Thanet councillors have approved the next steps for creating a Margate Town Council.
A consultation on the proposals was held last summer after a lengthy process of gathering signatures from residents who support the proposals.
In 2021 Margate Charter Trustees received more than 1800 signatures in support. In last year’s consultation there were 773 responses and 700 of those either agreed or strongly agreed with the proposal to create the town council.
A Town Council is likely to charger higher precept costs but the charter trustees believe the higher rate would be compensated for through the additional benefits to the community, such as greater involvement to influence decisions and policies.
The town council will cover seven wards – Westbrook, Garlinge, Margate Central, Cliftonville West, Cliftonville East, Dane Valley and Salmestone – with a total electorate of 32,203 people.
Margate council history
The Municipal Borough of Margate, which had existed since 1857, was abolished as part of Local Government reorganisation in 1974 with the implementation of the Local Government Act 1972.
Margate was incorporated into the new Thanet District Council and although it lost its Borough Council, the area was designated to have Charter Trustees. These are the elected Thanet District Councillors whose wards fall within the former borough boundary. Their role is purely ceremonial and historic, maintaining the office of the Town Mayor of Margate.
Margate is the only part of Thanet district which does not have a town or parish council.
The proposal for a town council was raised in 2019 and was led by John Finnegan, of the Salmestone residents association. He worked with community groups and held a meeting to discuss plans with Margate Charter Trustees. The process was hampered by the covid outbreak and then taken into the hands of councillors and officers at TDC.
Prior to that, in 2015, Thanet council’s Working Party decided to recommended that a Town Council not be set up for Margate after a low response rate to a consultation on the issue.
‘Important’
Speaking at a council meeting last week, Cllr Rob Yates thanked all those involved in the work so far, adding: “It is really important for Margate that this is done.
“Margate has more people than Canterbury – with 55,000 (in Margate). It needs this local form of governance to drive forward some exciting things. We have got the potential for a community building like Broadstairs, Margate seafront lighting which was done with the Empire of Light filming and was incredibly popular.”
In response to a question from Cllr Yates it was confirmed that a shadow town council would be gathered in June or July this year and be officially set up from April 1, 2027, with elections held the following month.
The Shadow Town Council would work alongside officers and the interim town clerk to put in place policies, procedures, and infrastructure for the new Town Council, operating as an advisory body only.
Cross party support
The proposals received support across the council chamber with Cllr John Davis (Con) and Cllr Helen Whitehead (Lab) both commenting on the importance of town and parish council representation when district and county councils are abolished and local government is reorganised into larger unitary councils from 2028.
Cllr Steve Albon spoke of the success of Ramsgate Town Council and noted that as it has grown the money put back into the town “supports lots of events, lots of local businesses and, most importantly, supports our residents.”
Thanet’s town councils
Ramsgate gained its town council in 2009 after a successful campaign by resident Gerry O’Donnell.
A referendum was initially held in November 2006 with a total of 11,753 votes cast out of a total of 28,912 potential votes, with the result as follows: 59.5% not returned, 23.9% in favour and 16.7% against.
The order was eventually drafted in 2008 and the town council held its first meeting in 2009. The change of governance resulted in a precept rise for Ramsgate residents but also in greater powers for the new grassroots authority.
Broadstairs and St Peter’s Town Council was established in 1974, replacing the former Broadstairs and St Peter’s Urban District.
Westgate also established its own town council in 2015 following a community governance review, which was initiated by Margate Charter Trustees.
‘Exciting’
Cllr Katie Pope, who is Margate’s mayor, said the proposal is hugely supported by the community, adding: “It’s really exciting that this pledge we put forward as part of our election promises is happening and that it’s got cross party support.”
Cllr Heather Keen said she had campaigned for a long time for the town council and that it would make ‘all the difference in what we can do for Margate residents.”
Cllr Harry Scobie added “Margate Town Council’s time has come.”
What happens next
Draft recommendations for setting up the town council will now go ahead and a second public consultation will be held.
There is a £30,000 budget for the entire parishing of Margate project. The majority of the budget will be spent in the second consultation. To date the cost of the first consultation excluding officer time has been less than £600, leaving the vast majority of the budget available for the second phase of the process.
It is anticipated that the new Margate Town Council would come into administrative existence on 1 April 2027, with the date of the first election being the first Thursday in May 2027. There would be 19 town councillors, representing the seven wards.
Once created the Town Council would be able to request that TDC transfer assets to them. The exception to this is the civic collection which would automatically be transferred to the new Town Council.
Precept
Council officers say it is difficult to know what the precept would be but estimate that if the new Margate Town Council wished to raise a precept of £1,200,000 in its first year, it would result in Band D precept of approximately £85.84. (rather than the current £18 for the Charter Trustees structure).
However if they wished to raise a lower precept, for example £600,000, it would result in Band D precept of approximately £42.92.
Before we get carried away, let’s not forget each of the three towns had individual identity and budgets before Cecil Square became the administrative centre ( losing historic buildings in the clearance process). We’re just revisiting those times. Nothing wrong with that but let’s learn from history
Another level of government. Another level of buck passing and avoiding culpability. It will not help anyone.
