Ramsgate could get its own town council as early as next year, if district councillors vote in favour of the idea on Thursday.

Thanet council is expected to approve an order beginning the process of forming the authority, although elections would not take place until at least September 2009.

More than a quarter of Ramsgate residents said that they would support a new town council when a referendum was held two years ago.

The new body would be able to speak on planning applications affecting the town, undertake small local projects for the benefit of residents and take on some of the district council’s responsibilities, such as the maintenance of public toilets and flower borders.

Council tax payers living in a Band D property can expect to pay around £20 per year for the privilege - more than double the amount currently payable to the Ramsgate Charter Trustees.

At that level, the town council would collect more than £580,000 every year.

Richard Samuel, chief executive of Thanet council, said: “We’ve taken an enormous amount of trouble to make sure that this is what the people of Ramsgate want.

“We’d hope that the town council would be sensible about the amount it charges local people because we don’t want to see residents paying any more council tax than they have to.”