Editing Folkestone (section)

==Governance==
[[File:Guildhall Street, Folkestone (geograph 3828843).jpg|thumb|left|[[Folkestone Town Hall]], completed in 1861]]

The governance of Folkestone lies in both national and local government. Insofar as the national government is concerned, Folkestone is part of the constituency of [[Folkestone and Hythe (UK Parliament constituency)|Folkestone and Hythe]], which is currently (2024) represented by [[Tony Vaughan (footballer)|Tony Vaughan]] (Labour). Before [[Brexit]] in 2020, Folkestone was part of the [[South East England (European Parliament constituency)|South East England]] constituency in the [[European Parliament]].

The local government consists of three tiers. In the first tier, [[Kent County Council]], Folkestone is divided into two divisions each returning one County [[Councillor]]. Folkestone West is represented by Dylan Jeffrey (Conservative). Folkestone East is represented by Jackie Meade (Labour).<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://democracy.kent.gov.uk/mgMemberIndex.aspx?FN=WARD&VW=LIST&PIC=0 |title=Your Councillors |website=Kent County Council |access-date=2018-02-10 |archive-date=11 February 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180211131148/https://democracy.kent.gov.uk/mgMemberIndex.aspx?FN=WARD&VW=LIST&PIC=0 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Election results by divisions, 4 May 2017 |url=https://democracy.kent.gov.uk/mgElectionElectionAreaResults.aspx?Page=all&EID=20 |website=Kent County Council |access-date=10 February 2018 |language=en |date=4 May 2017 |archive-date=11 February 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180211071918/https://democracy.kent.gov.uk/mgElectionElectionAreaResults.aspx?Page=all&EID=20 |url-status=live}}</ref>

The second tier of local government is the [[non-metropolitan district]]. Folkestone forms a part of [[Folkestone and Hythe District|Folkestone and Hythe]] district, which was first established by the [[Local Government Act 1972]] as Shepway. Folkestone elects 10 of Folkestone and Hythe District Council's 30 Councillors.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Civic Centre |first1=Castle Hill Avenue |title=Your Councillors by Ward |url=http://www.shepway.gov.uk/moderngov/mgMemberIndex.aspx?FN=WARD&VW=LIST&PIC=0 |website=Shepway District Council |access-date=10 February 2018 |language=EN |date=15 May 2015 |archive-date=11 February 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180211072428/http://www.shepway.gov.uk/moderngov/mgMemberIndex.aspx?FN=WARD&VW=LIST&PIC=0 |url-status=live}}</ref>

The third and lowest tier was established as the [[civil parishes in England|civil parish]]: in Folkestone's case, because it held a [[royal charter|Town Charter]], and when the then Folkestone Borough Council was abolished, councillors elected to represent Folkestone's wards were designated as the Town's [[charter trustee|Charter Trustees]], responsible for electing a Town Mayor. This role has since passed to Folkestone Town Council which is based at [[Folkestone Town Hall]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://folkestonemuseum.co.uk/pages/about/ |title=A History of the Town Hall |publisher=Folkestone Museum |access-date=13 March 2021 |archive-date=4 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210304055634/https://folkestonemuseum.co.uk/pages/about/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

{{Emblem table
|collapsed=y
|name=Arms of Folkestone Town Council
|shield=Or on Water barry wavy in base proper an ancient Ship with four Men's Heads therein apparent as represented on the ancient Seal of the Borough of Folkestone also proper on a Chief per pale Gules and Azure a demi Lion passant guardant dimidiated with the Hull of a Ship Gold.
|crest=On a Wreath Or and Azure a demi double-headed Eagle displayed Sable beaked Or charged on the breast with a Rose Argent barbed and seeded proper dimidiated with a Fleur-de-Lys Gold and on each wing with a Ducal Coronet also Gold.
|supporters=On the dexter side, a figure representing St. Eanswyth proper crowned with an ancient Crown and holding in the exterior hand a Pastoral Staff Or and on the sinister side a figure representing William Harvey the physician also proper holding in the exterior hand a Heart Gules.
|motto=Salubritas Et Amoenitas
|notes=Granted to the borough council on 25 July 1958. Transferred to the [[successor parish]] council on 30 November 2007.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://civicheraldry.co.uk/south_east.html#folkestone%20tc |title=FOLKESTONE TOWN COUNCIL (KENT) |publisher=Robert Young |access-date=31 October 2019 |archive-date=22 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210122215252/http://civicheraldry.co.uk/south_east.html#folkestone%20tc |url-status=live}}</ref>}}

Folkestone [[Town Council]] was established in 2004,<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.folkestonetc.kentparishes.gov.uk/ |title=Folkestone Town Council |access-date=24 November 2005 |archive-date=27 February 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060227014712/http://www.folkestonetc.kentparishes.gov.uk/ |url-status=live}}</ref> comprising the area of the former [[municipal borough|Borough]] of Folkestone less Folkestone [[Sandgate, Kent|Sandgate]] ward, which was separately parished. Folkestone Town Council comprises eight wards: Cheriton; Morehall; Park; Harvey West; Harvey Central; Harbour; East; and Foord. Each ward returns two or three members, for a total of 18 councillors elected to four-year terms.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.folkestonetc.kentparishes.gov.uk/your-local-councillor/ |title=Your Local Councillor |website=Folkestone Town Council |access-date=2018-02-10 |archive-date=11 February 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180211073829/http://www.folkestonetc.kentparishes.gov.uk/your-local-councillor/ |url-status=live}}</ref><!-- The next elections are due to be held in May 2015.--> Each year, Folkestone Town Councillors attend the [[Annual General Meeting]] and Mayor-making ceremony to appoint both a Town Mayor and a Deputy Mayor from their number for the coming year.<ref>{{cite web |title=Council |url=http://www.folkestonetc.kentparishes.gov.uk/council/ |website=Folkestone Town Council |access-date=10 February 2018 |archive-date=11 February 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180211073826/http://www.folkestonetc.kentparishes.gov.uk/council/ |url-status=live}}</ref>