Welcome to Corscombe, Halstock and District Parish Council
Below you will find a brief outline of your Parish Council’s democratic process. By understanding what we do, and the limitations placed on us we hope you will better understand the role we play in the community.
The parish consists of the villages of Corscombe, Halstock and East and West Chelborough and their surrounding districts and lies within a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) within Dorset.
The basic responsibility of the Parish Council is to represent the concerns and wishes of the whole community and to report back to residents on issues affecting the parish.
A Parish Council is a democratically elected body established by legislation. Parish Councils were first established under the Local Government Act 1894. They are the first tier of local government supporting the democratic process. The Parish Council is a corporate body, and a legal entity, and is accountable to the local community.
The Local Government Act 1972 substantially revised the powers available to parish councils. For example, it provided them with the opportunity to raise money through taxation, known as the precept, as well as a range of other statutory powers, and duties. The Localism Act 2011 allowed parish councils to have more flexibility to make a difference to the community, however small.
The Parish Council as a whole is responsible for ensuring that they achieve the best value for this money, and that it is spent in the interests of the community. Accounts are prepared each year, checked by the internal auditor, and forwarded to be audited nationally. To ensure transparency and enable the smooth running of the council a range of policy documents have been produced and can be found on the Parish Council website CHDP.org.uk .
A Parish Council does not have any statutory responsibilities for services such as waste colletion, street parking or planning, these lie with Dorset council but he Parish Council is consulted.
Meet the Parish Council
The Parish Council does not have a permanent office nor any full-time staff. The Clerk works from home and councillors are volunteers. Contractors are employed to undertake other works including grass cutting and hedge maintenance. Specifications are drawn up and quotations always sought.
The Clerk
The Clerk is employed by the council under the Local Government Act 1972. C ’
to ensure that the council carries out its activities properly and lawfully. As its principal advisor it can do this by providing independent advice, support and clear guidance to all Councillors, including the Chairman, so that effective decisions can be made.
The overall responsibilities of the Clerk are varied but may include implementing decisions made by the council, overseeing projects, monitoring and implementing policies, responding to correspondence, and attending training courses. In addition to routine administration, the Clerk has several statutory duties to perform, such as sending each Councillor a summons to attend the bi-monthly Parish Council meetings and the annual Parish meeting in May, as well as a posting the agenda at least 3 clear days before a meeting and ensuring minutes are prepared and displayed as soon as possible after the meeting.
In the case of Corscombe, Halstock and District Parish Council the Clerk is also the Responsible Financial Officer (RFO), ensuring that its financial activities comply with legislative requirements and proper practices. They undertake preparation of annual budgets, proper recording of VAT, and ensuring obligations for insurance are properly met. There are several statutory duties that the RFO exercises, including: annual preparation of accounts for external audit and maintaining a separate account of income and expenditure.
The Councillors
All councillors sign a Declaration of Acceptance of Office and undertake to observe a Code of Conduct when dealing with matters on behalf of the community. Every authority is required to adopt a code of conduct which sets out rules governing the behaviour of its members. Councillors also complete a Register of Interests, a copy of which is held by the Electoral Officer at Dorset Council and can be found on the Parish council website CHDPC.org.uk
The Parish Council has 12 elected/co-opted councillors. Councillors contribute to the work of the Council by suggesting ideas, influencing policy, engaging in constructive debate and by responding to the needs and views of the community. Councillors comment on proposals to ensure the best outcome and vote to enable the Council to make decisions. One of the key areas for the Parish Council is planning, however, while the Parish Council comments on planning applications the decisions are made by Dorset Council. Environmental issues are also very firmly part of the council’s ethos and reflect the growing concerns of the community. Councillors are required to attend the bi-monthly Parish Council meetings and the annual Parish meeting in May.
Individual Parish Councillors cannot make decisions on behalf of the Council, but they can actively lead and engage with local projects. Parish Councillors have no powers outside of the Council meeting. Diversity is encouraged. Councillors from different backgrounds better represent the whole community and possess different skills, attitudes, and interests. Parish Councils also represent the community at other local government meetings or on local bodies/organisations and Councillors may be asked to serve on certain groups or attend functions on behalf of the Parish Council.
The Chairman
The Local Government Act 1972 requires that a chairman be elected annually by the council. They will remain in this role, unless they resign or are disqualified, until the next annual meeting of the council.
The Chairman acts as a figurehead in the community in which they serve. This can be achieved by undertaking various responsibilities, such as: promoting public involvement in council activities. The Chairman is responsible for representing the council as a whole and, as such, when acting in an official capacity should only express the agreed views of the council. Within Council meetings, their main duty is to chair them, ensuring, with the assistance of the Clerk, that they run smoothly, are conducted properly, and that the decisions made at them are lawful and fair. It is also the duty of the Chairman to provide the casting vote at a meeting, should there be an equality of votes during the decision-making process.
The Parish Council actively supports training of its Clerk and councillors and Corscombe, Halstock and District Parish Council is a member of the Dorset Association of Parish and Town Councils (DAPTC). Training and support are provided through the Association.
What matters to you!
A councillor can sever for four years or if co-opted until the date of the next election which will be in 2024. There is no limit on the number of times a councillor can be elected.
The elections coming up in May 2024 offer a great opportunity for the community to play an important part in the running of the council, by identify potential councillors and nominating candidates for election and voting to elect councillors to represent their interests or standing for election themselves. Standing as a Parish council can make a real difference to the community you live in.
The responsibilities of a councillor are;
- shaping the long-term development policy for the Parish, and as part of the planning process, commenting on planning applications in the Parish;
- working in partnership with other Parishes, local authorities and agencies;
- helping the Council to make decisions on behalf of the local community
- ensuring all statutory duties and policies are adhered to
If you are interested in becoming a Parish Councillor, you become someone your community will look to for help, guidance, and support – a community leader with the ability to influence decisions for the benefit of the local community. Seeing your community change for the better, as a result of decisions you have helped to make, is something that can give you a real sense of achievement and pride. For more details on standing for election please contact he Clerk.
Please come and talk to your Councillors and Clerk for more information or attend the Parish Council meetings where you will be able to speak on topics on the agenda. Remember you can contact the Clerk and ask for something to be added to the agenda.
A hard copy or large print version is available on request.
Clerk Tessa Safadi
Tel 01935 579783