Hastingleigh Parish Council consists of five Parish Councillors, all residents of Hastingleigh Parish.

The Parish Council is supported in its duties by the Parish Clerk, who for many statutory purposes is known as the 'Proper Officer'.

The Parish Clerk is usually the main point of contact for both parishioners and for organisations outside the parish.

The full Parish Council usually meets at least six times per annum and at each of these meetings parishioners and members of the public are given the opportunity to raise any matters with the Council.  In addition, various committee and sub-committee meetings occur as required.

The parish holds an Annual Parish Meeting at which parishioners may raise any matters of concern or interest to them.  In addition, ad hoc Parish Meetings may be held to address specific issues.   Hastingleigh Parish Council operates on a non-party political basis with each Councillor voting solely according to his conscience.  The Parish Council has adopted both the National Code of Conduct and the Freedom of Information Act.

For the last 100 years local democracy has been served by the Parish Meeting and the Parish Council operating within the jurisdiction of Ashford Borough Council and Kent County Council.