Town Council Encourages Residents to Attend and Participate in Council Meetings

As part of its ongoing commitment to transparency, community engagement and informed decision-making, Hailsham Town Council is reminding residents that they are welcome to attend and observe Council meetings and contribute to discussions on matters that affect the town.

The Council actively encourages public participation and values the views of local people when making decisions on services, projects and policies.

Public Attendance at Meetings

Members of the public and representatives of the press are welcome to attend meetings of the Full Council and its committees. Meetings are generally open to the public, with the exception of confidential business items, meetings convened to discuss sensitive matters and informal workshops.

Residents are free to enter and leave public meetings as they wish, provided this does not disrupt proceedings. In certain circumstances, the public and press may be asked to leave while commercially confidential or otherwise sensitive matters are being considered.

Public Questions and Participation

At the beginning of each public meeting, a dedicated 15-minute period is set aside to allow members of the public to address councillors and ask questions. At the discretion of the Chair, this period may be extended where appropriate.

Questions may be asked without prior notice; however, to ensure a comprehensive response can be provided at the meeting, questions should be submitted either in writing to: Hailsham Town Council, Inglenook, Market Street, Hailsham, BN27 2AE. Alternatively, send an email to clerk@hailsham-tc.gov.uk no later than two clear working days before the meeting. All submitted questions must include the name and address of the questioner.

Any supplementary questions may be permitted at the discretion of the Chair. While every effort will be made to respond to questions raised at meetings, oral questions will not automatically receive a written response unless this is specifically indicated by the member responding.

Questions should relate to the responsibilities and activities of the Town Council or, where applicable, fall within the remit of the committee concerned.

The Town Council’s Committees

The Town Council’s committees oversee a wide range of local services and initiatives:

• Assets Management Committee – Responsible for Town Council-maintained buildings, open spaces and land
• Communities Committee – Oversees town revitalisation projects, markets, events and Hailsham Youth Service
• Finance & Governance Committee – Deals with the Council’s budget, precept, financial management, policies and contracts
• Planning & Development Committee – Considers and comments on planning and development-related matters affecting the town
• Neighbourhood Planning Committee – Leads the preparation and development of the Neighbourhood Plan, which helps guide future growth and development in Hailsham
• Post Office Committee – Oversees the management of the Post Office franchise at 10 High Street

Meeting Information

A full schedule of committee meetings, together with bi-monthly meetings of the Full Council, is available on the Town Council’s website.

Agendas for all meetings are published in advance and can be viewed both on the noticeboard outside the Town Council offices and online.

Message from Karen Giddings, Corporate Services Manager

“Local government relies on local people, and we are committed to ensuring residents have opportunities to engage with the decisions that shape our community. Whether you wish to observe a meeting, raise a concern, ask a question or find out more about Town Council services, we encourage you to get involved.”

“Attending a Council meeting is an excellent way to see first-hand how local decisions are made and how councillors represent the interests of residents. Community engagement remains at the heart of everything we do, and we welcome feedback, ideas and constructive suggestions that can help make Hailsham an even better place to live, work and learn.”