PARTON PARISH COUNCIL CONSISTS OF 11 COUNCILLORS

Parton Parish council is the first tier of governance and we are generally the first point of contact for anyone concerned with a community issue.

We are the first tier of governance and we are generally the first point of contact for anyone concerned with a community issue.

We are a democratically elected local authority.

The term ‘local council’ is synonymous with ‘parish council’, ‘town council’ and ‘community council’.

There are over 10,000 local councils in England and Wales, representing the concerns of local residents and providing services to meet local needs.

Parish councils have a wide range of powers including looking after community buildings, planning, street lighting, allotments. They also have the power to raise money through council tax in order to provide the community they serve with the things that a community needs.

Local councils are made up of locally elected councillors. They are legally obliged to hold at least one meeting a year.

At the moment, Parton hold a Full Council Meeting monthly.

In addition to this, any committees or sub-committees or working groups may meet if constituted dealing with specific subjects. These sessions are also open to the public.

HOW ARE WE FUNDED?


The funding for parish councils is allocated by the district council and is taken from the area’s council tax; this is called an annual precept. The income and expenditure for the next financial year are calculated in the form of estimates and this amount is added to the local council tax and then returned to the parishes.

THINKING OF BECOMING A PARISH COUNCILLOR?


How do you become a parish councillor? To qualify to be a parish councillor you must be:
· A British citizen, or a citizen of the Commonwealth or the European Union.


· At least 18 on the day that he or she is nominated as a candidate


· A registered local government elector within the parish


· A resident in the parish, or within three miles of the parish, or working full time in the parish for at least 12 months prior to the nomination or election day.

A person is disqualified from holding office as a parish or town councillor if:


· They hold a paid office, or other place of profit in the council


· They are the subject of a bankruptcy restriction order or interim order.


· They have been convicted of a criminal offence and sentenced to more than 3 months imprisonment within the last five years · They incur illegal expenditure (when acting as a councillor) of over £2,000, or are found guilty of using corrupt or illegal practices