Member of the Parish Council?
Discussion
Yup, for the last year or so.
Ours is very small - roughly 200 residents in the parish, and no trouble-makers - so it's hardly onerous. Bit of budget-setting on how to spend the CT precept, the odd planning application. We have a lengthsman, who does the minor road maintenance in the parish - so he gets direction on how to parcel his time, but the detail is up to him within that.
Ours is very small - roughly 200 residents in the parish, and no trouble-makers - so it's hardly onerous. Bit of budget-setting on how to spend the CT precept, the odd planning application. We have a lengthsman, who does the minor road maintenance in the parish - so he gets direction on how to parcel his time, but the detail is up to him within that.
Have been involved in the past. Depending on where you are it can all be a bit Vicar of Dibleyish but quite rewarding.
Our MP pointed out to me that as a Parish Councillor, you have more direct power to get things done than any layer of politician above you.
Such institutions are often sneered at (quite often with good reason) but they are essential parts of the fabric of our societies and we should embrace them more than we do.
Our MP pointed out to me that as a Parish Councillor, you have more direct power to get things done than any layer of politician above you.
Such institutions are often sneered at (quite often with good reason) but they are essential parts of the fabric of our societies and we should embrace them more than we do.
Yes, been on our town council for three years and Steve's 100% WRONG. We have no power to do anything, all we can do is nicely ask the District council to do things. And they seem to enjoy turning over any recommendations we make. Even to the extent that we have to pay them to use our own park for functions. They've recently given themselves and all surrounding towns, free parking at Xmas. Guess what they've done to our town? Increased the parking charges.
Having said all that it's been quite interesting being a councillor. I'm on three committees, Planning Promotion & Events and Operations & Maint and we promote things like park playgrounds, improve street cleaning, sort out grass cutting, Xmas lights, town events, etc. We're a town of 17,000 and the largest outside the county town. I do think we have too much local government. We used to have three layers, Parish/Town, District and County and now, unlike many places that are cutting down to one unitary authority, our lot have voted in a fourth level of bureaucracy - jobs for the boys maybe??. As a Parish/Town councillor we get NO payments at all, nor allowances. Nothing, so don't do it thinking you're going to get rich. Though the District and County councillors get some VERY nice allowances/payments. Just check if you can afford to do the unpaid job.
But, it's changed me a bit. I'm a bit more forceful and decisive and I love the back and fore in the debating chamber, brought my best features to the fore my wife tells me.
Having said all that it's been quite interesting being a councillor. I'm on three committees, Planning Promotion & Events and Operations & Maint and we promote things like park playgrounds, improve street cleaning, sort out grass cutting, Xmas lights, town events, etc. We're a town of 17,000 and the largest outside the county town. I do think we have too much local government. We used to have three layers, Parish/Town, District and County and now, unlike many places that are cutting down to one unitary authority, our lot have voted in a fourth level of bureaucracy - jobs for the boys maybe??. As a Parish/Town councillor we get NO payments at all, nor allowances. Nothing, so don't do it thinking you're going to get rich. Though the District and County councillors get some VERY nice allowances/payments. Just check if you can afford to do the unpaid job.
But, it's changed me a bit. I'm a bit more forceful and decisive and I love the back and fore in the debating chamber, brought my best features to the fore my wife tells me.
For various reasons I have sat in as a member of the public on parish and district council meetings a number of times. Every time I do I remind myself why I have vigorously refused to be nominated on the occasions that the subject has been raised by current councillors. I served twenty years on the board of the management company of my son's London flat, and a couple on a school PTA, but never has b
hiness reached the level that the PC enjoys. The management company did come close but only through the ego of one particular member. The point about public service made in an earlier post is valid though, and if more people did agree to serve and times in office limited to a fixed duration, perhaps they would improve through diversity brought about by greater numbers.
hiness reached the level that the PC enjoys. The management company did come close but only through the ego of one particular member. The point about public service made in an earlier post is valid though, and if more people did agree to serve and times in office limited to a fixed duration, perhaps they would improve through diversity brought about by greater numbers.ColinM50 said:
Yes, been on our town council for three years and Steve's 100% WRONG. We have no power to do anything, all we can do is nicely ask the District council to do things. And they seem to enjoy turning over any recommendations we make. Even to the extent that we have to pay them to use our own park for functions. They've recently given themselves and all surrounding towns, free parking at Xmas. Guess what they've done to our town? Increased the parking charges.
