundaries that reflect the identities and interests of the communities in that area.
Sittingbourne we’re considering:
- creating a Sittingbourne Town Council to cover areas that currently have no parish council
- creating separate, smaller parish councils for these areas instead
- moving boundaries of existing parish councils to include these areas
- changing the boundary of Iwade Parish Council
What town and parish councils achieve.
Town and parish councils play an important role in terms of community empowerment at the local level. They can:
- enhance local representation
- improve local services
- give residents a direct voice in local affairs
- attract funding that boost the local economy
How town and parish councils are funded.
Town and parish councils are funded by a precept, paid to the parish through Council Tax bills.
For an example of Council Tax precept charges you can download the parish precepts for 2025 to 2026 (PDF 196kb).
How it could affect you
If you live in an area of the borough which is currently unparished, a new parish might be created or one of the existing parishes may expand to include the area in which you live.
If you live in an area which is already parished, the council may change in size or there may be some changes to its boundaries.
To take part in the current consultation visit Swale Borough Council’s Website here.