Whitfield Parish Councillors
Whitfield Parish Council has 14 seats. There are no wards within the Parish so all Council Members serve the whole community and would be happy to assist with any issues you may have. If they cannot help they will know who to ask or where to go for further advice. Councillors can be contacted through the Parish Clerk by phone, email or post.
We currently have Vacancies for Councillors, so applications to the Parish Clerk to join the Council are invited. Details of the application and selection process is given in the Co-option and Selection of Councillors procedure that can be viewed on the Council Documents Page.
Councillor Jeff Goodsell (Chair)
Councillor Keith Gowland (Vice Chair)
Councillor Julie Cummings
Councillor Karen Colyer
Councillor Judy Gould
Councillor Eleanor Brooks
Councillor John Hudson
Councillor Tony Foreman
For details on individual Councillors please follow the below link which takes you to Dover District Councils website where this information is publicly available
https://moderngov.dover.gov.uk/mgParishCouncilDetails.aspx?ID=199&LS=3
The main functions of the Parish Council are to;
- Provide a public forum whereby Members may ask questions on matters relevant to the Council’s functions and to bring forward matters for debate;
- Receive reports and to adopt or otherwise deal with the recommendations from all Committees, Sub-Committees, Working Groups and Members providing opportunity for questions and comments from Members;
- Determine the major policy decisions and objectives of the Parish Council and their priority;
- Deal with the various Highways and Transport issues as they arise.
Committee Membership & Appointments to Outside Bodies
Routine matters of the Recreation and Planning Committees are usually dealt with at the Monthly meetings of the Parish Council, with formal meetings of these Committees being held as necessary.
The Finance Committee meets twice a year, or more often if necessary.
All Councillors serve on at least one committee. The membership and area of responsibility for each committee is set out below:
Finance Committee
The Finance Committee looks after the Council’s financial matters including accounting, audit, financial risk management and management of the Council’s administration and capital expenditure. It also deals with personnel and legal issues.
- Councillor Jeff Goodsell (Chair)
- Councillor Keith Gowland
- Councillor Karen Colyer
- Councillor Eleanor Brooks
Planning Committee
This Committee is responsible for exercising the Parish Council’s right under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 to be notified and comment on planning applications affecting the Whitfield area. It considers and makes recommendations on consultations relating to Local, Regional and Structure plans and issues concerning longer term future plans for the Council and the village.
- Vacant (Chair)
- Councillor Keith Gowland
- Councillor Jeff Goodsell
- Councillor Judy Gould
- Councillor Eleanor Brooks
- Councillor Tony Foreman
- Councillor John Hudson
- Councillor Julie Cummings
- Councillor Karen Colyer
Recreation Committee
The Recreation Committee deals with all issues relating to land and premises, management of the Council Facilities, and compliance to Health and Safety Policy and Risk Assessment. It deals with the use, maintenance and development of play and sports equipment, the Recreation Ground and Pavilion, including letting to Community Groups and Local Residents.
The Committee also exercises the powers and duties of the Council on road, footpath and transportation matters, including; road signs and signposting; street lighting; public transport issues (i.e. services, bus shelters etc); public rights of way, footpaths and bridleways; grit bin provision; also and deals with tree and horticultural issues (except Tree Preservation Orders, which are dealt with by the Planning Committee).
- Vacant (Chair)
- Councillor Jeff Goodsell
- Councillor Karen Colyer
- Councillor Julie Cummings
- Councillor Eleanor Brooks
- Councillor John Hudson
- Councillor Tony Foreman
- Councillor Keith Gowland
- Councillor Judy Gould
The Parish Council also has representation on a number of local organisations:
Kent Association of Local Councils (KALC) Dover Area
- Councillor Keith Gowland
- Councillor John Hudson
Whitfield Village Hall Management Committee
- Councillor Karen Colyer
Whitfield School Travel Committee
- Councillor Eleanor Brooks