Parish and town councils are democratically elected local authorities with duties, powers and privileges conferred by Act of Parliament. In England and Wales, a parish council can resolve to call itself a 'town council' and its chairman the 'town mayor'. Parish and town councils are known collectively as 'local councils'. Hailsham Town Council came into being in 1974 as a result of local government reorganisation.
A Town Council holds sole responsibility for the services it provides. Through its committees, it formulates policies for action and decides how to raise and spend money on behalf of the local community. The Town Council is the tier of local government closest to the people and consists of individual councillors who contribute to the work of the whole Town Council by:
Putting forward ideas and engaging in constructive debate
Representing their constituents and responding to the needs of the community
Acting in an ethical way and being open about interests
Voting to enable the Town Council to make decisions
Ensuring the delivery of cost-effective quality services for residents