Having said all that it's been quite interesting being a councillor. I'm on three committees, Planning Promotion & Events and Operations & Maint and we promote things like park playgrounds, improve street cleaning, sort out grass cutting, Xmas lights, town events, etc. We're a town of 17,000 and the largest outside the county town. I do think we have too much local government. We used to have three layers, Parish/Town, District and County and now, unlike many places that are cutting down to one unitary authority, our lot have voted in a fourth level of bureaucracy - jobs for the boys maybe??. As a Parish/Town councillor we get NO payments at all, nor allowances. Nothing, so don't do it thinking you're going to get rich. Though the District and County councillors get some VERY nice allowances/payments. Just check if you can afford to do the unpaid job.
But, it's changed me a bit. I'm a bit more forceful and decisive and I love the back and fore in the debating chamber, brought my best features to the fore my wife tells me.
Politics has no place in Parish Council's , is that correct?Having said all that it's been quite interesting being a councillor. I'm on three committees, Planning Promotion & Events and Operations & Maint and we promote things like park playgrounds, improve street cleaning, sort out grass cutting, Xmas lights, town events, etc. We're a town of 17,000 and the largest outside the county town. I do think we have too much local government. We used to have three layers, Parish/Town, District and County and now, unlike many places that are cutting down to one unitary authority, our lot have voted in a fourth level of bureaucracy - jobs for the boys maybe??. As a Parish/Town councillor we get NO payments at all, nor allowances. Nothing, so don't do it thinking you're going to get rich. Though the District and County councillors get some VERY nice allowances/payments. Just check if you can afford to do the unpaid job.
But, it's changed me a bit. I'm a bit more forceful and decisive and I love the back and fore in the debating chamber, brought my best features to the fore my wife tells me.
ColinM50 said:
Steve's 100% WRONG. We have no power to do anything, all we can do is nicely ask the District council to do things.
I suspect that this is a regional thing. Our PC generally gets a lot done and seemingly without too much interference from above and also very effective in mobilising things. I do know others involved with a PC in a neighbouring district who can't so much as but tea bags without prior approval from the District Council.I used to attend as a spectator in our small village PC just out of interest and wondering about current affairs locally.
I was able to put my hand up when they were looking for funds for a defibrilllator which I stumped up on - a rash spontaneous offer but hey-ho. That meant what money did have would fund another at the other end of the village ( we are a bit spread out ). That was my bit done for the community I suppose.
I did consider volunteering for a vacant place on the committee but
a) it would commit me when I didn't need it and not compromise other social ventures, and
b) the topic of dog-poo came up every month.
Not me really....
I was able to put my hand up when they were looking for funds for a defibrilllator which I stumped up on - a rash spontaneous offer but hey-ho. That meant what money did have would fund another at the other end of the village ( we are a bit spread out ). That was my bit done for the community I suppose.
I did consider volunteering for a vacant place on the committee but
a) it would commit me when I didn't need it and not compromise other social ventures, and
b) the topic of dog-poo came up every month.
Not me really....
Wait Here Until Green Light Shows said:
bobbo89 said:
Ward Cllr's are bad enough but Parish Cllr's really are just in another league. The term 'busy s' comes to mind!
+1 - they're the village busy bodies with either nothing better to do, or have a vested interest in pushing planning applications through. s' comes to mind! k off. We happened to chat with a couple who know her, whilst out walking, they described her as an old boot, so it wasn't just us! Wait Here Until Green Light Shows said:
+1 - they're the village busy bodies with either nothing better to do, or have a vested interest in pushing planning applications through.
Yep, although ours have gone a step further. They run a local 'land charity' which over the past few years they've used to sell various bits of land that belonged to the Parish Council to housing developers. Each one came with it's controversies, with residents local to each plot kicking up a fuss which was all duly ignored and the land sold anyway. Cant help but wonder who's pocket they were in when selling the land and also where the money from the sale went thereafter.
I've been a parish councillor and a district councillor. The parish council (population approx.10,000) had very few decision making powers and acted in an advisory capacity in such matters as planning, highways, schools, health etc. and was often little more than a talking shop for local people to sound off about dog mess, litter, speeding, graffiti. Being a parish councillor was an incredibly frustrating and tedious experience, villagers can be so small-minded and boring, especially those who have never lived anywhere else.
Wait Here Until Green Light Shows said:
bobbo89 said:
Ward Cllr's are bad enough but Parish Cllr's really are just in another league. The term 'busy s' comes to mind!
+1 - they're the village busy bodies with either nothing better to do, or have a vested interest in pushing planning applications through. s' comes to mind! I live in a rural village of 1,600 homes. In 2005, a developed applied to build a new estate on former farmland which would have increased the number of homes to nearly 3,000 turning it into a town and destroying the village dynamic. I'm not against development but this one was totally inappropriate. Two of of the Parish Councillors stood to gain very nicely financially had the development gone a head but the fought the development successfully. As a result, the village now has an expansive nature reserve and park.
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