The Town Council consists of 18 Councillors who represent seven Wards.
Each year the Council elects from their number a Town Mayor.
The Council conducts its business through five standing Committees and a Personnel Sub-Committee which deals with staffing and employment issues. Committees and Full Council generally meet every two months.
“I was born in Scotland in 1993 and moved here in 1995 and have lived in Shepway since I was two.
I gained GCSEs and an NVQ.
I have worked in hospitality since I was 16, working front of house in pubs restaurants and hotels, taking a break since having my second child.
I have three children, 9 and under, two of which are autistic. One attends a mainstream with SRP provision and one a specialist school.
I have experience with dealing with the diagnosis route alongside EHCP application.
I am on Climate and Environment, Community Services and Grants Committees at the Town Council.
I am committed to helping the youth and SEN of our community especially.”
The Mayor’s chosen charities are East Folkestone Youth Club and Community Network and Donation Station.
For further information or to attend any of the Mayor’s Charity Events, please visit our Meetings & Events page, click on the event you are interested in and fill out the online form if you would like to attend.
Each year the Town Mayor recognises individuals with the Town Mayor’s Community Awards. Who is your local community hero? Do you know any individuals who deserve credit for their effort, strength, bravery or achievement? Or someone who has achieved something, which benefits their local community or even the whole Town?
Please download the form and nominate someone you think deserves recognition.
The Mayor welcomes invitations to attend events held by local organisations. Should you wish to invite the Mayor please email (below) or send an invitation in writing to: The Town Mayor’s Parlour, The Town Hall, 1-2 Guildhall Street, Folkestone, Kent, CT20 1DY.
Due to demand it may not always be possible to attend every event and it is recommended to give as much notice as possible. However, if the Mayor is available, you will be contacted in time for your event.
How to greet the Mayor. When greeting the Town Mayor, Councillor Lucy McGirr, it is correct to address her as ‘Mr Mayor’, for example, “Good evening Mr Mayor”. In a speech the Town Mayor should be addressed as ‘The Worshipful Town Mayor of Folkestone, Councillor Lucy McGirr’. For further information please contact:
Folkestone Town Council offers educational sessions with the Town Mayor for schools and local youth and community groups that would like to find out more about the role of the Mayor, and how the mayoralty links into the history of the Town.
Some of the subjects covered in these sessions include when the Town Council was formed, information on some of the Civic insignia such as the Great Mace and Chain of Office etc and the various roles within the Mayoralty.
These sessions can be tailored to suit your group’s needs. If you would like to book a session to visit the Mayor, or find out further details, please contact:
Since 1974 applications have been welcomed each year around November from residents of Folkestone to apply to the Town Mayor of Folkestone’s Christmas Fund for assistance with their winter expenses. Prior to 1974 this was known as the Mayor’s Coal Fund and gifts of coal were distributed to those eligible.
Each year local businesses and individuals make donations to the Mayor’s Christmas Fund and payments are then sent in January to residents aged 75 and over who fall within a certain financial criteria, as agreed by the Town Mayor of Folkestone’s Christmas Fund Committee.
Any organisation or individual who wishes to make a donation, however small, can do so by addressing it to the Town Mayor of Folkestone, Folkestone Town Council, The Town Hall, 1-2 Guildhall Street, Folkestone, Kent, CT20 1DY.
Cheques should be made payable to ‘The Town Mayor’s Christmas Fund’ or via BACs to the same account (Account No. 08616639 Sort Code 52-41-42).
Application forms for 2025 will be available at the end of the year.
Folkestone Town Council signed up to the Armed Forces’ Covenant on 16 March 2017. Committing to honour the Armed Forces Covenant and support the Armed Forces Community, recognising the value serving personnel, both regular and reservists, veterans and military families contribute to our business and country.
Folkestone Town Council has always been an ‘Armed Forces Friendly’ organisation and actively promotes the Armed Forces and Cadets via a strong programme of civic and community events which evidences how they Respect and Remember. For example the Council hold annual services and events for Normandy D-Day, Armed Forces Day, Canada Day, VJ Day, Battle of Britain Day and Remembrance Day Services.
The Council has received a Bronze Award from the Armed Forces’ Covenant Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) in acknowledgement of its support.