A Guide to your Parish Council
Responsibilities
Parish and Town Councils are part of local government in Nottinghamshire together with Nottinghamshire County Council and the Rushcliffe Borough District Council.
The County Council is responsible for strategic services such as highways, education, libraries, social services, strategic planning and refuse disposal.
District councils are responsible for local services including housing, local planning, environmental health and refuse collection.
Parish and Town Councils are viewed as the part of government closest to the people. They are the only local government tier that represents residents at parish level.
Importantly Parish Councils can ‘precept’ - raising a council tax each year to improve facilities and services for local people.
Their powers and duties cover many things that we take for granted in making for comfort and well being where we live. They include the provision and maintenance of allotments, recreational and open spaces, halls, litter bins, street furniture, rights of way and some street lighting.
Parish Councils also comment on planning applications and can be represented at public inquiries.
Similarly they advise the County and District authorities on the views of residents, and especially priorities for local investment.
All Parish Council meetings are in public. They are led by the Council’s Chairman and advised by a Clerk who is there to see that business is conducted within the law.
What can I expect from my Parish Council
Your elected Councillors are here to make a difference! There are 9 Councillors serving the Parish of Cropwell Bishop, They are elected to serve for four years (unless co-opted) and at the end of that period they should be able to look back on a range of achievements that had their basis in a plan for the Parish. Examples for Cropwell Bishop might be:-
* Successfully obtaining grant funding for improvements to
the Play Areas & The Old School.
* Identifying land for affordable housing
* Youth Development schemes and recreation
* Campaigning for a better environment, road safety and
reducing the fear of crime
* Being represented at a local planning inquiry
* Setting up a Speed Watch scheme
* Joining the Parish Paths partnership scheme
* The purchase and improvements of The Old School
* The instigation and support of the Parish Plan which led to
the creation of many community groups.
* The provision of allotments
* Achieving Quality Status and The Power of Wellbeing
Vitally your local council makes a difference by making your views known to other bodies and councils e.g. when being consulted about planning issues or changes in services.
Can the Parish Council help?
The Clerk and Councillors can provide a wide range of advice and if not able to deal with your enquiry personally, can often help you to find the right organisation to deal with your problem or queries.
Grants
Did you know that the Parish Council can give grants to a wide range of local organisations and individuals?
Where else can I go for help?
Rushcliffe Borough Council 0115 9819911 Nottinghamshire County Council 08449 808080
What are the hallmarks of a good council?
Imaginative agendas, encouragement of open debate and getting people involved are the hallmarks of an achieving council.
Your Council will work to a set of standards, for example:-
* Meetings must be in public and agendas published.
* There will be rules of business conduct, finance and
personal conduct of Councillors.
* Communication and consultation policies will be in
place.
* Forward planning and budgeting of future projects
will be a regular feature of meetings and dealings
with the community.
* The Council will work in harmony with other
groups in the Parish.
The Parish Clerk
The role of the Clerk is to administer the Council’s business and advise on the work the Council wants to do. The Clerk is often the first point of contact for the Council. You can expect a courteous, timely and friendly response.
Should I get Involved?
Most people care about where they live, the quality of the local environment and the small things that we take for granted but are important for a balanced, high quality lifestyle.
Getting involved helps your local council to know what you feel and need. Better still getting involved adds your skills and know how to the Parish Team effort.
Local democracy is a two way affair. A good Council will hope you take an interest and ask questions about the things that matter most. It’s helpful to attend council meetings—good councils have a ‘public participation’ item on the agenda. Cropwell Bishop Parish Council welcomes your contribution—likewise community groups.
Parish Meetings
1st Tuesday of the Month
7.30pm—The Old School
Exceptions:
No Meeting Held in August.
January (2nd Tuesday)
Elections
If you like being involved in community issues then why not consider being an elected Councillor—joining the decision making team. Parish elections happen every 4 years and in between there may be elections to fill casual vacancies. No formal qualifications are needed but there are rules to satisfy if you are to be a Councillor.
How much time will it take?
All Councils must meet at least 4 times per year. Cropwell Bishop is a very busy Council and meets formally once a month, but does have working group meetings in between as it is an extremely active council with a lot of business to get through.
The next Parish elections take place in May 2011, Want to know more then contact the Parish Clerk for details, or alternatively Rushcliffe Borough Councils Electoral Division.
