TO BE A COUNCILLOR

Parish Councillors are often asked two questions about parish councils and their work:

1. What is a parish council for and what does it do?

2. What is 'special' about a parish councillor?

The first question can be summarised in simple term as "a parish council is the custodian of the parish charged to maintain its environment in all aspects for the benefit of the parishioners".

A parish council is elected or should be, by the parishioners to carry out the custodian function as laid out in the Local Government Acts of 1972 and 2000. Under these regulations parish councils have wide ranging powers, these it uses with discretion bearing in mind the views of their parishioners as it deals with items such as: Planning, in this case parish councils are only asked for their observations for each planning application by the Local Planning Authority. This is one area of a council's work which causes the greatest annoyance when opinions differ. Not in the case of every planning application but enough to give rise to some anxiety. Other areas which councils deal with are: Roads and Paths, Public Transport, Housing, Items brought to the attention of the council by parishioners, Parish and Village Plans, Structure Plans both Local and Devon wide, Other official Bodies i.e. The Kingsbridge and Salcombe Area Partnership, South Hams District Council, Devon Association of Parish Councils etc. It is also incumbent upon a parish council to keep parishioners informed of all matters via , the media; newsletters, the website, the council blog, parish magazine and posters etc. It should also encourage residents to be interested in parish matters, and those who may be interested enough to serve as a parish councillor.

Much more information can be found elsewhere on this website.

The second question "What is special about a parish councillor?". Nothing is special except in as much as the individual has a conviction that he/she has something to contribute to the parish council's work to the benefit of the parish. This conviction also means he/she will attend council meetings to which he/she is summoned according to the regulations within the Acts. and actively participate in the work of sub-committees on which they have agreed to serve.

There are rules governing Eligibility For Office (Local Government Acts 1972 and 2001). If any person feels they would like to become a parish councillor they should in the first instance contact their Parish Clerk (For Stokenham Mrs Gill Claydon 01548 581185) to clear eligibility issues. They could then arrange to attend two or three parish council meetings and see at first hand the council at work.

Stokenham Parish Council meets on the 3rd Thursday of each calendar month (except August) at 7.30 pm in the Wesley Smith Room at the Stokenham Parish Hall.

Chairman Stokenham Parish Council

Council meets every first and third Thursday of the month except in August and December when there may only be one meeting..

Members of the public are welcome to attend all meetings and have the opportunity to address council on relevant parish matters in Open Forum normally near  the beginning of meetings .

PARISH MEETING

Once a year, before the Annual General Meeting of the council in May, council call a meeting of the parish to review the previous 12 months in the life of the parish, to communicate with parishioners and receive relevant comments and suggestions.
This Annual Parish Meeting is usually held in the Parish Hall and more recently a less formal atmosphere has been adopted to encourage fuller participation by parishioners.

MINUTES OF MEETINGS

Minutes of the Annual Parish Meeting (subject to confirmation) may be found on this website at ANNUAL PARISH MEETING
Approved minutes of all other meetings may be found on this website at MEETINGS Copies of plans and various reports and addendums may be inspected on application to the clerk. Tel. 01548 581185 or E-mail clerk@stokenham-pc.gov.uk