What is a Parish Council?
Parish or Town Councils are an important tier of Government within the UK – a Parish/Town Council is the smallest and most localised tier of local government in the UK and is a properly constituted local authority.
The powers and duties, and the manner in which a Parish Council operates are laid out in local government statute and regulations; Parish Councils operate at a level below national government and also below district councils and, in Northborough’s case below the level of the unitary authority of Peterborough City Council. Parish & Town Councillors are elected and can help on a number of local issues, like planning applications, running local sports grounds and burial grounds.
The Parish Council has legal responsibilities as an employer, and sometimes as an owner of public land and buildings.
Parish Councils are Statutory Bodies, having powers under a number of different Acts (the Local Government Act 1972, the Public Health Act 1936, etc.). Only a few Parish Councils need to use all their available powers. It is up to each Council to choose what is appropriate for the community they serve.
The Council raises funds through the Precept which is added to the Council Tax bill and collected by Peterborough City Council on the Parish Council’s behalf. The amount is set in January of each year and guided by the annual budget set during the previous Autumn for the following financial year (starting April)
The Precept pays for all the essential work carried out by the Parish Council, which also raises funds through grants from other organisations.
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If you spot any errors or omissions please contact us by email so that we can investigate and correct.
Should you wish to make a complaint, please follow the guidance here.