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PARISH COUNCIL
Town and parish councils are the first layer of local government. They are elected local authorities, which aim to engage local people and respond to their needs, through representation as community advocates or by providing services.
Many parish and town councils are involved in planning, promoting tourism, licensing, community halls, representation, management of town and village centres and provide local representatives for the Council’s Community Area Boards.
Each town and parish council is made up of councillors who, on the whole, are elected through the ballot box. Elections are held every four years. By-elections are also held to fill vacant seats as and when they occur.
Some councillors are not elected but co-opted onto the Council. This happens when there are not enough candidates at the time of an election to fill all the vacancies or, when a vacancy occurs mid-term, the electorate does not call for an election. In these circumstances the existing elected councillors, provided there is a quorum (i.e. one third of the whole numbers of members with a minimum of three), can co-opt members to fill the remaining vacancies.
Please contact us if you feel you would like to be involved with our local council
The following are all under the remit of local councils:
Allotments
Burial Grounds, Cemeteries, Churchyards and Crematoria
Bus Shelters
Bye-laws – the power to make bye-laws concerning:baths and washhouses (swimming pools), cycle parks, mortuaries and pleasure grounds
Clocks – public clocks can be provided and must be maintained
Community Centres, Conference Centres, Halls, Public Buildings
Drainage – of ditches and ponds
Entertainment and the Arts
Footpaths
General Spending – parish councils can spend a limited amount of money on anything they deem of benefit to the community that is not covered by the other specific responsibilities described in this list
Gifts – parish councils may accept gifts
Highways – lighting, parking places, right to enter into discussions about new roads and road widening, consent of parish council required for diversion or discontinuation of highway, traffic signs and other notices, tree planting and verge maintenance
Land – acquisition and sale of
Legal proceedings – power to prosecute and defend any legal proceedings in the interests of the community, power to take part in any public enquiry
Litter – provision of litter-bins and support for any anti-litter campaigns
Planning – parish councils must be notified of, and display for residents, any planning applications for the area. Any comments submitted to the planning authority by the parish council must be taken into account
Postal and Telecommunication Facilities – power to pay a public telecommunications operator any loss sustained in providing services in that area
Public conveniences – provision and maintenance of public toilets
Recreation – provision of recreation grounds, public walkways, pleasure grounds, open spaces, village greens, gymnasiums, playing fields, holiday camps and boating ponds
Rights of Way – footpath and bridleway maintenance
Seats (public)
Signs – danger signs, place names and bus stops signs
Tourism – financial contributions to any local tourist organisations allowed
Traffic Calming
War Memorials
Water Supply – power to utilise stream, well or spring water and to provide facilities for general use
Manningford Parish Council (March 2023):
CHAIR
Andrew Paine
VICE CHAIR
Andy Reed
Finance
Clerk/Ruth Kinderman
Planning, Environmental
Bridget Lanyon
Highways
David Proto
Village Hall
Sue Lymposs
Footpaths
Andy Reed
Playground
Linda Tamani
PARISH CLERK
Ruth Kinderman
2 Little Woodborough, Woodborough, Pewsey, SN9 5PL
01672 851757 | m.kinderman57@btinternet.com
WILTSHIRE COUNCILLOR FOR THE PEWSEY VALE
Paul Oatway
Meadow View, Milton Lilbourne
07779 898456 | paul.Oatway@wiltshire.gov.uk