the town has a parish council and although it is a town and has a town hall, the parish council has not exercised its right to be called a town council. the parish consists of four wards and elects 14 councillors: ilkley north (3 councillors), ilkley south (3), ilkley west (4) and ben rhydding (4). the parish council precept is collected with the annual council tax to fund its running and to aid the development of local projects.