What is a Parish Council and why become a Parish Councillor for Clutton?
What is a Parish Council?
A parish council is a local authority that makes decisions on behalf of the people in the parish. It is the level government closest to the community, with the district authority (Bath & North East Somerset -B&NES) above it in the hierarchy. As it is the authority closest to the people, parish councils are invariably the first place people will go with concerns or ideas. For this reason they are a vital part of any community.
Why become a Parish Councillor?
If you’ve never been to a parish council meeting before, you may be forgiven for thinking that parish councillors are a group of people who meet now and then in the village hall. If, however, something ‘big’ has happened near you, you’ll know that when people in the community need support and guidance, it is sometimes the parish council that is turned to.
By becoming a parish councillor you become someone your community will look to for help, guidance and support, a community leader with the power to influence decisions for the benefit of the people you serve. Seeing your community change for the better, as a result of decisions you have helped make, is something that can give you a sense of achievement and pride.
A Parish Council works best when its members represent the wide and varying views of the people in the Community. If you don’t feel that your views are currently represented then you should put yourself forward or identify a potential councillor that would represent your interests and nominate them.
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, managing open spaces (eg The Playground, the Allotments, Clutton Station Park) and campaigning for and delivering better services and facilities.
It’s true to say that on their own, 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 B&NES, health authorities, police etc).
In this respect parish councils are extremely powerful. The organisations that make the final decisions know that a parish council gives the best reflection of how a community feels about something, and its views will be taken seriously.
How much time does it take up?
Councils usually meet once a month for the council meeting, to which members of the public are also invited. Meetings may last two or three hours, depending on the agenda set for the meeting to discuss. We also have committees and working groups to deal with specific subjects, such as the development of Station Park. In addition to the regular meetings, councillors are required to attend other meetings, representing the council, for example acting as a representative on an outside body (Village Hall Committee, Avon Local Councils Association, or Clutton United Charities), community activities (The Queens Platinum Jubilee) or helping develop a new project for the community (Clutton Station Park). Such meetings won’t happen every day, so it’s not going to take over your life.
How long does a parish councillor serve for?
Once elected, parish councillors sit on the council for a maximum of four years. If they then want to stay in the post they can stand for re-election.
Am I eligible to be a Parish Councillor?
Anyone can be elected as a Councillor* if they are:
• A British, Commonwealth, Irish, or European Union citizen
• At least 18 years old
• Either on the list of electors for the parish, or during the whole of the previous twelve months has:
– Occupied land in the parish as an owner or tenant
– Had a principal place of work in the parish
– Resided in, or within three miles, of the parish
*Please be aware a person is however disqualified from being a Councillor if they:
a) hold any paid employment or office in the local authority that they seek election to or
b) are the subject of a ‘bankruptcy restrictions order’ or other interim order or
c) have, within five years before the day of election or since their election, been convicted of
any offence and has had passed on them a sentence of imprisonment of at least three months
(whether suspended or not) without the option of a fine or
d) has been found guilty of corrupt or illegal practices or responsible for incurring unlawful
expenditure and the court ordered their disqualification.
You don’t have to be connected to a political party. (on Clutton PC we don’t really mention political allegiances!) If you do become a parish councillor you will have to sign up to the Code of Conduct.
If you meet the criteria listed above you are eligible to stand for election or if you know someone that you think would make an excellent councillor you can nominate them. A vacancy may arise between elections due to the resignation of a Councillor. If a vacancy arises it will be advertised on the Parish noticeboard and you can apply by writing to the Clerk.
What powers do parish councils have?
They have a wide range of powers which essentially related to local matters, such as looking after open space, allotments, play areas, street lighting, the village car park and much more. The council also has the power to raise money through taxation, the precept. The precept is the parish council’s share of the council tax. The precept demand goes to the billing authority, B&NES, which collects the tax for the parish council.
Parish Duties
Clutton Parish Council has 13 Councillors who stand for election every four years. The duties and functions of a parish council are many and varied.
The Council meets monthly on the third Monday of the month, and considers planning applications and any other matters referred to it by local residents, B&NES and by central government. All meetings are open to the public and during public submissions before the start of the meeting, members of the public can raise concerns and ask questions. There is also an annual meeting which all parishioners are invited to attend. All meetings are advertised on the council notice boards and website. Residents can bring to the attention of the parish council anything that concerns them, either directly or through the clerk. If matters raised are not the responsibility of the council, the clerk can bring them to the attention of the proper authority.
Don’t take our word for it!
The best way to find out what it’s like to be a parish councillor is to talk to someone who’s doing it now. Come along to a parish council meeting, or speak to one of our councillors and find out what they think of the job. Contact Clerk@clutton-pc.gov.uk for more information or submit a statement explaining why you would make a great Parish Councillor.