Committees

Lewes Town Council’s current committees and working parties are listed on this page where you can see our committee calendar, as well as agendas and minutes for meetings.

The council meets approximately every five weeks. Planning applications are considered by a standing committee that meets every three weeks to agree local comments on applications being submitted to the planning authority (the South Downs National Park Authority).

There are also functional panels for internal matters including personnel, audit and governance, oversight of the All Saints and Malling Community Centres, and a Grants Panel, which assesses community grant applications four times each year.

All Saints Centre Steering Group

This steering group helps the direct management of the All Saints Centre, remaining true to the original church covenant requiring it to be used as a community arts and youth centre.

Allotments service working party

This working party focuses upon rules and guidance that accord with the council’s priority of environmentally-sound practices that address current anomalies, and that encourage allotment holders wishing to engage more fully with sound environmental practices.

Audit and Governance Panel

The Audit and Governance Panel is delegated authority to carry out on behalf of the council those aspects of the prevailing national audit and governance regime that call for member oversight of details (eg routine bank reconciliation to ledgers, and recommendations to write-off bad debt).

Buildings Working Party

This committee addresses the continuing volume of noteworthy commemorations foreseeable in the next few years.

Commemorations and Events Committee

This committee addresses the continuing volume of noteworthy commemorations foreseeable in the next few years.

Council

Lewes Town Council is the parish council for the civil parish of Lewes. It is a statutory body consisting of eighteen representatives who are elected every four years

Devolution Working Party

This working party is tasked wis steering group is tasked with general strategic oversight of Malling Community Centre’s operations.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Working Party

Managing the council's commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion.

Finance Working Party

This working party makes recommendations for service expenditure budgets and considers amendments to fees and charges.

Grants Panel

The panel is tasked to assess applications for financial grant, following principles of the council’s Community Grants Scheme, and to make recommendations to council.

Landport Bottom Management Committee

This committee oversees Landport Bottom and the high level of interest and practical involvement from within the community. This committee has eight members.

Malling Community Centre Steering Group

is steering group is tasked with general strategic oversight of Malling Community Centre’s operations.

Open Council Working Party

This working party exists to identify methods for improved public engagement and greater provision of information to residents of Lewes.

Pells Land Exchange Working Party

This working party exists to consider in detail the land-swap proposal made by Lewes District Council in respect of land held by the Town Brook Trust.

Pells Pool Community Association Liaison

The working party helps maintain our working relationship with the Pells Pool Community Association (PPCA), who are licensed to manage the swimming pool each summer. Any councillor is welcome to attend the occasional meetings of this group.

Personnel Panel

This panel will meet if required to consider matters of staff discipline or grievance; new or amended policy requirements or proposals related to staff pay and conditions, and recruitment and appraisal of the Town Clerk

Planning and Conservation Committee

The Planning and Conservation Committee usually meets every three weeks, and three weekly lists of local applications are considered at each meeting. The committee is notified of all planning applications within the parish, and offers local comment on applications, which must be given due consideration by the deciding authority.

Transport Committee

This working party was set up to work with statutory bodies (including Lewes District and East Sussex County Councils), agencies, community groups and stakeholders on transport related issues.

UN Sustainable Development Goals Working Party

This working party was established to monitor the UN Sustainable Development Goals, a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure that all people enjoy peace and prosperity.

Public attendance at Lewes Town Council meetings

Members of the public have the right, and are welcome, to attend meetings of the council and its committees and working parties.

Lewes Town Council is always willing to listen to the public concerning matters which affect the town of Lewes and allows any member of the public to address the council or its committees. Questions regarding items on the agenda or requests to address the committee may be heard at the start of each meeting, with the chair’s consent, subject to time available. A period of 15 minutes is allowed at each of the committee meetings for the public to address the council. Where possible, notice of intention to address the council should be given to the Town Clerk with at least 24 hours notice.

Questions are often asked about matters that are not within the remit of Lewes Town Council. This can delay a response, so if you are intending to ask a question, we would recommend that you check what services Lewes Town Council, Lewes District Council and East Sussex County Council cover before asking your question. This information can be found on the what we do page of this website with services covered by the District and County Councils at the bottom of the page.

For more information on attending public meetings and asking questions at meetings, please contact us.