What is a Parish Council?
Parish or Town Councils are an important tier of Government within the UK; a Parish/Town Council is the smallest and most localised tier of local government in the UK and is a properly constituted local authority.
The powers and duties, and the manner in which a Parish Council operates are laid out in local government statute and regulations; Parish Councils operate at a level below national government and also below district and borough councils. Parish & Town Councils are elected and can help on a number of local issues, like planning applications or running local sports grounds and community halls.
The Parish Council has legal responsibilities as an employer, and sometimes as an owner of public land and buildings.
Parish Councils are Statutory Bodies, having powers under a number of different Acts (the Local Government Act 1972, the Public Health Act 1936, etc.). Only a few Councils need to use all their available powers. It is up to each Council to choose what is appropriate for the community they serve.
The Council raises funds by the annual Precept is set in January of each year. The amount required is guided by the setting of the annual budget in the November preceding.
The Parish Council precept is added to the Council Tax bill and collected by *** (on behalf of the Parish Council).
The Council also raises funds through grants from other organisations.
There are 7 Parish Councillors who are responsible for various activities in the village including street lights, verges within the village, maintenance of the Village Green and the Playing Fields and the play and exercise equipment. We also have a footpaths officer to monitor parish footpaths.
There are three main committees and Agendas for these committees will be published in the Agenda section. Current Membership is shown next to each one.
- Finance Committee – Members: Councillor Richard White, Councillor Robert Powers, Councillor Alan Routledge.
- Planning Committee – Members: Councillor Robert Powers, Councillor Alan Routledge, Councillor Geoff Nurse and Councillor Mark Hughes.
- Personnel Committee – Members: Councillor Robert Powers, Councillor Geoff Nurse and Councillor Eleanor McMillan.
We will endeavour to keep the information provided on our own site accurate and up to date.
If you spot any errors or omissions please contact us by email so that we can investigate and correct.
There are Working Groups for Affordable Housing and for the Playing field