What is a Parish Council ?

The parish council acts as a local governing body that makes decisions for the community, sitting under the district authority in the hierarchy. They tackle various matters like planning, crime prevention, community support, and public space management. The council can also collect funds through a tax called the precept, which the district council handles for them. While parish councils have limited decision-making power on their own, they can negotiate and influence other organizations that hold the final say, like the District Council, Health Authorities, and the Police.

What does a Parish Councillor Do?

Parish Councillors collaborate with different government sectors and local organisations to achieve the best results for the village, tackling issues like muddy roads and flooding, as well as managing everything from small construction projects to major developments like Port One.

The Council gathers once a month to review planning applications and address issues brought up by local residents. Members of the public are always invited to come along to have their say. Meetings typically run for around two hours, depending on what’s on the agenda. Besides the monthly meetings, councillors might be called to represent the council at other events, like community activities or new project developments. Once elected, parish councillors sit on the council for a maximum of four years. If they then want to stay in the post they can stand for re-election. Training courses are available to all councillors and support is happily given. Guidance on your role as a Councillor is always available from the Clerk or the Chairman. The best way to understand what being a parish councillor is really like is to chat with someone currently in the role or join us at a parish council meeting.

Am I eligible to be a Parish Councillor?

To be eligible for the role of a Parish Councillor, you need to meet a few criteria. First, you should be a British citizen, a Commonwealth citizen, or from the European Union, and at least 18 years old. You must also be registered to vote in the parish of Great Blakenham and have either owned or rented a property there for the past year. Additionally, your main job should be in the parish, or you should live within three miles of its boundary. However, you can't run for election if you're under a bankruptcy restriction order, have been convicted of a serious crime in the last five years, or work for the council you're aiming to join, although working for other local authorities is fine. There's no requirement to be part of a political party.