Yarnscombe
Parish Council - Origins
Powers and Responsibilities of Parish Councils
The Local Government Act, 1972, is the Act most often referred to when describing the modern powers and responsibilities of parish councils but it is augmented by many earlier and later Acts. For example, The Criminal Justice and Public Order Act, 1994, which, on the face of it, would not appear to relate to parish councils gave them a long-needed ability to pay for measures to combat crime and the fear of crime in villages.
Parish councils may only spend public money on projects or actions for which they have a statutory power. Breaking this rule is likely to result in a PC’s accounts being refused by the auditor and, possibly, the individual councillors being required to repay the money illegally expended. There is still, as there was in 1894, only one power which the parish council must consider using and that is to “provide allotments for the labouring poor”, if asked for them. All other powers are voluntary – the Parish Council is not obliged to exercise them and indeed the majority would find it difficult to raise enough money to exercise them all on a permanent basis.
Raising Money
Parish councils are empowered to raise money for their activities through a tax (the “precept”) on the village residents which is collected on their behalf by the District Council, as an addition to the District and County Council Tax. This is then paid to the parish council in two equal instalments. Two neighbouring parish councils might require the same amount of money to function but the fewer houses there are in a village, the more each household is obliged to pay towards raising this sum. The actual tax paid by similar houses in neighbouring villages can therefore differ widely. Though not actually ‘capped’ in their expenditure, as are the Principal Councils, the activities of many smaller parish councils are effectively limited by this difficulty: to what, in modern parlance, ‘the market can stand’. To combat this, smaller councils often try to combine with other neighbouring parishes for some large projects and share the expense across a wider base.
Borrowing is allowed, up to a prescribed limit and with permission, but this is of limited help to a small parish because, of course, the loan (plus interest) has to be repaid from slim resources. Grants may be obtained for specific purposes from various sources, not least the district council. Very few, if any of these, can be used for maintenance or general administration purposes.
Limited fund raising can be done but this is so hedged about by restrictions that, in the main, it is hardly worthwhile for a very small council.
Some larger councils are lucky enough to own property from which a considerable income is obtained.
Your Parish Council – The Here and Now (Summary)
The civil parish (as opposed to an ecclesiastical or church parish) is an independent, local democratic unit for villages and smaller towns, and for the suburbs of main urban areas. The Parish Council is the most local tier of administration and the first tier of democratic government and each parish council is in effect a small local authority. Its councillors are elected for four years at a time, in the same way as for other councils. The next local elections for Yarnscombe Parish Council will be in May 2011 though by-elections may be held to fill vacancies occurring between elections. Co-option may also be used to fill casual vacancies.
What are the powers and responsibilities of Yarnscombe Parish Council?
The parish council has more formal powers and responsibilities than most people realise. We are consulted and comment on all planning applications within the parish. We are consulted by and liaise with both the district and county councils over all issues affecting the parish and sometimes wider community – particularly over planning, traffic and road issues. We monitor street lighting, can provide allotments, and as trustees of the village charities look after the play areas and other village amenities. We provide and maintain bus shelters and safeguard footpaths and rights of way. Again as trustees we are also involved in the provision of halls and meeting places. We may provide guides or leaflets for newcomers and from time to time we make village surveys. We can provide car and cycle parks and also public conveniences, litter bins and public seats. We can also prosecute noisemakers or litter bugs. Many appoint charitable trustees.
We have the power to improve and maintain the quality of village life by spending sums of money on items and projects, which, in our opinion, are in the interests of the parish or its inhabitants. The parish council may do these things either directly or by helping others (such as volunteers or a charity) to do them. All parish councils thrive on volunteers.
Who controls the Parish Council?
Each year the parish council elects a chairman who has the responsibility of controlling the business of each parish council meeting and ensuring that all parish council business and meetings are carried out lawfully with all who are entitled to speak being given the opportunity to do so. He/she is an ex-officio member of all sub-committees and represents the parish council at official functions and occasions. The parish clerk takes the minutes at council meetings, advises councillors, carries out the approved policies of the council and ensures the accounts are properly kept and audited every year.
Where does the money come from?
Parish councils are the cheapest and least bureaucratic kind of local authority. As already explained PCs are funded by a small part of the council tax and get no general government grant, so they have every incentive to ensure that they give and get value for money. Budgets are set and strictly controlled and the precept (or local rate) is set annually.
What is your role?
There does seem to be a general nationwide disillusionment with the democratic process and a feeling that the individual in the street cannot really affect anything. In addition our lives certainly seem busier and more complicated. However if anyone out there could spare a couple of hours a month helping to do a necessary and worthwhile job then the role of parish councillor can be rewarding and might even help you to wind down and to put life into perspective. If you have the interest of your community at heart do consider putting yourself forward. If the number of councillors falls below a workable minimum we will be at risk of losing control of our own local affairs and others will be making more decisions for us. The choice is ours. Please contact the parish clerk or any councillor for more information.
All parish council meetings are open to the public and these meetings include a regular slot where parishioners can ask questions. An annual general parish meeting for all parish electors has, by law, to be held every year (usually in May, in Yarnscombe) at which reports on the previous year are made and at which parishioners can raise items of query or concern.
