Tenterden Town Council

Town Hall
24 High Street
Tenterden
Kent TN30 6AN

Tel: 01580 762271

Fax: 01580 765647
Email: townhall@tenterden.gov.uk 
Web: www.tenterden.gov.uk

Mayor: Cllr. Robin Wade
Mayoress: Mrs Vyvienne Wade

Deputy Mayor:
Cllr. Mrs Jennifer Crickmore-Porter
Escort: Major Alan O'Hagan

[Robin Wade and Jennifer Crickmore-Porter were elected on 14 May 2012]

Town Clerk: Mrs Hester Deackes

Deputy Town Clerk: Mrs Angela Patrick

Administrative Assistant: Mr Robert Parham

Opening hours for the Town Clerk’s office

9.30am-1.00pm Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday
Closed Wednesdays and weekends

Tenterden Town Council Information

Tenterden Town Council is the parish council responsible for the town of Tenterden. Council members are elected every four years and the chairman of the town council is the Mayor of Tenterden.

Tenterden Town Council has existed in its present form since local government reorganisation in 1974, and is the successor to the previous Tenterden Borough Council. The town council serves as the main link between the people of Tenterden and the district authority, Ashford Borough Council. Town and parish councils form the lowest tier of local government and Tenterden comes under Ashford Borough Council and Kent County Council.

The town council's main source of income is from the annual precept, a small part of the Council Tax collected by Ashford Borough Council. It also derives some income from its historic Town Hall, which may be hired for meetings and functions.

Tenterden is a member of the Confederation of the Cinque Ports, being a limb of Rye, which is a head port. The Mayor of Tenterden and the Town Clerk attend confederation meetings on behalf of the town council.

Tenterden is divided into four wards;

Tenterden North
Tenterden South
Rolvenden and Tenterden West
St Michaels

Council Members

Tenterden Town Council consists of 16 members. The whole of Tenterden Town Council stands for election on a four-yearly basis. The last election was on 5 May 2011.

Mayor of Tenterden

The Mayor of Tenterden is chairman of the town council and successor in a line of civic heads going back to Thomas Petlesden, who, in 1449, became the first person to bear the title of Mayor of Tenterden. The mayor is elected at the town council's mayor making meeting in May each year. The present mayor is Cllr. Robin Wade and his wife Mrs Vyvienne Wade is the Mayoress.

Council Employees

The town council has 4 full-time employees and one part-time employee. The full-time employees are the Town Clerk (Mrs Hester Deackes), an Administrative Assistant (Robert Parham), the Site Manager and 1 Maintenance Team worker. The part-time employee is the Deputy Town Clerk (Mrs Angela Patrick).

Weddings and Marriage Ceremonies

Please click here for information about weddings and marriage ceremonies in the Mayor's Parlour at Tenterden Town Hall.

Town Council responsibilities

Tenterden Town Council has responsibility for Public Buildings in the Town such as the Town Hall, "The Pebbles" which used to contain the Library as well as the Tenterden and St Michaels Recreation Grounds.

The Town Council has a consultation role for a number of issues including Planning and Highways issues. In the historic Town Hall, the Assembly Room which can accommodate up to 180 people and the Mayor's Parlour which is licensed for the conduct of wedding ceremonies are available for hire.

They also offer for hire the Sports Pavilion which is located in the Recreation Ground.