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The importance of nourishing a local community ad connecting neighbours has never been more important. Martlesham Council provides local services, help and support for residents, local business, organisations and events. The Council also provides a selection of amenities within the parish including the Recreation Ground, The Common Nature Reserve, a Community Orchard, 4 Playgrounds, Bike Trails, as well as many peaceful walks to be enjoyed by all on two legs or four! We provide and manage litter and fido bins, seats, noticeboards, benches and bus shelters. All this achieved by our hard working councillors who give up their time for free for the good of the local community. Why not check out what our Councillors are doing for you….
What Does the Parish Council Do?
- Meets regularly to discuss, deliver and advise on local issues and local services. We add the 'local' to local Government.
- Supports and encourages ongoing community engagement
- Maintains devolved assets at a local level
- Supports the economic diversity and prosperity of the Parish
- Reviews, consults and responds to planning applications and financial expenditure proposals affecting the Parish
How long do the Councillors serve?
Council elections are held every 4 years and Councillors generally serve term of office for 4 years unless they choose to stand down earlier. Our Parish Councillors elected at the May 2023 elections are as follows: Laurence Burrows, Helen Davey, Jane Hall, Mike Irwin, Ian O’Brien Baker, Richard Staines, Edward Thompson, and Paul Whitby.
Dave Parsons was co-opted in January 2024.
Parish Council Statement of Persons Nominated and Notice of Uncontested Election: Martlesham Parish Ward Martlesham West Parish Ward
The vacancies may be filled by co-option. This means that if you thought of standing but didn’t get around to it, there is still an opportunity to become a councillor! All Councillors are required to adhere to a Code of Conduct to uphold standards of Public Office. Our Councillors are unpaid and give their time voluntarily to benefit the community.
Register of Parish Councillors Interests: East Suffolk Council
How is the Parish Council Structured?
Martlesham Parish Council is the first tier of Local Government and we like to think we put the 'Local' in to Local Government. It is the tier closest to local communities. It meets to agree action, policies and/or expenditure for the benefit of the parish of Martlesham.
(The next tier is the District Council and then the County Council.)
We have 3 committees to focus on more detailed aspects:
- Development, Environment and Transport , to deal with planning and related consultations;
- Recreation and Amenities, to deal with providing and maintaning facilities in the parish, and
- Finance and General Purposes, to help manage financial and legal matters.
All Council and Committee meetings are open to the public and there is a standing agenda item where the public may raise matters of concern.
We also have a number of working groups to address specific issues.
Current working groups are:
- Portal Woodlands Conservation Group. This manages the work programmes and educational activities carried out to the benefit of all users for the PCWG area.
- Martlesham Common Working Group.This group was set up to help integrate Mill Heath with The Common. It also works closely with the Greenways Conservation Group on management plans for the area using volunteers and professional assistance from time to time funded by the Recreations and Amenities committee budget when grants are not available. We have had grants in the past from Butterfly Conservation to help with the management of bracken
- Martlesham Climate Group - to coordinate promote and manage all things climate related affecting and impacting the Parish.
- Martlesham Wombles - to litter pick.
- Sports Fund Working Group. This group was created to assess the demand for sports facilities and determine how any funding might best be spent. It is currently working on our proposed trim trail facility for Martlesham.
- Community Orchard Working Group. A group to coordinate work on the community orchard.
- Brightwell Lakes Working Group. To research the planning issues behind the anticipated planning applications coming out of the Brightwell Lakes Development.
- Martlesham Village Fete Working Group. To plan and organise the annual village fete.
- Volunteers Working Group. This group manages our volunteer activity.
- Wildflower Project Working Group - A Working Group to promote and support biodiversity projects within the Parish.
- Speed Indicator Device Project - This group manages our volunteer activity operating and reporting on the mobile SIDS devices within the Parish.
- Recreation Ground and Kronji's Piece Working Group - to manage Martlesham Recreation Ground and the play equipment at Kronji's Piece.
The chairman calls an Annual Parish meeting once a year (usually in April) to explain the work of the Council, to facilitate local organisations meeting the public, and to gather views which might guide the Council in its work plan. There are many other Groups,forums and meeting we regularly attend concerning Parish matters, aside from the Parish Council committees and groups listed here.