There are twelve elected council members who represent residents in the town of Fordingbridge. At the Annual Council meeting, held at the end of May each year, the Council elects a new Mayor and Deputy Mayor.

The Town Clerk, Paul Goddard (F/T), is the executive officer for the Town Council leading a team of operational and administrative staff consisting of an Assistant Town Clerk (P/T), a Responsible Financial Officer (P/T), two Information Officers (P/T) and two outside grounds and maintenance staff(F/T) who maintain the land and buildings owned by the Town Council.

The Council Tax paid by Fordingbridge Households includes the spending requirements of the New Forest District Council, Hampshire Police and Fordingbridge Town Council. Many people do not realise that the Town Council does not receive any revenue support from central government, neither does it receive any funding from local businesses and retailers by their payment of the non-domestic rate.

Each year the Town Council agrees its precept to raise the budget to provide its services to the residents of Fordingbridge Town. This is the sum Fordingbridge Town Council levy on the New Forest District Council and which is collected by them as a proportion of the total Council Tax paid by Fordingbridge households.

Council meetings normally take place on Wednesday evenings, commencing at 7.30pm.  The Annual Town Assembly is held on a Wednesday in April each year. Agendas for meetings are published three working days in advance of the meeting and placed on the Town Council notice board at The Town Hall and at the Information Office which can be found at the following locations:-

  • Fordingbridge Town Hall, 63 High St, Fordingbridge
  • Fordingbridge Information Office, Kings Yard, Salisbury Street, Fordingbridge

The Press and public are welcome to attend all meetings and time is set aside at the start of the Committee meetings for comments and questions from members of the public and at the end of Full Council meetings. Members of the public can also speak prior to the start of a specific agenda item with the permission of the Chairman.