Parish Council Elections
Discussion
overunder12g said:
Not sure what Parish councils actually achieve.
First rung of political representation. They can make sure your kids have a park to play in. They can stop over-development - and enable development where needed. They can exert influence on transport issues and roads to benefit you or protect you. They can influence bad planning applications and generally, keep the place where you live a decent place to live in. They may not have much power but they do have influence. If you had an issue that needed sorting, the chances are your Parish Council would be more effective than your Borough or County Councillor and most probably even your MP.
Like all things, some are better than others but are an important part of the British system of governance that dates back hundreds of years.
StevieBee said:
First rung of political representation. They can make sure your kids have a park to play in. They can stop over-development - and enable development where needed. They can exert influence on transport issues and roads to benefit you or protect you. They can influence bad planning applications and generally, keep the place where you live a decent place to live in.
They may not have much power but they do have influence. If you had an issue that needed sorting, the chances are your Parish Council would be more effective than your Borough or County Councillor and most probably even your MP.
Like all things, some are better than others but are an important part of the British system of governance that dates back hundreds of years.
That's the theory, but the reality can be somewhat different. They may not have much power but they do have influence. If you had an issue that needed sorting, the chances are your Parish Council would be more effective than your Borough or County Councillor and most probably even your MP.
Like all things, some are better than others but are an important part of the British system of governance that dates back hundreds of years.
The level of influence really depends on0how big and your Parish is, how motivated and enthusiastic your councillors are and whether any of their number are in same lodges or clubs as the really important key local decision makers.
We rarely have elections, seem to be coopted mainly.
That said, it all kicked off last year - accusations of nepotism, so twenty people wrote asking for an election, one was duly called .. one year later, people are complaining that the parish duty precept has gone up - mainly because it had to run the election
That said, it all kicked off last year - accusations of nepotism, so twenty people wrote asking for an election, one was duly called .. one year later, people are complaining that the parish duty precept has gone up - mainly because it had to run the election
sparkythecat said:
StevieBee said:
First rung of political representation. They can make sure your kids have a park to play in. They can stop over-development - and enable development where needed. They can exert influence on transport issues and roads to benefit you or protect you. They can influence bad planning applications and generally, keep the place where you live a decent place to live in.
They may not have much power but they do have influence. If you had an issue that needed sorting, the chances are your Parish Council would be more effective than your Borough or County Councillor and most probably even your MP.
Like all things, some are better than others but are an important part of the British system of governance that dates back hundreds of years.
That's the theory, but the reality can be somewhat different. They may not have much power but they do have influence. If you had an issue that needed sorting, the chances are your Parish Council would be more effective than your Borough or County Councillor and most probably even your MP.
Like all things, some are better than others but are an important part of the British system of governance that dates back hundreds of years.
The level of influence really depends on how big and your Parish is, how motivated and enthusiastic your councillors are and whether any of their number are in same lodges or clubs as the really important key local decision makers.
Most parish council business is 'low level'; listening to complaints of vandalism, fly tipping, graffiti and so on; they have limited influence and few resources. Planning applications, large and small, were decided elsewhere; local policies on roads, education, housing, recycling, regeneration etc. likewise.
I was also a district councillor, on that council's planing board and sat on county-wide committees for services such as waste management, strategic planning. Being a parish councillor was the least satisfying and most frustrating of all my roles.
I did a 7-year stint and eventually stepped down when it became abundantly clear that the other councillors didn’t actually want to achieve anything. Under the Chair who was in place when I joined (in his circa 20-year service) a huge amount was achieved - physical improvements to facilities and sensible, proportionate, in-keeping development.
His replacement took the role just as a planning application for land behind his house came up, then quit literally hours after “we” had successfully got it thrown out. The current chair likes the sound of his own voice and is firmly in the no-outsiders camp. The current PC has even fallen out with the Church because, despite none of them going to Church, they object to having an AV screen in there.
Essentially it can become a full-on NIMBY team which is a shame because if the same amount of energy was put into achieving something positive, rather than blocking everything, a lot could be done.
In terms of actual influence, it’s exceptionally limited in my view. If it takes the view of accepting that planning applications and so forth are going to get decided elsewhere and gets behind getting the most for the village from such developments via Section 106 etc. it can achieve more than by trying to block everything, but that mindset change seems to be virtually impossible.
His replacement took the role just as a planning application for land behind his house came up, then quit literally hours after “we” had successfully got it thrown out. The current chair likes the sound of his own voice and is firmly in the no-outsiders camp. The current PC has even fallen out with the Church because, despite none of them going to Church, they object to having an AV screen in there.
