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Penton Mewsey Parish Council - Overview
Questions & Answers Q: What is a Parish Council? A: It is your elected Local Authority - the Civil Parish. The boundaries of Penton Mewsey CP are shown on the 1:25000 scale Ordnance Survey map. [This is not to be confused with the Ecclesiastical Parish of the Anglican Church (with different boundaries) which has a Parochial Church Council (PCC) chaired by the Vicar.]
Q: Do Parish Councils matter? A: Yes because They are democratically elected Local Authorities They are statutory, corporate, bodies under local control They are funded by you & accountable to you They provide local services & facilities They provide grass roots representation They are cost effective
Q: What are Parish Councils actually responsible for? A: Parish Councils powers include direct responsibility for: Footpaths, Lighting, Litter bins, Bus shelters, Seats, Signs, Planning recommendations, Ponds. In Penton Mewsey, we also contribute to the upkeep of the churchyard and the Penton Recreational Centre (PRC) and thus the Village Hall, Village Green, Cricket, Tennis & Playground facilities. Q: Do Parish Councils have any influence? A: Yes - we present the community's view on:Planning Policy in general (e.g. creation of the Village Design Statement - VDS) and we Support or Object to all specific planning applications within and beyond the Conservation Area. Other areas of influence include local input on Traffic Management and Borough Structure Plans. Q: Who are the Penton Mewsey Parish Councillors and what are their roles? A: There are six: Councillors are concerned with: Devising Parish policy Ensuring that community views are made known to District & County Councils Making decisions on expenditure Publicising Council?s projects & events Enhancing local amenities Keeping in touch with what is happening in the locality Keeping in touch with current events in the Local Council world
Councillors are required to: Attend Council meetings regularly (or lose the position) Not accept paid employment by the Council Declare conflicts of interest
Q: Who & What is Parish Clerk? A: Geoff Townson is Clerk to Penton Mewsey Parish Council. The Parish Clerk is: The paid part-time employee of the Council (currently 5 hrs/week) The Proper Officer (CEO) & Responsible Financial Officer Responsible for finance, records & procedures The technical adviser to the Council Responsible for day-to-day liaison with, e.g., Test Valley Borough Council, Hampshire County Council (eg.g. Highways), other Parishes, Hampshire Association of Town & Parish Councils (HAPTC), National Association of Local Councils (NALC), etc, etc
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