| Welcome to the official web pages of the Shap with Shap Rural Parish Council where you will be able to find information relating to the business and affairs of the parish council. The pages provide information for local residents who are interested in the decisions of the parish council. You will find agendas and minutes of parish council meetings to help you get to the heart of decision-making. The parish council has 10 councillors who look after the interests of the parish and its inhabitants. Parish council meetings are held on the first Monday of each month, except where this falls on a Bank Holiday when the meeting is usually moved to the following Monday. Most meetings are held in the Market Cross beginning at 7.30 pm. Everyone is welcome to attend parish council meetings and there is always an opportunity for members of the public to ask a question or raise a matter of concern. If you can’t attend a meeting but want to raise an issue then speak to any of the councillors or the clerk who can raise the matter for you. Parish Councils in general
There are over 8,000 parish/town councils in England covering rural and urban parishes. As the first tier of local government parish councils are legal entities, they are required by law to perform certain duties and they have certain statutory powers which they can exercise at their discretion.
What do they do? A parish council has responsibility for looking after the well being of its community and improving the quality of life for its residents. In general a parish council will:
- Represent the interests of its community.
- Make decisions, including difficult ones, for the benefit of the whole community having regard to the diversity within the parish.
- Decide where money should be raised and spent for the benefit of the whole community, including the delivery of local services to meet local needs.
- Set, review and monitor the annual budget.
- Ensure that money is spent lawfully, accurately accounted for and audited according to law.
- Ensure best value in the spending of money raised.
- Establish and review policies and standing orders and adhere to them.
- Promote and ensure a positive profile within the community and outside it.
How does it work? As a corporate body the council is an entity or “it” in its own right, distinct from its individual members but composed of a chairman and councillors. Its decisions are the responsibility of the whole body. It meets regularly to make decisions on the business and direction of the council. The business of the council might arise from its community-based agenda of projects and improvements or it may arise in response to consultation from the district and county councils or other agencies such as the police or health trusts. In reality the business of the council is usually an amalgam of several of these.
Where does it get its money from?
A parish council raises money through the “precept” – this is the amount of money it needs to fulfil its obligations as far as the local community is concerned and it is drawn from the money raised by the district council through the council tax. Who can become a parish councillor? You can become a parish councillor if you are a British subject or a citizen of the Republic of Ireland or a relevant citizen of the European Union and You are over 18 years of age on the day of nomination for election; and
You are a local government elector for the area; or You live or work in or near the parish. Can I become a parish councillor? You certainly can become a parish councillor if you fulfil the criteria listed above but it is not just about fulfilling the criteria you need to have the interests of the local community at heart and want to make a difference. You will be putting your skills, knowledge and personality to best use for your community and commitment, willingness to learn, objectivity and patience will be important assets. You would need to stand for election and these are held every four years. The last election in the Shap parish was in 2007 so the next one will occur in 2011. |