Parish Council

What do we do?

PARISH COUNCIL – what it’s there for

Established in 1894, the parish council  is the first level of democracy in the country – councillors being elected  or co-opted from local people by local people to represent the interests of and to serve the local community. It is quite separate from a PCC (parochial church council) and is only concerned with non-secular matters.

The parish council is there to prioritise and respond to local needs and deal with a conflict of interests, if this should occur, in a reasoned and sensible way.  It wants to help improve the quality of life and the environment for people in the parish

It is a corporate body and any decisions taken are the responsibility of the whole council. The council has the power to raise money through taxation (the parish precept which you see as a separate item on your council tax bill) and a range of powers to spend public money.

Some of the main issues that councils deal with are: planning (the parish council is a statuory consultee for the Local Planning Authority), highways, traffic, community safety, allotments, cemeteries, playing fields, community centres and village halls, litter, war memorials, seats and shelters and rights of way.

Currently the government is encouraging councils to deliver more services and to play a greater part in their communities – and they can therefore give financial support to:

• Local transport  including transport to hospital
• Affordable housing
• Pond clearing
• Decoration of village halls
• Teenagers’ drop in club
• Summer festival

Who are we?

• The parish council comprises eight members elected by the residents every four years. For more information on your councillors’ click here
• The council is adminstered by the parish clerk.

  The Clerk to the Council is the Proper Officer of the Council and as such is under a statutory duty to carry out all the functions of a council’s Proper Officer, and in particular to serve or issue all the notifications required by law.

  The Clerk is responsible for ensuring that the instructions of the Council in connection with its function as a parish council are carried out.

  The Clerk is expected to advise the Council on, and assist in the formation of, overall policies to be followed in respect of the council’s activities, and in particular, to produce all the information required for making effective decisions and to implement constructively all decisions.

  The Clerk is the Responsible Financial Officer and accountable for all financial records of the Council and the proper administration of its finances.

  The Clerk is accountable to the Council for the effective management of all its resources and will report to them as and when required.

  The Clerk will understand the issues facing Parish Councils and the environment within which our Council operates, and will commit themselves and the Council to an ethos of public service.

When we meet

• For more details on the dates, times and venue of council meetings, please click here.