Margate Town Council - 30 Jun 26

Thursday 18 June 2026 Thanet District Councillors unanimously agreed to establish a Town Council for Margate. Margate was the last of Thanet’s towns to be without its own council, making this a significant milestone for local democracy and for the town itself.

The decision follows years of work led by the Charter Trustees of Margate to restore a dedicated local council for the town. Working alongside residents, community groups and partner organisations, the Charter Trustees have championed the case for a Town Council, helped build public support and encouraged local people to engage with the consultation process.

The existing Charter Trustees will form a Shadow Council until April 2027, with the first elections to the new Margate Town Council taking place in May 2027.

"This is a fantastic step forward for our town," said Mayor of Margate, Cllr Leo Britcher. "I'd like to give a huge thank you and congratulations to everyone who has campaigned over the years to get this done. The Charter Trustees have long believed that Margate should once again have its own Town Council, and it is wonderful to see that vision become a reality. I'd also like to thank the hard work of officers, and every local person who responded to the public consultation."

"As this year's Mayor of Margate, I'm looking forward to working with my fellow Charter Trustees, community groups and, of course, local residents to make Margate Town Council the best it can be."

"With Local Government Reorganisation coming, it's more important than ever that Margate has its own Town Council that can add that hyper-local touch that can so easily otherwise get lost."

"The other town and parish councils of Thanet have done some incredible work to help and improve their places and communities, whether that's brightening their high streets, taking over green spaces and local assets to save them for the town, setting up highway improvement plans to lobby for safer and better roads, or running events that bring in visitors and celebrate local culture. The new Margate Town Council is an incredible opportunity to make a lasting positive impact on our wonderful town."