1. Your Parish Needs You Welcome Three parts
Informal/Opportunity to ask questions
Langton Matravers Parish Council Democracy Forum

2. What do councils do?
There are many different types of Council (Metropolitan/London Borough)
I’m going to talk about the structure as it currently affects us.
Langton Matravers Parish Council Democracy Forum

3. County Councils Social Services Education Highways
Minerals and Quarries
Registration of births, deaths and marriages
Trading Standards
Others
Counties are the big spenders
Many of their services are statutory
Historically there has been a lot of government grant support
Support at this level because:-
economy of scale
central control
Grant support is reducing
Langton Matravers Parish Council Democracy Forum

4. District Councils Planning Licensing Housing Refuse Collection
Council Tax and business rate collection
Beaches & Moorings and Coastal Defences
Tree protection
Others
Districts spend considerably less than Counties
Little or no Central Government grants
Historically the principle of Subsidiarity has applied
However like Counties, District precept have bee capped
Langton Matravers Parish Council Democracy Forum

5. Parish Councils Allotments Cemeteries Street Furniture and Lighting
Grants
Car parks and Public Conveniences
Parks and Recreation Grounds
Maintenance of Public Footpaths
Others
There is no differences between a Town and Parish Council
There are no Parish services which cannot also be delivered by another tier of LG
But again subsidiarity applies
And in many cases it wont happen if the PC doesn’t step in
As yet PC precepts are not capped
Langton Matravers Parish Council Democracy Forum

6. What is a Parish Council
It is not a voluntary organisation/association
It is not a charity
It is not a company
It has nothing to do with the local church
It is a legal entity with statutory powers
It is the tier of local government nearest to the local community
What’s on the Tin
Vicar of Dibley!!!!
Langton Matravers Parish Council Democracy Forum

7. The New World Devolved Expenditure Unitary Authority Localism Act 2011
Competent Council
Neighbourhood Planning
Community Right to Build
Speak to the slide
Langton Matravers Parish Council Democracy Forum

8. Recent Council Achievements
Woodland Trail/Community Orchard
Passing Bays (improved traffic flow)
Speed Indication Device
20 mph Lights for St Georges School
Dropped Kerbs
Combe Crossing and Realignment
Pavement Widening
Speak to the slide
Plus
Timson Trust
Playground
Street lighting
Grants
PDC Strategic plan
Langton Matravers Parish Council Democracy Forum

9. Questions
Langton Matravers Parish Council Democracy Forum

10. What do councillors do? To get this session going I’ll talk about
The framework within which Councillors work
How to Councillors go about their work
The different ways that a council gets things done
Conclude this session with Q&As
Langton Matravers Parish Council Democracy Forum

11. Framework Councillors have no individual powers
They can act only on the basis of council’s decisions
Governance (safety net)
Declarable interests
Predetermination is not allowed
Subject code of conduct
Subject to standing orders
Talk to slide
Langton Matravers Parish Council Democracy Forum

12. How is this achieved
Participation in the council’s decision making process is what it is all about
Listening
Research
Education and understanding
Meetings
Representation
Talk to slide
Mention material matters
Langton Matravers Parish Council Democracy Forum

13. Types of Decision Self contained actions
Express an opinion as a consultee
Lobby others
Community engagement
Keep parishioners informed
Seek parishioners views
Strengthen the community
It not just decision to:-
Purchase something
Implement a plan
Langton Matravers Parish Council Democracy Forum

14. Questions
Langton Matravers Parish Council Democracy Forum

15. How do I become a councillor?
Three slides:-
Qualifications
Disqualifications
The process
Langton Matravers Parish Council Democracy Forum

16. Requirements Over 18 years of age
British, Qualifying Commonwealth or EU citizen
At least one of the following
Registered elector for the parish,
Full time resident (min.12 months) of the parish,
Main or sole place of work (min. 12 months) is in the parish
Full time resident (min. 12 months) within 4.8 Km of the parish
Talk to slide
Langton Matravers Parish Council Democracy Forum

17. Disqualification Employed by the parish council
Subject of a bankruptcy order
Sentenced to 3 months (or more) imprisonment within the last 5 years
Guilty of corrupt/illegal election practice
Have been disqualified from standing by a local authority
Talk to slide
Langton Matravers Parish Council Democracy Forum

18. Process Inform the Parish Clerk Visit Electoral Commission web site
Submit nomination forms by 4.00pm 3rd April 2019
Nomination form and
Consent to nomination form
Talk to slide
Langton Matravers Parish Council Democracy Forum

19. Questions
Langton Matravers Parish Council Democracy Forum

20. Thank you
Langton Matravers Parish Council Democracy Forum