Havant Borough Council councillors voted to establish Parish Councils for Emsworth and Hayling Island at a Full Council meeting on 22 July, following the completion of Phase 2 of the Community Governance Review (CGR), which ran from 21 May to 2 July. The second public consultation showed strong support for an Emsworth Parish Council, with 84.2% of respondents in favour, marginally down from the 88.2% in the first consultation earlier in the year.
This second consultation also showed majority support for the proposed Parish Council configuration:
It is the Emsworth Residents Forum’s proposal for the Parish Council to change its name to Emsworth Town Council.
See https://havant.govocal.com/en-GB/projects/emsworth-cgr-phasetwo for more information, including the detailed results of the Phase 2 consultation.
Since the vote on 22 July, the Government has paused Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) in Hampshire. As a result, plans to abolish Havant Borough Council and replace it with a South East Hampshire Unitary Authority have been deferred pending further consideration. Havant Borough Council has concluded that this may constitute a material change in circumstances that could affect the decision to establish Parish Councils for Emsworth and Hayling Island. The Council has therefore scheduled a further vote on 25 November to confirm whether it wishes to proceed with the decisions made on 22 July.
The Emsworth Residents Forum’s position is that, while LGR was one factor behind the proposal for an Emsworth Parish Council, it was not the principal reason for the strong level of support expressed by residents throughout the Community Governance Review (CGR) process. The clearest and most consistent message from respondents was the desire to protect Emsworth’s identity, character and community spirit. This is reflected in the feedback submitted during the CGR process. Accordingly, the Forum sees no reason why the decision to establish an Emsworth Parish Council, approved on 22 July, should be altered when councillors reconsider the matter on 25 November.
In recent years, Emsworth has experienced the visible decline of key local assets—our recreation grounds, pavilions, and town centre have been overlooked and underfunded. Without action, these spaces risk further deterioration.
A town council could change this. With its own funding powers, it could seek grants and partnerships, raise revenue through better use of facilities, and collaborate with sports clubs and local groups to reinvigorate our community spaces. It would have the authority—and the focus—to put Emsworth first.
Our town centre, full of character and independent shops, remains a valued hub. But like all high streets, it needs ongoing support. A town council could organise events such as Christmas celebrations and local festivals, boosting trade and community spirit. It could also champion a Cultural Calendar, bringing regular events and new energy into Emsworth’s social life.
A key concern is the Southleigh development which could have a significant impact
on our roads. A town council would ensure Emsworth has a strong voice in these decisions—especially the need for a link road and investment of developer contributions where they matter most.
A town council would preserve local representation and identity, ensuring that decisions affecting our community are made by and for local people. It does mean additional funding being raised from each household in Emsworth (council average is £1.77 per week), and this comes at a time when costs are increasing for all. But by
raising this funding, it will be possible to bring in additional grants and funds, as well as preserve and improve facilities for all the community.
It’s time to shape Emsworth’s future.
Across England, there are around 10,000 parish and town councils, supported by 100,000 councillors investing over £2 billion into local communities every year. Hampshire has 246 councils including neighbours like Rowlands Castle, Horndean, Denmead, Newlands and Petersfield.
These local councils form the most grassroots level of government, created by the Local Government Act 1894 to serve communities directly. Historically, Emsworth belonged to Warblington Urban District before being absorbed into Havant Borough Council in 1974.
Town and parish councils are independent, directly elected, and often non-political. They reflect the specific needs of local residents—championing services, protecting community assets, and preserving the unique character of their area.
Funded through the precept (an additional council tax), town councils reinvest that money — on average £1.77 a week for a Band D household—directly into the community. They can award grants to local organisations and initiatives.
Town councils are also statutory consultees on planning applications, meaning they must be consulted about proposed developments. For Emsworth, this means playing an active role in shaping the town’s future. It would continue to work with the local planning authority to implement the approved Neighbourhood Plan.
Creating a Town Council would be a natural next step from the Emsworth Residents’ Forum. While the Forum would continue to operate and publish The Ems, the new council would have decision-making powers, elected councillors, and paid officers to deliver meaningful action for our town.
Emsworth Town Council would have a central location easy for residents to access, providing a gateway to the new unitary authority. It would have a small team of staff working to support its elected local town councillors. The Town Council would manage amenities such as parks, public buildings and organise local events as well as supporting community safety, youth and environmental initiatives. Every pound raised in Emsworth would be directly re-invested in Emsworth.
The BBC Politics South interviewed a number of areas to ascertain the advantages and disadvantages of a town council
There is a lot of information available on setting up a town council.
National Association of Local Councils (NALC) is the national body for parish and town councils in England (nalc.gov.uk). With parish and town councils serving over 30% of England’s communities, they see this first tier of government and as a means of ensuring that local voices are heard on critical issues.
Emsworth has joined NALC as an associate and we are working with them to ensure we have the best possible advice on moving forward.
If the petition evidences that Emsworth residents believe a Town Council is how we should move forward, and this is agreed by Havant Borough Council, there is a lot of information to help us move forward.
Firstly it is about protecting Emsworth’s Identity. As housing developments increasingly blur the boundaries between Chichester and Havant, it’s vital that Emsworth continues to remain a unique and vibrant town. With its own centre, shoreline, and strong community spirit, a town council would help preserve what makes Emsworth special.
Secondly, a town council will enable residents to take charge of local spaces. From playing fields to community gardens, Emsworth’s residents deserve a say in how their neighbourhood is cared for. A town council could take direct responsibility for local amenities—making sure they reflect the needs, pride, and energy of the people who use them.
The most immediate downside is the additional cost to households. Setting up a town council would introduce a separate “precept” on top of your existing council tax.
The average parish precept in England is around £85 per year per household, but Emsworth’s may be higher, especially if it takes on more responsibilities like parks, public toilets, or community buildings. And this is at a time when families are already facing rising living costs, even a modest increases can feel significant.
Residents may not see big changes immediately. Improvements like better amenities or more responsive services can take time to plan and deliver, which might cause frustration if expectations are high from the start.
Establishing a town council isn’t free—it involves setting up offices, hiring staff (like a clerk), and covering legal and logistical overheads. These start-up costs could absorb a chunk of the early budget. There will be a need for a small staff team and a small office where residents can access information. Depending on what amenities the council runs, it would pay for the play parks to be maintained, to manage the allotments, support local businesses and local employment, improve how the bins are managed etc.
Not necessarily. The proposed model would use a small, dedicated staff working directly with locally elected councillors, ensuring decisions are directly accountable, and rooted in the community—not in a distant office.
There would hopefully be a presence in the town centre – perhaps a shop front. The team would probably be a mix of office and home based working.
There would be a town clerk and an assistant. It may be possible to offer an apprenticeship when established. Some councils directly hire staff such as pitch maintenance, others contract services out. So it would be dependent on what the councillors decided was the best in terms of efficiency and effectiveness.
The exact number is not decided yet but legally it has to be a minimum of 5. In the region of 11 to 13 may be indication.
Firstly it is about having a clear vision and strong idea of what the town council wants to achieve. People are far more likely to step up when they understand the why. If the town council sets out a compelling vision—protecting Emsworth’s identity, improving community spaces, amplifying local voices—it becomes a cause, not just a committee.
The organisation of meetings will need to reflect the needs of a diverse group of people and ensure that working people, retired people, young people, parents, and carers can get involved.
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