What We Do

What we must do

The law gives local parish councils a choice in the activities they undertake, but there are surprisingly few duties, or activities that we must carry out in delivering services to local people. We must:

Legal RequirementHow We Comply
Comply with our obligations under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, the Data Protection Act 1998 and the Equality Act 2010We publish details of our FOI process here. We contract out our Data Protection Officer role as explained here. We have not yet developed an Equality and Diversity policy.
Comply with employment lawWe undertake all necessary actions in the employment of our staff. We currently only employ one member of staff part time.
Consider the impact of our decisions on reducing crime and disorder in our areaWe are fortunate to have a relatively low crime rate in the parish. Very few Council actions have an impact on this issue but security and abuse opportunity are factors taken into account where appropriate when making decisions.
Have regard to the protection of biodiversity in carrying out our functions. Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act (NERC) 2006.Our draft biodiversity policy can be seen here.
Consider the provision of allotments if there is demand for them from local residents and it is reasonable to do soWe currently lease land to provide allotments as detailed here. We will investigate further provision opportunities if demand requires.
Decide whether to adopt a churchyard when it is closed, if asked to do so by the Parochial Church CouncilThe scenario has never arisen.

We also have a duty to ensure that all the rules for the administration of the council are followed. We must:

Administration RuleHow We Comply
Appoint a chairman of the councilWe do this at the start of the Annual Meeting of the Parish Council
Appoint officers as appropriate for carrying out its functionsWe do this at the Annual Meeting of the Parish Council
Appoint a responsible financial officer (RFO) to manage the council’s financial affairs; the RFO is often the clerkThe Clerk is the Council's Responsible Financial Officer
Appoint an independent and competent internal auditorWe do this prior to completing the Annual Return each year
Adopt a Code of ConductThe Code is available here
Hold a minimum number of four meetings per year, one of which must be the Annual Meeting of the CouncilThe Council's meeting schedule is available here

These rules are set out in law to guide the procedures of the council and we can add our own regulations. Together these rules make up the Standing Orders as formally agreed by the council.

What we could do

The Parish Council has powers to provide some services and facilities itself, or it can contribute towards their provision by others. The following is a list of common powers and duties that could be applied to the Parish Council.

FunctionPowers & DutiesStatutory Provisions
AllotmentsPowers to provide allotments.Small Holdings and Allotments Act 1908 ss 23, 26 & 42
Allotments Act 1950 s9
ArtsDevelop and improve knowledge of the arts and the crafts which serve the arts.Local Government Act 1972 s145
Bus SheltersPower to provide and maintain
shelters
Local Government Misc. Provisions Act 1953 s 4
Bus ServicesPower to make grants of money (though not of a capital nature) for bus service appearing to be
for the benefit of people living in the council’s area or community bus service
Local Government Rating Act 1997
CemeteriesProvision and maintenance of burial grounds, cemeteries or crematoria.Local Government Act 1972 s214
Chairman’s Allowance Power to pay the chairman a reasonable allowanceLocal Government Act 1972 s 15(5) and 35 (5)
Change of use of land Power to use land by a parish council for another purpose other than what it was acquired for.Local Government Act 1972 s 126
ChurchyardsPower to contribute to the costs of a churchyard in use and a duty to maintain any closed churchyard where the duty has been transferred by the Church.Local Government Act 1972 s215
ClocksProvision and maintenance of public clocks, on churches or elsewhere.Parish Councils Act 1957 s2
Commons & Common
Pastures
Powers in relation to enclosure as to regulation and management and as to
providing common pasture
Enclosure Act 1845; Local Gov Act 1894 s 8 (4); Smallholdings & Allotments Act 1908 s 34
Crime PreventionPower to install and maintain equipment with view to preventing and detecting crime in own area; may make grants of money to police authorities.Local Govt Rating Act 1997
DrainagePower to deal with ponds and
ditches
Public Health Act 1936 s 260
EntertainmentsProvision of any form of public entertainment and any premises for giving entertainment.Local Government Act 1972 s145
GiftsPower to acceptLocal Government Act 1972 s 139
HighwaysPower to repair and maintain public footpaths and bridleways.
Power to light roads and public places.

