The core role of a Parish Council is to listen to residents, and along with advice, represent the views of residents.
- Hawkhurst Parish Council is one ward, so all thirteen Councillors represent and speak on behalf of the whole Parish.
- Full Council meets on the 3rd Monday of every month, at Copt Hall, Copt Hall Avenue. Meetings commence at 7.45, unless otherwise stated.
- The Parish Council has the following Committees:
- Strategy, Administration and projects Committee
- Facilities and Services Committee
- Planning Committee
- Community and Sports Centre Committee
- The Council employs a Clerk, a part time Deputy Clerk, a Village Warden.
- They are based at the Parish Council offices in The Office at the Moor, The Moor. The office is normally open 10am – 12 noon Tuesdays to Fridays and the Clerk attends a Parish Surgery at Hawkhurst Library 9:30am – 11 am on Mondays and 10 – 12noon at KGV sports Pavilion on Thursdays
- The Village Warden opens and closes the sports pavilion toilets each day and tends to work 8 – 3 pm and part time at weekends.
- We clean Copt Hall and the King George V Sports Pavilion before groups use the the facilities.
- The Clerk is the Proper Officer of the Council and the Deputy Clerk is the Responsible Financial Officer. They share administration support to the Committees.
- The Council has set a precept of £232,475 for the year 2021/22.
- The Parish Council is responsible for the following amenity areas: Fowlers Wood, Ockley Allotments, Hensil Allotments, Hawkhurst Cemetery, King George V Playing Field, Multi Use Games Area and Heartenoak Playing Fields
The Parish Council is responsible for the following facilities: Copt Hall, King George V Playing Field Sports pavilion, Victoria Hall – leased to the Kino - The Council is responsible for some footway lighting in Hawkhurst, Village centre planters, hanging baskets and War Memorial
- The Council is a statutory consultee for all planning applications. The Council can also lobby the Borough and County Council when necessary.
- Hawkhurst has an adopted Neighbourhood Development Plan, the first in the Tunbridge Wells Borough Council area.
- The Parish Council is working with the community on a new community and sports centre for the village
Attached is a list of powers, which have been vested in the Parish Council.
The Council can only act within these powers.
The above information is designed to give residents a brief overview of the workings of the Council. It is by no means an exhaustive and further details and information can be obtained from the Clerk.