Emsworth Residents’ Forum (ERF) has launched a petition for Emsworth residents to sign in favour of creating a town council.
This follows the ERF annual meeting on 5 June 2025 when members voted for a programme of consultation with residents.
Emsworth Residents’ Forum (ERF) is inviting all residents to support the creation of a Town Council by signing the petition. Once 1,000 signatures is reached, Havant Borough Council will be requested to launch a formal Community Governance Review.
If there is evidence of support, elections for Emsworth’s own Town Council could be held as soon as May 2027.
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.
With sweeping changes to local government on the horizon, with fewer local councillors and less say in local decisions, now is the time to secure Emsworth’s future. 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.
Thirdly, maintaining a voice as part of a large unitary authority. Following local government reorganisation, Emsworth is set to become part of a much larger unitary authority—covering up to 500,000 residents across Portsmouth, Havant, Fareham, and Gosport. Without a town council, Emsworth risks becoming a small fish in a very big pond. Local representation would ensure everyday issues aren’t drowned out in distant decision-making.
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.
The larger unitary authority would need to manage areas such as special educational needs, social care, waste management, highways, and education—where economies of scale make sense. But the town council could step in to deal very local day-to-day needs which would possibly get buried under regional priorities.
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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