Provision of litter bins.
Power to provide parking places for vehicles, bicycles and motor cycles.
Power to enter into agreement as to dedication and widening.
Power to provide roadside seats and shelters and omnibus shelters.
Power to complain to district council as to protection of rights of way and roadside waste.
Consent of parish council required for ending maintenance of highway at public expense, or for stopping up or diversion of highway.
Power to provide traffic signs and other notices.
Power to plant trees etc and to maintain roadside verges.
Power to fund traffic calming measures.
Highways Act 1980 ss 43 50

Parish Councils Act 1957 s3
Highways Act 1980 s 301
Litter Act 1983 ss 56

Road Traffic Regulations Act 1984 ss 57, 63

Highways Act 1980 ss 30, 72

Parish Councils Act 1957 sl
Highways Act 1980 s 130
Highways Act 1980 ss 47, 116
InvestmentsPower to participate in schemes of collective investmentTrustee Investments Act 1961 s 11
Investigation and publicityPower to investigate the need for public passenger transport; the use and need for roads; the management and control of traffic.Local Government Rating Act 1997
LandPower to acquire land by
agreement, to appropriate, to dispose of Power to accept gifts of land.
Local Govt Act 1972 ss 124, 126, 127
Local Govt Act 1972 s 139
LightingProvision and maintenance of any footway lighting which lights road or pavements.Parish Councils Act 1957 s3
Local Government Act 1972 Sch 14 para 34
LitterProvision of receptaclesLitter Act 1983 ss 5,6
NewslettersProvision of information relating to matters affecting local government.Local Government Act 1972 s 142
NuisancesPower to deal with offensive
ditches
Public Health Act 1936 s 260
Open SpacesPower to acquire land and
maintain
Public Health Act 1987 s 164; Open Spaces Act 1906 ss 9&10
Parish Property and DocumentsPower to direct as to their
custody
Local Government Act 1972 s 226
Parking SpacesProvision and maintenance of car and cycle parksRoad Traffic Act 1984 s57
PondsPower to deal with ponds, pools or other places containg filth or other matter prejudicial to public health.Public Health Act 1936 s 260
Public Buildings and village hallsPower to provide buildings for offices and for public meetings and assembliesLocal Government Act 1972 s 133
Public inspection of documentsPublic have the right to inspect
certain documents
Local Government Act 1972 s 228
Roadside VergesPower to plant and maintain.Highways Act 1980 s116
RecreationPower to acquire land for or to provide recreation grounds, public walks, pleasure grounds and open spaces and to manage and control them.Public Health Act 1875 s 164; Local Govt Act 1972 Sched 14 para 27; Public Health Acts: Amendment Act 1890 s 44; Open Spaces Act 1906 s 9 & 10
SeatsProvision and maintenance of seats on the public highway.Parish Councils Act 1957 s1
SignsPower to erect signs which warn of dangers or announce a place name or indicate a bus stop.Parish Councils Act 1970 s3
StaffPower to appoint staff under reasonable terms and conditionsLocal Government Act 1972 s 112
Subscriptions to County ALC, NALC and other associationsPower to subscribe to local
government associations
Local Government Act 1972 s143
Subsidiary PowersThe power to do anything which is coincidental to the discharge of the council’s functionsLocal Government Act 1972 s 111
Town/County PlanningRight to be notified of planning applicationsTown and County Planning Act 1990 Sched 1 para 8
Traffic calming works, speed
cameras, CCTV cameras etc.
Power to contribute to
expenditure by highway
authority (principally County
Council) in constructing,
removing or maintaining traffic calming works, if it will be of benefit to the area.
Local Govt Rating Act 1997 s26-30
Village SignsPower to make and erect
ornamental village signs under the power to encourage visitors to the locality.
Local Gov Act 1972 s 144

What we actually do

In addition to what we must do, the Parish Council currently carries out the following activities:

ActivityFurther Details
Acts as a statutory consultee on applications for planning permission for certain types of development in its area.Details
Manages and maintains its assets, including the village greens and children's play areaDetails
Manages the amenity cutting of grass on the open spaces and verges in both villagesDetails
Provides allotment sites to village residentsDetails
Developing a Neighbourhood PlanDetails
Traffic ManagementDetails

Our Finances

The Parish Council is responsible for managing its own budget.  It is financed primarily through the precept, an amount of money calculated as an estimate for the coming financial year and collected as part of your Council Tax.

There is more detailed information about the finances of the Parish Council under the Our Finances menu option above.