Why create a Parish Council ?

 

. Gives your community a democratic voice

. The Government recognises the benefits of grass roots democracy

. Get things done in your local area

 

Responsibilities

 

Councils do not have responsibilities they have powers & duties.  A power is when they may do something,  whereas a duty is  something they must do.

 

Code of Conduct

 

Every councillor must agree to and sign The Code of Conduct. It applies to all councillors whether elected or co-opted. 

 

The code of conduct does not apply to the clerk, officers or employees of the council.  They are covered by the anti corruption provisions of the 1972 Local Government Act.

 

Meetings

 

Councils decisions may only be made in properly called and constituted meetings of the council, its committees and sub committees.  A valid public notice of the meeting and councillor summons is required for ALL council meetings.  Councillors MUST receive details of the meeting's business (an agenda).

 

What is a parish meeting?

 

A Parish Meeting must not be confused with a meeting of the parish.  Parish Meetings have a Chairperson, but take their decisions by calling a meeting of all residents in the Parish.  Parish Meetings only exists in the smallest of Parishes, with less than 150 electors.

 

All meetings of the council, its committees and sub sommittees are open to the press and public.  Since 1972 Councils no longer have closed or confidential meetings.  In limited circumstances councils may exclude the press and public.

 

Finance - The Parish Precept

 

Town and parish councils do not need to trade or raise funds as they have the power to tax their residents.  This is known as the parish precept.  It is collected as part of a residents council tax bill.

 

Elections

 

Councillors serve a 4 year term of office.  Elections are held every 4 years and these are known as ordinary elections.  If a person stops being a councillor during their term of office this creates a casual vacancy.

 

Where there is a casual vacancy a by-election must be called.  If there are no candidates willing to stand at a by-election then a council may use its powers of co-option.

 

Your Rights as an elector in a Parish

 

​To stand for election as a councillor if you meet the legal criteria,

To vote and elect a parish councillor within your ward,

To attend and record all council, cmmittee and sub committee meetings unless a specific legal process is flowwed to exclude the public and the press,

To access and view all council, committee and sub-committee minutes irrespective of whether they are draft or not at any resonable time,

To view and inspect all books of account and accounting records of the council for a specific time period after the publication of the notice of completion of the audit,

To call for an election with other electors where a casual vancancy exists,

To call for a meeting of the parish with other electors,

To attend and vote at meeting of the parish*,

To call for a parish poll, ballot or referendum at a meeting of the parish,

To call for the dissolution of a council with other electors,

 

*Note: A meeting of the parish is not a parish council meeing but a meeting of electors within the parish.