About Us
What is a parish council?
By law, Grittleton Parish Council is a local authority that makes some decisions on behalf of the people in the parish – that’s those living in Grittleton, Littleton Drew, Sevington, Leigh Delamere and part of The Gibb. It is the level of local government closest to the community, with the unitary authority, Wiltshire Council, above it in the hierarchy. As the authority closest to residents, a parish council is often the first place people will go with concerns or ideas so it’s a central part of any community.
Parish councils came into being in 1894 and today there are approximately 10,000 parish and town councils of varying sizes across England. They range from those in rural areas with populations of only a couple of hundred people to those with upwards of 70,000 residents (Northampton Town Council). Both town and parish councils are governed by the same legislation. The only difference is that a town council is usually larger and its elected Chair can be known as the Mayor.
Grittleton Parish Council is governed led by its Standing Orders, Financial Regulations and all its councillors abide by a Code of Conduct and complete a Register of Interests.
What decisions do parish councils make?
Parish councils are involved in lots of issues that affect local people such as planning matters, crime prevention, highways concerns, helping local groups, managing open spaces, running events and campaigning for and, in some cases, delivering better services.
However, parish councils have limited legal powers to make decisions. But they do have the ability to negotiate with and the power to influence other organisations that do make those final decisions (such as Wiltshire Council, the police etc). The organisations that make those final decisions know that a parish council gives the best reflection of how a community feels about something and its views will be taken seriously.
What powers do parish councils have?
Grittleton Parish Council can provide some local services, but doesn't cover all council work: services such as schools, roads, footpaths, car parks, waste collections, housing, planning and social services are provided by Wiltshire Council.
Parish councils have a wide range of powers related to local matters, such as looking after community buildings, open space, allotments, cemeteries, play areas, bus shelters, awarding grants and applying for funding for local projects and more.
How is a parish council paid for?
A parish council also has the power to raise money through local taxation, known as the precept, which is the parish council’s share of the council tax which is spent on running things within the parish for the benefit of its residents. Every year, councillors carefully look at each budget line and set a precept for the following financial year. The billing authority (which in Grittleton Parish Council’s case is Wiltshire Council), collects the tax for the parish council. This annual amount is listed on your council tax demand in April.
Parish councillors and council meetings
Grittleton Parish Council has 9 councillors with elections every 4 years. It meets on a Tuesday evening every 2 months when it considers planning applications (the parish council is a consultee on all planning applications within its parish) and any other local issues referred to it by various organisations and residents.
All meetings are open to the public with an opportunity at the start of the meeting for members of the public to raise concerns and ask questions. There is also an annual meeting which all parishioners are invited to attend. Meetings are advertised on the council notice boards and on this website. Residents can bring to the attention of the parish council anything that concerns them, either directly or through the parish clerk who is employed on a part time basis to manage the council and advise councillors. If matters raised are not the responsibility of the council, then the clerk can help to bring them to the attention of the right authority.