Community Governance Review (CGR) Consultation

This consultation closed on Tuesday 2 June.

The second stage consultation is now closed.

We're undertaking a Community Governance Review (CGR), 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.

There are currently 34 parish councils and three town councils in Swale (Faversham, Queenborough, and Sheerness). Some areas, like Sittingbourne, are not currently represented.

What we're proposing

This CGR will consider the following areas:

• Faversham
• Isle of Sheppey
• Sittingbourne

Faversham

In Faversham we're considering:

• increasing the number of councillors representing Watling Ward and/or Priory Ward
• splitting the existing Faversham Town Council’s (FTC) Watling Ward into two
• extending FTC’s Watling Ward boundaries
• transferring land from Faversham Town Council to Sheldwich Parish Council
• transferring land from Ospringe Parish Council to Faversham Town Council
• transferring land from Boughton under Blean and Selling Parish Council to Faversham Town Council
• transferring land from Graveney-with-Goodnestone Parish Council to Faversham Town Council

Isle of Sheppey

On the Isle of Sheppey we're considering:

• creating a new Halfway Parish Council, or absorbing Halfway into an existing council
• moving boundaries of existing parish councils to include these areas
• renaming Warden Parish Council to Warden Bay Parish Council

Sittingbourne

In 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.

What happens next

Following the second consultation, the final proposals will be presented to full council for decision.

This page will be updated throughout the review and the consultation stages.

Supporting documents

You can download the Community Governance Review Terms of Reference (PDF 1.04MB).

Ward maps

You can download the proposed boundary changes, and maps for boundaries for any proposed new parish or town council.

Faversham

Proposed boundary changes in Faversham.

• Watling ward (PDF 1.97MB)
• land at Perry Court (PDF 1.09MB)
• extension of Watling ward (PDF 2.56MB)
• extension of Watling ward to M2 and A2 (PDF 1.56MB)
• transfer of Land Faversham to Sheldwich (PDF 2.26MB)
• extension to include School Farm (PDF 751KB)

Isle of Sheppey

Proposed boundary changes or boundaries for any proposed new parish or town council on the Isle of Sheppey

• Halfway boundary change (PDF 1.6MB)
• Halfway change in detail map Map 2 (PDF 2.86MB)
• Halfway change in detail map 3 (PDF 2.76MB)
• change with Sheerness Town Council (PDF 1.16MB)
• change with Queenborough Town Council (PDF 4.37MB)
• extension of Queenborough Town Council (PDF 2.27MB)
• Lucas Close boundary change (PDF 2.74MB)

Sittingbourne

Proposed boundary changes or boundaries for any proposed new parish or town council in Sittingbourne.

• Iwade boundary map (PDF 2.48MB)
• proposed Murston boundary (PDF 5.8MB)
• Great Easthall (PDF 1.89MB)
• Great Easthall proposal (PDF 1.7MB)
• proposed Kemsley boundary (PDF 6.49MB)
• proposed Milton Regis boundary (PDF 2.03MB)
• proposed Meads boundary change (PDF 3.29MB)
• Bobbing extending to the Meads (PDF 2.15MB)
• Bobbing extending to Grove Park (PDF 2.14MB)
• proposed urban Sittingbourne Council (PDF 6.36MB)
• proposed urban Sittingbourne including Grove Park (PDF 4.13MB)