Essentially it can become a full-on NIMBY team which is a shame because if the same amount of energy was put into achieving something positive, rather than blocking everything, a lot could be done.
In terms of actual influence, it’s exceptionally limited in my view. If it takes the view of accepting that planning applications and so forth are going to get decided elsewhere and gets behind getting the most for the village from such developments via Section 106 etc. it can achieve more than by trying to block everything, but that mindset change seems to be virtually impossible.
StevieBee said:
overunder12g said:
Not sure what Parish councils actually achieve.
First rung of political representation. They can make sure your kids have a park to play in. They can stop over-development - and enable development where needed. They can exert influence on transport issues and roads to benefit you or protect you. They can influence bad planning applications and generally, keep the place where you live a decent place to live in. They may not have much power but they do have influence. If you had an issue that needed sorting, the chances are your Parish Council would be more effective than your Borough or County Councillor and most probably even your MP.
Like all things, some are better than others but are an important part of the British system of governance that dates back hundreds of years.
Riley Blue said:
sparkythecat said:
StevieBee said:
First rung of political representation. They can make sure your kids have a park to play in. They can stop over-development - and enable development where needed. They can exert influence on transport issues and roads to benefit you or protect you. They can influence bad planning applications and generally, keep the place where you live a decent place to live in.
They may not have much power but they do have influence. If you had an issue that needed sorting, the chances are your Parish Council would be more effective than your Borough or County Councillor and most probably even your MP.
Like all things, some are better than others but are an important part of the British system of governance that dates back hundreds of years.
That's the theory, but the reality can be somewhat different. They may not have much power but they do have influence. If you had an issue that needed sorting, the chances are your Parish Council would be more effective than your Borough or County Councillor and most probably even your MP.
Like all things, some are better than others but are an important part of the British system of governance that dates back hundreds of years.
The level of influence really depends on how big and your Parish is, how motivated and enthusiastic your councillors are and whether any of their number are in same lodges or clubs as the really important key local decision makers.
Over the years, our Parish Council has been successful in getting two much needed mini-roundabouts installed, raised the funding for an out-door gym, installed a community herb garden, re-introduced a Post Office into the village and stopped a development that would have doubled the size of the village and at the same time opened a vast area of green land for public access.
Riley Blue said:
I agree. I was a councillor in a village with a 11,000 population and the council was little more than a talking shop. It was at district and county levels that the overwhelming majority of decisions were made and though the parish council's views were taken into account, they were often discounted.
Most parish council business is 'low level'; listening to complaints of vandalism, fly tipping, graffiti and so on; they have limited influence and few resources. Planning applications, large and small, were decided elsewhere; local policies on roads, education, housing, recycling, regeneration etc. likewise.
I was also a district councillor, on that council's planing board and sat on county-wide committees for services such as waste management, strategic planning. Being a parish councillor was the least satisfying and most frustrating of all my roles.
Agreed.Most parish council business is 'low level'; listening to complaints of vandalism, fly tipping, graffiti and so on; they have limited influence and few resources. Planning applications, large and small, were decided elsewhere; local policies on roads, education, housing, recycling, regeneration etc. likewise.
I was also a district councillor, on that council's planing board and sat on county-wide committees for services such as waste management, strategic planning. Being a parish councillor was the least satisfying and most frustrating of all my roles.
Parish Councils rarely have any actual power to acheive much, but tend to be the first place people complain. You can find far too much time being taken up with stupid neighbours bickering.
Vandalism and fly-tipping? Yes but you missed the big one - dog s
t.What they can do is act as an organiser for local dissent. I think that the thing I did that had most long term benefit was getting people to understand how to object to development - stop the 'it will devalue my house and spoil my view' and start 'doesn't meet policy because...'
I think that how much a pc can influence stuff might depend on how tenuous the disctrict/county councillors and MPs grip on power is. In our area there is no chance of anyone other than a conservative being elected, so there isn't much leverage.
Ziplobb said:
Roofless Toothless said:
There are 13 councillors on my Parish Council. Six of them are married couples. This sounds a very cosy arrangement to me.
swingers - do they have pampas grass in their front gardens ?
http://www.greatbaddowparishcouncil.co.uk/meet-the...
"the greater good" anyone?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DnqPrDN77Xg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DnqPrDN77Xg
Edited by bobtail4x4 on Thursday 4th April 09:45
bobtail4x4 said:
"the greater good" anyone?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DnqPrDN77Xg
Filmed in Wells, not a million miles from where I was a councillor and strangely close to reality too. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DnqPrDN77Xg
Edited by bobtail4x4 on Thursday 4th April 09:45
Roofless Toothless said:
I like that Peter is also in the SAS.Gassing Station | The Lounge | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff