What is a Parish Council?
A parish council is a local authority that makes decisions on behalf of the people in the parish and has an overall responsibility for the well-being of its local community. It is the level government closest to the community, with the district authority above it in the hierarchy.
A Parish Council’s work falls into three main categories:
- representing the local community
- delivering services to meet local needs
- striving to improve the quality of life in the parish
This is achieved by:
- Decisions: through attending meetings and committees with fellow parish councillors to decide which activities to support, where money should be spent, what services should be delivered and what policies should be implemented.
- Monitoring: parish councillors make sure that their decisions lead to efficient and effective services by keeping an eye on how well things are working.
- Community involvement: as local representatives, parish councillors have responsibilities towards their fellow parishioners and local organisations.
The day-to-day work of a parish councillor will include:
- Attending meetings of bodies that affect the wider community, such as the police, the Highways Authority, schools and colleges
- Taking up issues on behalf of members of the public, such as making representations to the city and county council
- Running information events and allowing time for residents to bring up issues
What Decisions do Parish Councils Make?
Parish councils make all kinds of decisions on issues that affect the local community. Probably the most common topics that parish councils get involved with are planning matters (they are statutory consultees), crime prevention, helping local groups, managing open spaces, grant making and campaigning for and delivering better services and facilities.
Parish councils have limited powers to make decisions, but they do have the ability to negotiate with, and the power to influence, those other organisations that do make the final decisions such as the borough or unitary council, health authorities, police etc.
Why Become a Parish Councillor?
By becoming a parish councillor you become someone your community will look to for help, guidance and support a community representative with the power to influence decisions for the benefit of the people you serve.
How Much Time Does it Take Up?
Councils usually meet once every six weeks the full council meetings to which members of the public can attend. Meetings may last two or three hours, depending on the agended items to discuss. Broughton also has a finance committee and specific cllrs that deal with specific subjects, such as environmental issues.
How Long Does a Parish Councillor Serve For?
Once elected, parish councillors sit on the council for of four years, they can then stand for re-election.
Who can be a Parish Councillor?
You have to be:
- A British subject or a citizen of the Commonwealth
- Over 18 years of age
- On the electoral register for the parish for which you want to stand
- Live in the Parish or within 3 miles of it for the last twelve months
You cannot stand for election if you:
- Are subject of a bankruptcy restriction order or interim order.
- Within five years before the day of the election, been convicted in the United Kingdom of any offence and have had a sentence of imprisonment (whether suspended or not) for a period of over three months without the option of a fine.
- You work for or are contracted as an individual to the parish council
If you do become a parish councillor you will have to sign up to the Code of Conduct.
Currently there are five Cllrs supported by the clerk who is also the responsible finance officer
- Cllr Pat Hastings
- Cllr Lynda Oldcorn
- Cllr Nigel Parkinson
- Cllr Les Brown
- Cllr Mark Bell
Jess Dibble: clerk