FAQ's
This page features some of the most frequently asked questions about the Parish Council and the work they do. A parish council is a local authority that makes decisions on behalf of the people in the parish. Parish Councils are financed through a ‘precept’ – collected as part of your Council Tax; this money is used to improve facilities and services for local people. The areas that fall under the remit of the Parish Council include bus shelters, drainage, footpaths, highways (lighting/parking etc.), lighting, recreation, rights of way, traffic calming, water supply, seats/benches, litter etc. If you have a question that isn’t answered on this page we encourage you to submit it and we will do our best to provide the information you want.
Can I attend meetings as a member of the public?
Yes, council meetings are open to the public. However, please note that a council can exclude the public from all or part of their meeting if certain matters of a confidential nature are to be transacted or for other special reasons – subject to the Public Bodies (Admission to meetings) Act 1960 s1. To give people the opportunity to attend meetings, notices of meetings will be advertised throughout the parish and on this website, usually with three clear days notice.
As a member of the public, can I speak at meetings?
Although you cannot speak while the normal business of the meeting is being conducted, you can speak in the ‘public participation’ – this is a regular agenda item. The public participation section allows time at the meeting for members of the public to address the council on any issues that concern them. The clerk can provide you with further details as to how this works.
Can I see minutes of the meetings and other information/papers?
Yes, minutes are published on the Parish Council Meetings page of this website. Agenda items and other papers are also published under the Parish Council Meetings section.
To whom are the Councillors accountable?
The Councillors are accountable to the electors (people) of the parish and the council’s accounts are subject to scrutiny by the District Auditor; the Standards Board for England has the power to investigate alleged breaches of the Code of Conduct by individual councillors.
Do Councillors have to declare interests in the matters they discuss?
Yes – all councillors have to abide by a ‘Code of Conduct’ and this Code sets out which interests have to be declared – i.e. financial, personal etc. Councillors also have to enter relevant information regarding interests in a special register that is open to inspection by members of the public. The Code of Conduct is published on the website (a copy can be downloaded); a copy can also be provided by the Clerk.
How can I make a complaint about the Council?
In the first instance, you should speak informally to the Clerk or the Chair, if this approach fails to resolve the matter, you should write formally to the Clerk asking for a copy of the council’s complaints procedure. Any complaints received should be considered by the Council at its next meeting.
Hopefully, this will lead to a resolution. If it does not, then the next steps will depend on the nature of the complaint. If you believe there has been some other kind of financial or other impropriety you should initially discuss it with the County Council’s Monitoring Officer who will advise.
What powers do the Parish Council have – with respect to planning matters?
The Parish Council is consulted by the relevant Planning Authority (Cheshire West) on all planning applications, but although any views expressed by the parish council will be taken into account by the Planning Authority before a decision is made, the Planning Authority is not obliged to agree with the Parish Council’s view. The final decision is made by the Planning Authority, not the parish council.
What powers do the Parish Council have – with respect to animal welfare?
The Parish Council do not have any powers with regard to animal welfare.
How can I contact the Parish Council or make a comment/ask a question?
You can contact the Parish Council using the Contact page on this website.
How do people get elected to the Parish Council?
Elections are held every four years. When elections are held you need to be nominated to stand for election and follow the election processes in operation at the time. The Clerk can provide you with further advice on this.
Sometimes the number of people who put their names forward for election equals or is less than the number of seats on the council. In these circumstances, there is not a poll on election day and the people nominated are deemed elected. If the number deemed elected is less than the number of seats on the council, then the council is required to co-opt people onto the council to fill the vacancies.
If a seat on the council becomes vacant between normal elections then a special procedure has to be followed which can lead to an election or, more usually, the co-option of a new councillor. When this is the case, the vacancy will be advertised widely in the parish and on this website. It is also possible for members of the public to request an election if a vacancy occurs [more info needed from Ann on this – it requires 3 people to request an election?]