Chippenham Town Council

Based in the Town Hall, Chippenham Town Council primarily provides town based amenities and facilities. It is responsible for the Grade I listed Yelde Hall which houses the Tourist Information Centre, Grade II listed Town and Needle Halls, the Grade II listed Museum and Heritage Centre, Stanley Park Sports Ground, Chippenham Information Point, CCTV John Coles Park, rivers route, town markets, children's playgrounds, allotment sites, the London Road Cemetery, the town centre floral arrangements, top-up street cleaning, additional road gritting and oversees a number of traditional Civic and Ceremonial events, including Civic Sunday, Mayor Making and Remembrance Day.

The Town Council's award-winning John Coles Park, is also the venue for Chippenhams's annual Children's Fun Day held on the first Sunday in August, and Sunday afternoon band concerts throughout the summer months.

Chippenham Town Council organises a number of annual events including the town's Pancake Races and the Christmas Lights switch on ceremony held in November.

The Council is composed of 22 members (Councillors) representing the wards in the town of Chippenham. All Councillors are elected by the people of the town in a single election held every four years. The most recent election was held in May 2007. The Officers are the Council's paid employees and work for the authority as a whole.

The Town Mayor holds office from the Mayor Making ceremony of one year, generally held in May, until the ceremony of the following year. The Mayor is the first citizen of the town and has the opportunity to promote and uphold the specific character of Chippenham as well as presiding over meetings of the Full Council. Upon election the Mayor is also appointed President of several organisations such as Chippenham Sea Cadets TS Tiger, the Twinning Association and the Abbeyfield Chippenham Society. The Mayor also has opportunity to raise funds during their Year Of Office for his/her named charity. The leader of the majority group of the Town Council is automatically appointed as Leader of the Council at the first meeting of the standing committees for the following Municipal Year.