Stowmarket Town Council

Stowmarket Town Council is a parish council for the parish of Stowmarket in Suffolk, England.

Stowmarket Town Council
Type
Type	Town Council
Houses	Unicameral
Leadership
Mayor of Stowmarket	Cllr Barry Salmon, Labour Party since 2022
Deputy Mayor	Cllr Nick Gowrley, Conservative Party since 2022
Structure
Seats	16
Political groups	Conservative Party (5)   Labour Party (3)   Green Party (4)   Liberal Democrat (3)   Independent (1)
Length of term	4 years
Elections
Voting system	First past the post
Meeting place
Milton House
Website
http://stowmarket.org/

History

Formed in 1974 from the former Stowmarket Urban District Council, the Town Council serves a population of approximately 20,000 people in four wards. It is made up of 16 elected members backed up by a staff of over 30.

Its meetings usually take place on the first and third Wednesdays of the month in the historic John Milton Room, Milton House.

In 2014 it was criticised for trying to get money and land from Combs and Onehouse. In 2022 it received the Quality Gold Award of which 1% of parish councils have received.

The Town Council has six standing Committees which are:

• Audit & Governance Committee;
• Business Improvement Committee;
• Operations & Strategy Committee;
• Personnel Committee;
• Planning & Development Committee; and
• Regal Theatre Committee.

Current Councillors

• Nick Gowrley (Town Mayor) - Conservative Party
• Terence Carter (Deputy Town Mayor) - Green
• Colin Lay - Green
• Kate Yates - Green
• Darren Dordoy - Independent
• David Child - Liberal Democrat
• Kieran La-Thangue Clayton - Conservative Party
• Will Howman - Labour Party
• Steve Slodsik - Labour Party
• Alan Edwards - Independent
• Dave Muller - Conservative Party
• Miles Row - Green
• Heather Salmon - Labour Party
• Keith Scarff - Liberal Democrat
• James Patchett - Green
• Barry Salmon - Labour Party

List of Former Town Mayors

1. R.W. Hiron 1974
2. E. Jones 1974–1975
3. R.J. Pattle 1975–1976
4. Mrs. R.P. Jones 1976–1977
5. C.G. Soames MBE 1977–1978
6. G. M. Brewster 1978–1979
7. P. Olfield 1979–1980
8. F.H. Brooke 1980–1981
9. D. H. Hopgood 1981–1982
10. E.E.J. Nunn 1982–1983
11. G.A.J. Paton 1983–1984
12. W. Wright 1984–1985
13. R.J. Pattle 1985–1986
14. Mrs R.P. Jones 1986–1987
15. D.H.P. Perry 1987–1988
16. Mrs J.M. Cade 1988–1989
17. J.E. Shaw 1989–1990
18. E. Jones 1990–1991
19. Mrs E.A. Shaw 1991–1992
20. E.E.J. Nunn 1992–1993
21. W.F. Crane 1993–1994
22. R. D. Snell 1994–1995
23. G.A.J. Paton 1995–1996
24. Mrs M.S. Finbow 1996–1997
25. Mrs C.M. Burgess 1997–1998
26. Mrs H. Salmon 1998–1999
27. R.D. Snell 1999–2000
28. Mrs M.S. Finbow 2000–2001
29. J.A. Drake 2001–2002
30. K.E. Scarff 2002–2003
31. B.J. Salmon 2003–2004
32. G.A.J. Paton 2004–2005
33. Mrs L.M. Mayes 2005–2006
34. Mrs P.J.E. Robinson 2006–2007
35. F. Whittle 2007–2008
36. Mrs A.E.J. Whybrow 2008–2009
37. Mrs V I Waspe 2009–2010
38. Mrs P. J. E. Robinson 2010–2011
39. Mrs D. Ball 2011–2012
40. Mrs A.E.J. Whybrow 2012–2013
41. Mrs V.I. Waspe 2013–2014
42. G.M. Brewster 2014–2015
43. B.J. Salmon 2015–2016
44. Maj. B. Humphreys MBE 2016–2017
45. D. J. Muller 2017–2018
46. Mrs L. Baxter 2018–2019
47. P. Ekpenyong 2019–2021
48. K.E. Scarff 2021-2022
49. B.J. Salmon 2022-present