Godalming was granted its first charter of incorporation by Elizabeth
I in 1575, this being confirmed by Charles II in 1666. It remained
a Royal Borough until 1974 when most of its powers and functions
were transferred by the Local Government Act 1972 to the Surrey
County Council (responsible for Education, Highways, Libraries,
Police and Fire Services, and Social Services) and Waverley Borough
Council (responsible for Environmental and Leisure Services, Housing
and Planning). Waverley was a newly formed Authority in 1974 and
has its headquarters in Godalming. The town lies within the parliamentary
constituency of South West Surrey.
Godalming Town Council now has the legal status of a Parish Council.
There are 20 elected Members representing five wards within the
Godalming area and following the elections in May 2007, the political
composition of the Council is as follows:-
Conservatives - 16 Councillors Liberal Democrats - 4 Councillors
The Town Mayor is elected annually and represents the Town Council
at many functions as the principal citizen of the town.
The Town Council has its offices in the Municipal Buildings in Bridge
Street, adjacent to the Borough Hall and uses the Waverley Council
Chamber at for its formal meetings.
The Town Council’s functions include the management of some
twelve acres of allotment land at sites throughout the town and
of three community buildings. These buildings are the Old Town Hall
(colloquially known as the “Pepperpot”) at the west
end of Godalming High Street; the Wilfrid Noyce Centre also in the
town centre adjacent to the Crown Court car park and the Broadwater
Park Community Centre next to the Godalming Leisure Centre in Farncombe.
All these buildings are widely used by cross section of the community.
Together with the neighbouring Busbridge Parish Council, the Town
Council forms a Joint Burial Committee which takes responsibility
for the management of two cemeteries - the old cemetery at Nightingale
Road (now closed) and the Eashing Cemetery in Franklyn Road. Future
plans for the Eashing Cemetery include the provision of a “green
burial” area with the sixteen acre site.
The Town Council has a number of other roles, one of the most important
of which is to foster and encourage a sense of community in the
Town and to act as advocate for the town when dealing with the larger
local authorities. For example, the Town Council comments on all
Godalming planning applications submitted to Waverley Borough Council
(the planning authority). There are two Town Council committees,
the Planning & Environment Committee and the Policy & Management
Committee, each meet every three weeks. The Full Council meets every
thirteen weeks and still upholds the old tradition by wearing ceremonial
dress. All Council and Committee meetings are open to the public
and local resident are encouraged to participate by submitting statements
and/or asking questions.
For more information on Godalming Town Council please visit our
website at http://www.godalming-tc.gov.uk ) or contact the Town
Clerk on 01483 523575
Town Clerk: Louise
P. Goodfellow MA CPFA
Address: Municipal
Buildings, Bridge Street, Godalming, Surrey GU7 1HR.
Telephone: 01483 523575
Facsimile: 01483 523077
Website: www.godalming-tc.gov.uk
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