Residents in Stansted are being invited to share their views on proposed changes to Stansted Parish Council as part of a Community Governance Review.
At its meeting on 11 March 2026, the General Purposes Committee agreed to undertake a review following a request from Stansted Parish Council to increase the number of parish councillors from seven to nine.
The parish council asked for the review in response to increasing workloads and the growing complexity of issues it deals with, including community assets, and a number of active sub-committees.
A Community Governance Review is a statutory process that allows the borough council to consult with residents and other stakeholders on proposed changes to parish governance arrangements. As part of the review, local people will be asked whether they support the proposed increase in councillor numbers.
Stansted Parish Council currently represents an electorate of more than 450 residents and filled all seven councillor seats at the May 2023 parish elections. National guidance suggests parish council sizes should reflect local population and community needs.
Damian Roberts, Electoral Registration Officer at Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council, said: “Community Governance Reviews are an important way of making sure local councils are structured in a way that allows them to operate effectively and continue to represent the needs of their communities. This consultation will give residents in Stansted the opportunity to have their say on the future arrangements for their parish council.”
The consultation will run from 16 March until 17 April 2026.
Following the consultation, draft recommendations will be published before final proposals are considered by the borough council. Any agreed changes would take effect at the next scheduled parish elections in May 2027.
Further information on how to take part in the consultation will be published on the Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council website at www.tmbc.gov.uk/stansted-cgr.