What does the Parish Council do?
The parish council meets regularly to discuss issues of interest to the parish. It has powers relating to planning, provision of recreational facilities, halls, crime prevention, community transport, public toilets, tourism, allotments, footpaths and commons.
We are a team of ten elected members of the Parish. The Council meets at 7pm on the fourth Tuesday of each month when possible, usually in the Village Hall. At the beginning of each meeting villagers can ask questions and put forward ideas. The meeting itself is open to the public but the public has no right to speak (although heckling is permitted). The agenda is posted on the Parish Council notice board in the Library window a few days before each meeting.
Every May we elect the chairman or woman and the vice-chair and then decide on which of the committees each councillor wishes to serve. These are Village Hall, Sports Field and Pavilion, Field 84 Riverside and Footpaths, Youth Support, Allotments, Finance, Planning and Highways, and Police Liaison. We have representatives on the Infant and Junior Schools Governor Groups, the Millennium Trust, Ainstey Parishes Working Group and York Local Councils Association. Each councillor usually sits on two of the committees. See the Sub-Committees page for who is on which committee at the moment.
What are our responsibilities?
We are a village government and the closest form of government to you the people who live in the village. We undertake to manage the village in the way the Local Government Act has laid down. Each year we have to set the Precept, which means deciding the amount of money needed to carry out the improvements from which the village will benefit. It's collected from you as part of the council tax.
Read on for a more in-depth piece on Parish Councils in general...
A Short History of Parish Councils
The present system of Parish Councils and Parish Meetings was established by the Local Government Act of 1894, although the parishes and their functions are much older.
Originally the Lord of the Manor would hold Courts to manage the land, rotate agriculture and regulate agricultural jobs. As the manor courts declined, the influence, wealth and responsibility of the Church increased. Inhabitants began to meet together under the parson's direction for the social and administrative purposes of their religious life. Such meetings were often held in the Vestry after which they came to be named. In 1601, the legislators conferred upon vestries the power of levying a poor rate.
The nineteenth century saw a major overhaul of the local government system, which in the 1820's was notorious for inefficiency and corruption and half a century later was notorious for inefficiency and complication. Twenty years of legislation and experiment were required to straighten it out.
The coping-stone of the new edifice was the Local Government Act 1894, which took a year to pass and excited much controversy both in Parliament and outside. Gladstone's government had to deal with over eight hundred amendments. The Act of 1894 created institutions having a civil origin, status and affiliation: the Parish Meeting and the Parish Council. It transferred the civil functions of the older parish authorities to the new institutions. As a result, the church was excluded from formal participation in local government.
All rural parishes would have a Parish Meeting consisting of the local government electors for the parish. Parishes with a population of 200 or more local government electors would have a separate Parish Council. Parishes with between 150 and 200 local government electors could have a Parish Council if the Parish Meeting so requested. Parishes with less than 150 local government electors could have a Parish Council if the Parish Meeting so resolved and the Principal Authority so ordered.
Bishopthorpe with its number of electors therefore has a Parish Council.
So parish and town councils represent the most grassroots level of local government. They are often referred to collectively as 'local councils'.
They vary from councils based on a small village community to ones serving large urban areas with many thousands of residents. Local councils enjoy many legal powers to take action in their areas, on subjects ranging from providing recreational facilities and community halls, through protection of village greens and common land, to a general power to act for the benefit of the local community.
Background
There are almost 10,000 parish and town councils in England. In the area covered by the City of York Unitary Authority (the Principal Authority), there are 31 local (parish and town) councils.
What is a Parish or Town Council?
A parish or town council is the tier of local government closest to its community, and represents the interests of the people of the parish. As such the views of the parish/town councils should be given weight by the City of York Council and Central Government when determining issues which will affect the parish. It is often thought that parish councils are associated with the parish church in a village, but this is not the case. A parish council representing a more urban area may choose to name itself a town council rather than a parish council.
Who makes up a Parish/Town Council?
A parish or town council is made up of an average of 9 councillors (10 in the case of Bishopthorpe) and a parish clerk. The clerk is usually the only paid member of staff, unless there are other staff such as caretakers or grounds people. Parish councillors are elected volunteers who serve for 4 years.
How do Parish Councils work with the City of York Council?
Parish councils are consulted by the City of York Council (and other organisations) on matters which affect the parish. These include planning applications and policies, education proposals, highways issues and any other proposals or plans which will affect, or be of interest to the parish. The views of the parish and town councils must be taken into consideration in making decisions.
Consultations are sent to the Parish clerk, who brings the information to the Parish Council meeting for discussion and decisions by the Councillors. The City of York Council has committed itself to work in partnership with the Parish and Town councils through the development of the Parish Charter. The Charter sets out how the City of York council will involve, consult and assist the Parish/Town councils, and what they will do in return.
What are the rules?
There are the Standing Orders. These are a set of rules, which govern the way the Parish Council conducts its meetings and set the standards and responsibilities for the way each councillor carries out his or her tasks.
Why do we volunteer?
It has something to with caring for a village way of life, for the people, the amenities in the area, wild life and enjoying the feeling of doing something to help others. Because of our authority as a Parish Council we can stand up against those people in the City Council who try to impose things on us which may not be in our interest and some times we win.
What should I do if I wish to volunteer?
Firstly attendance at Parish Council meetings will give you a good idea of what happens and will give you a good idea of the commitment necessary. Contact our clerk (or any council member) to express your interest. The next election will be in 2011 when all members will be elected but if a vacancy occurs there could be an earlier election or co-option onto the council.
By Cllr. Brian Mellors (with thanks to Rockingham Parish Meeting, South Gloucester Council and Copmanthorpe Parish Council for background information).
