While Parish Councillors give their time freely, it is important to remember that they are not volunteers, but elected members of local government, they conduct their business within a legal framework and are responsible to all the residents in the parish. Councillors serve a four-year term (with possible extension).
Councillors are local leaders, community-minded people with a desire to participate in shaping the future of their parish. In order for all the residents in an area to have their views heard it is important that Councillors’ represent a diversity of thinking and backgrounds.
Councils have extensive powers and can lead on a range of issues. They can take climate action, encourage biodiversity, and create sustainable, happy communities with socially active young people and provision for the elderly.
Councillors will have responsibility for running local services which may include open spaces, play areas, village halls, community transport schemes and much more. They decide how much money to raise through the Council tax to deliver these Council’s services.
They influence and shape the long-term development policy for the parish, and as part of the planning process, comment on planning applications. A Councils’ Neighbourhood Development Plan is its greatest insurance policy against wholesale development; it goes a long way to preserving the parish heritage and lifestyle and is spearheaded by Councillors who work to improve the quality of life and the environment in their local area.
Councillors work to identify issues which are important to the lives of the residents they represent.
They bring about improvements through local projects, lobbying other service providers and working in partnership with other parishes and agencies.
Prospective candidates are encouraged to attend their Council meetings to give them a clearer picture of what Councils do and the role they might play on their Council.