We appear to have simultaneous expansion and contraction.
Town councils are being recreated whilst it is proposed that district councils be merged into unitary authorities.
Whatever happened to joined up thinking ?
“Cllr Katie Pope, who is Margate’s mayor, said the proposal is hugely supported by the community….”
“In 2021 Margate Charter Trustees received more than 1800 signatures in support. In last year’s consultation there were 773 responses and 700 of those either agreed or strongly agreed with the proposal to create the town council.”
“Margate has more people than Canterbury – with 55,000 (in Margate)”
It is hugely supported by the few who even bothered to participate not by the majority of the community. If people did not reply, to me that implies they are not the least bit interested. Before we tax payers are charged yet more money, there should be a referendum.
Who the heck cares about lights along the seafront? If a Margate Council can ensure potholes are repaired; litter is collected; blocked street drains are cleared to avoid localised flooding etc, then perhaps I would be in support.
Or perhaps somebody reading this can explain to me exactly what the advantages would be.
Isnt it funnu how the lights remained in situ all the time the filming was going on without issue, but the minute they were gifted to the residents they were deemed a danger, not only to people but passing traffic.
No benefit to the residents of Margate. Look at other town councils who have taken this disastrous decision. You are paying double for the same service.
“There would be 19 town councillors, representing the seven wards”. Absolutely disgusting, another 19 individuals on the gravy train, taking more money out of honest people’s pockets. When will it all stop?
As far as I know Gerard the town council councillors will be unpaid. So not on the gravy train. But I’m sure somebody will correct me if I’m wrong.
I think it’s a great idea and I’m looking forward to it coming to fruition.
They will receive basic allowances and the covering of cost, travel etc but not a salary.
Correct. Before I signed up to stand for election I didn’t know we were even given an allowance. I had to ask what they wanted my bank details for at TDC when they asked me for them.
Broadstairs town councillors receive a taxable allowance of £600 a year, hardly the ‘gravy train’.
Jenny Matterface – that’s your opinion – it’s another layer of nonsense on top of the rubbish we currently have, and all cost money! All funded by us!
I do hope that none of TDC’s or KCC’s current cllrs become involved.
Mr Checksfield – you can bet the usual cohort of clowns will be in forefront
TDC Councillors won’t be involved. Not because they don’t want to be, just because the Labour lot are heading for electoral wipeout next year so we should have some new faces next year.
As a councillor in 2019 it was a privilege to work with former mayors Michael Thomlison and Cllr Heather Keen and the other Charter Trustees of Margate getting the signatures of support in all weathers. Looking at our other towns with their own own councils you can immediately see the differences over the years. I look forward to seeing the improvements in the future in Margate and Cliftonville. Margate can then be back as the place to visit once again.
You can’t compare Margate to Broadstairs, Birchington or Westgate as they have a smaller number of residents and have always been more affluent. So only comparison is Ramsgate and I can’t see it as any cleaner, more attractive or better run than Margate.
So please enlighten me.
I truly am open to persuasion on the advantages of having a Margate Council but just haven’t heard anything to convince me yet.
I hope some don’t Peter, when I was there the hard working councillors stood out a mile and you could see which ones just wanted the Councillor status and Cllr title…and that’s in all parties.
They will and it will be more of the same,because only the oldies vote, and they pick people like them, who are concerned with holding down the precept than doing anything.
The failure with government at all levels is the lack of engagement. The more people switch off, the worse are the candidates.
You want better government? The get off your backside and vote, while ignoring Harry Webb and Gérard the uninformed.
I’ve always voted, and never continuously for the same party.
Next time? Kemi for PM! Would be amazing to see a black woman at number 10, something that would never happen with the racist and sexist Labour party, who only ever seem capable of having ageing white men as leaders.
Another increased bill for working people to pay.
And here is another one who knows the price of everything but the value of none!
If the council does things with its money then it is worthwhile. If on other hand it spends its time talking about holding down the precept, it’s probably pointless. It’s a matter of perspective.
There isn’t much value to be had with having assets transferred from tier to tier which results in the new Town Council having to find the cash to maintain them with no corresponding saving to be had from TDC.
In Ramsgate, it seems like the Town Council carry out a load of functions that TDC don’t bother doing anymore which results in residents paying twice.
Ramsgate Town Council, in their early years, were very fond of hiking their precept by huge amounts each year as they knew they wouldn’t be caught by the referendum limit. Let’s hope Margate Town Council won’t follow suit, mainly for working people’s sake. Thanks to the local Welfare Party non working benefit claimants won’t be paying any Council Tax in April so it will be the workers and pensioners picking up the tab for this new Council.
Well done its only taken 4 years
If this goes ahead then do we need TDC. What happens when we are sucked into a much larger district council as being planed. I see this as just a return to the past but with the poor service we already have. More money for the same result as I see it. When will the increases stop? When we run out of money to pay all the bills? TDC is bad enough as it is without another layer of useless people running it expecting us to pick up any bills along the way. As for KCC then we need a laugh meter. TDC needs one a swell.