What is a Parish Council?
Parish or Town Councils are an important tier of Government within the UK; a Parish Council is the smallest and most localised tier of local government in the UK and is a properly constituted local authority.
The powers and duties, and the manner in which a Parish Council operates are laid out in local government statute and regulations; Parish Councils operate at a level below national government and also below district and borough councils. Parish Councils are elected and can help on a number of local issues, such as planning applications or running local sports grounds and community halls.
The Parish Council has legal responsibilities as an employer, and sometimes as an owner of public land and buildings.
Parish Councils are Statutory Bodies, having powers under a number of different Acts (the Local Government Act 1972, the Public Health Act 1936, etc.). Only a few Councils need to use all their available powers. It is up to each Council to choose what is appropriate for the community they serve.
The Council raises funds by the annual Precept is set in January of each year. The amount required is guided by the setting of the annual budget in the November preceding.
The Parish Council precept is added to the Council Tax bill and collected by Central Bedfordshire Council (on behalf of the Parish Council).
The Council also raises funds through grants from other organisations.
Parish Councillors – We will endeavour to keep the information provided on our own site accurate and up to date.
If you spot any errors or omissions please contact us by email so that we can investigate and correct.
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 a draughty village hall.
If, however, you live in a community when something big has or is about to happen, you’ll know that’s when people in the community need support and guidance and it’s the parish council that you turn to.
As 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 will give you a sense of achievement and pride.
For more information please see the Maulden Parish Council (MPC) Parish Councillor Description below.
What decisions do Parish Councils make?
Probably the most common topics that parish councils get involved with are planning matters (they are statutory consultees), crime prevention, managing open spaces, and campaigning for and delivering better services and facilities.
On their own, parish councils have limited powers to make decisions. However, they do have the ability to negotiate with, and the power to influence, those other organisations that do make the final decisions so, 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 our views are taken seriously.
Parish Duties
Maulden Parish Council has up to 12 councillors, currently there are six elected councillors and the others have been co-opted – asked to serve.
The duties and functions of a parish council are many and varied so it is an interesting position to hold.
We meet every five weeks (except August) and meetings may last up to two hours, depending upon the items on the agenda to be discussed. All meetings are advertised on the council notice board.
We discuss and decide upon planning applications and any other matters, such as the Recreation Ground, Allotments, Streetwatch, etc, and issues referred to the council by local residents.
There is also an annual parish meeting to which all parishioners are invited.
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.
How much time does it take up?
In addition to the regular meetings, some councillors have specific duties (portfolios) requiring them to attend other meetings to represent the council, eg acting as a representative on an outside body, or helping develop a new project for the community. Such meetings don’t happen often, 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 term of four years. If they then want to stay in the post they can stand for re-election. Councillors can also be co-opted. This requires the prospective candidate to write a brief resumé and attend a parish meeting for a short informal interview. The serving councillors will then take a vote and appoint the most suitable candidate.
Am I eligible to be a Parish Councillor?
To be able to become a councillor for Maulden Parish Council, you must:
Be at least 18 years old.
Be a UK or Commonwealth citizen, or a citizen of the Republic of Ireland.
Be an elector of the parish; or in the past 12 months have occupied (as owner or tenant) land or other premises in the parish; or work in the parish (as your principal or only place of work); or live within three miles of the parish boundary.
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.
Maulden Parish Council (MPC) Parish Councillor Description
DESCRIPTION OF THE ROLE
Role: Parish Councillor
Responsible to: All people resident within the parish
Regular liaison with: Other councillors, local authorities, residents
Period of service: Four years with possible extension.
Salary: This is a voluntary position with some expenses able to be paid in certain cases.
MAIN PURPOSE
- Representing the views of all residents within your parish.
SECONDARY PURPOSE
- As part of the parish council you will have responsibility for running local services which may include: open spaces, play areas, village halls, community car schemes and potentially much more.
- Deciding on how much to raise through the parish precept part of the council tax in order to deliver the parish council’s services.
- Influencing and shaping the long-term development policy for the parish, and as part of the planning process, comment on planning applications in the parish.
- Improve the quality of life and the environment in the local area.
- Working to identify issues which are important to the lives of the residents you represent.
- Working to bring about improvements through local projects, lobbying other service providers and working in partnership with other parishes and agencies.