 He was also politically active, winning election to Durham County Council in 1903, and later also becoming the chair of Brandon and Byshottles Urban District Council.Charlton was keen on the creation of retirement homes for miners, and was involved in the Durham Aged Miners' Homes' Association.He also chaired the Durham County Mining Federation Board, and the National Federation of Colliery Enginemen and Boiler Firemen, spending a short period in the 1890s as general secretary of this organisation.