A Parish can mean two things; in the Christian church a Parish is a small administrative district having its own church and a priest or pastor but A parish is also the smallest unit of local government, constituted only in rural areas and is administered by Parish councillors. The two might be the same area or district or may have different geographic boundaries. As well as a parish council, there is a district council (in our case, Mole Valley DC, a county council (Surrey CC) and then Parliament with its elected MP's. Our Parish (Capel Parish) is made of three parts or wards: Beare Green, Coldharbour and Capel.

 

What powers & duties do parish councils have?

 

​Parish councils have a variety of powers and duties, all of which impact directly on the community.

The following are all under the remit of local councils:

 

Allotments 

Burial Grounds, Cemeteries, Churchyards and Crematoria 

Bus Shelters 

Bye-laws – the power to make bye-laws concerning:baths and washhouses (swimming pools), cycle parks, mortuaries and pleasure grounds 

Clocks – public clocks can be provided and must be maintained 

Community Centres, Conference Centres, Halls, Public Buildings 

Drainage – of ditches and ponds 

Entertainment and the Arts 

Footpaths 

General Spending – parish councils can spend a limited amount of money on anything they deem of benefit to the community that is not covered by the other specific responsibilities described in this list 

Gifts – parish councils may accept gifts ie, The parish Council may accept land from a individual for the use of a playground, orchard etc.

Highways – lighting, parking places, right to enter into discussions about new roads and road widening, consent of parish council required for diversion or discontinuation of highway, traffic signs and other notices, tree planting and verge maintenance 

Land – acquisition and sale of 

Legal proceedings – power to prosecute and defend any legal proceedings in the interests of the community, power to take part in any public enquiry 

Litter - provision of litter-bins and support for any anti-litter campaigns 

Planning – parish councils must be notified of, and display for residents, any planning applications for the area. Any comments submitted to the planning authority by the parish council must be taken into account 

Postal and Telecommunication Facilities – power to pay a public telecommunications operator any loss sustained in providing services in that area 

Public conveniences – provision and maintenance of public toilets 

Recreation – provision of recreation grounds, public walkways, pleasure grounds, open spaces, village greens, gymnasiums, playing fields, holiday camps and boating ponds 

Rights of Way – footpath and bridleway maintenance 

Seats (public) 

Signs – danger signs, place names and bus stops signs 

Tourism – financial contributions to any local tourist organisations allowed 

Traffic Calming 

War Memorials 

Water Supply – power to utilise stream, well or spring water and to provide facilities for general use

Maintaining Notice Boards