Role of a Parish Councillor

ROLE OF A PARISH COUNCILLOR

This is meant to give those readers with little or no experience with Parish Councils a basic understanding of what a parish councillor would be expected to do and the basic qualifications for becoming a parish councillor.

Description.

Role: Parish Councillor.               

Responsible to: All people resident in the parish.

Regular liaison with: Other councillors, local authorities and residents.

Period of service : Four years with possible extension if re-elected.

Salary: Voluntary position with some expenses able to be paid in certain circumstances.

Main purpose

Representing the views of all residents within your parish.

Secondary purpose

• As part of a local council you will have responsibility for running local services which may include: open spaces, play areas, village halls, community car schemes and potentially much more.
• Deciding on how much to raise through the council tax in order to deliver your council’s services.
• Influencing and shaping the long term development policy for the parish, and as part of the planning process, comment on planning applications in the parish.
• Improve the quality of life and the environment in their local area.
• Working to identify issues which are important to the lives of the residents you represent.
• Working to bring about improvements through local projects, lobbying other service providers and working in partnership with other parishes and agencies.

History of parish councils

Parish councils have their origins in medieval times, in an era when money was seldom used and when few people lived in the countryside. Communities came together in order to organise land management, agriculture and settle disputes.

The current system of parish councils was formed in 1896. There are currently around 10,000 parish councils in the country.

Any community can ask to have a parish council and, in fact, many new parishes have been formed in recent years -particularly in urban areas.

Local councils have evolved considerably over the last 1000 or so years, but one thing remains the same: they are the tier of local government which is closest to individual communities and therefore have the greatest potential for identifying, understanding and addressing the needs of the communities they serve.

While some larger councils are run along party political lines, there is no expectation that you have to join a political party. The vast majority of parish councils are not split by party politics.

Basic Qualification as a councillor.

Over 21 and on the electoral register : Essential

A resident of the parish for which you are standing(there are certain Exceptions) : Essential

Able to attend regular evening meetings: Essential

Interest in local issues and things that affect people: Essential 

Keen to improve the local environment and quality of life: Desirable

An understanding and willingness to represent the views of the whole community: Essential

An interest in learning and developing your role in the community: Desirable