The Parish Council is a civil local authority and is the first tier of local government. Its activities can fall into three main categories: representing the local community, delivering services to meet local needs, and improving quality of life and community well being.
The Parish Council is nothing to do with the Church or the Diocese; nor is it a voluntary and community sector body. The Parish Council is the local authority closest to the Electorate.
Parish councils meet regularly to address their responsibilities. Apart from councillors, each parish council has a clerk who provides administration for the council.
Parish councils are responsible for managing their own budgets. They are financed through the precept, an amount of money calculated as an estimate for the coming financial year and collected as part of your Council Tax. This money is used to improve facilities and services for local people. Parish councils can also apply for other funding, such as grants and awards.
Parish councils actively encourage input from residents on what the community needs, so that they can budget for that activity.
Parish councils have a range of powers and duties in relation to the communities they serve.