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WHAT A PARISH COUNCIL DOES

The central function of a Parish Council is the making of local decisions and policy relevant to the public interest of the parish. This is done at Council meetings; these are open to the public, who are encouraged to attend to present their views. People may also request any member of the Council to raise issues on their behalf. Norham Parish Council meets at least 6 times per year, in January, March, May, July, September and November. A Parish Council is required to give public notice of meetings at least 3 days in advance, and to publicise the agenda. In Norham this is displayed on the village notice board and on this website. Only items that are on the agenda can be formally debated and resolved at a meeting. A Council must also publicise the draft minutes of the meeting, which are posted on the noticeboard and on the website. The final version of the minutes is also similarly publicised once these have been approved, and signed, at the subsequent meeting.

Powers to Provide Facilites

There are discretionary powers that a Parish Council may exercise to provide maintain and manage facilities, including:

  • Buildings for community use, such as village halls of community centres

  • Recreational facilities, such as parks or playgrounds

  • Public toilets, litter bins, public seats, clocks

  • Maintenance of Rights of Way

  • Cycle and Motorcycle parking

  • Guardianship of common land, such as the village green

  • Maintenance of war memorials


They may also provide the following, subject to the consent of the County Council:​

  • Bus shelters

  • Lighting of roads and public places

  • Off-street car parks

  • Certain traffic signs and other public notices

  • Provision, maintenance and protection of roadside verges

  • Establishment or acquisition of markets, and provision of market places and market buildings

Consultative Powers

A Parish Council has a statutory right to be consulted by the County Council on:

  • All planning applications in the area

  • Intention to provide a burial ground in the parish

  • Proposals to carry out sewerage works

  • Footpath and bridleway (more generally, 'rights of way') surveys

  • Intention to make byelaws in relation to hackney carriages, music and dancing, promenades and street naming

  • The appointment of governors of primary schools

Miscellaneous Powers

A Parish Council may also exercise the following powers:

  • Sponsoring public events

  • Support of the arts and provision of entertainment

  • Encouragement of tourism

  • Providing grants to local voluntary organisations

  • Funding crime prevention measures

  • Providing grants for bus services, and funding community transport schemes

  • Contribution of money towards traffic calming schemes

  • Cleaning and drainage of ponds, watercourses and ditches

  • Power to obtain water from any well, spring or stream

  • Creation of a neighbourhood plan

  • Power to acquire or dispose of land

  • Withholding of consent to stop up unclassified highways and footpaths

  • Appointing trustees of local charities

  • Power to make byelaws in regard to pleasure grounds, cycle parks, baths and washhouses, open spaces and burial grounds, and mortuaries and post-mortem rooms

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