What is a Parish Council?
Parish or Town Councils are an important tier of Government within the UK; a Parish/Town Council is the smallest and most localised tier of local government in the UK and is a properly constituted local authority.
The powers and duties, and the manner in which a Parish Council operates are laid out in local government statute and regulations; Parish Councils operate at a level below national government and also below district and borough councils. Parish & Town Councils are elected and can help on a number of local issues, like planning applications or running local sports grounds and community halls.
The Parish Council has legal responsibilities as an employer. In the case of Staploe Parish Council we employ the Clerk on a part time basis for 5 hours per week. We also have legal responsibilities as an owner of public land and buildings.
Parish Councils are Statutory Bodies, having powers under a number of different Acts (the Local Government Act 1972, the Public Health Act 1936, etc.). Only a few Councils need to use all their available powers. It is up to each Council to choose what is appropriate for the community they serve.
The Council raises funds by the annual Precept which is set in January of each year. The amount required is guided by the setting of the annual budget in the November preceding.
The Parish Council precept is added to the Council Tax bill and collected by Bedford Borough Council (on behalf of the Parish Council).
The Council also raises funds through grants from other organisations and may be granted 15% of the funds from the Community Infrastructure Levy on any new development in the parish.
Staploe Parish Council own the play equipment, street lights, bus shelter in Honeydon, noticeboards, benches and dog bins in the parish. We hold the Noel Bates Memorial Playing Field in trust and the field is managed by us as sole trustees of the Duloe and Staploe Village Playing Field Charity. We also manage the grass cutting on the highways verges in the parish and the grass cutting on the playing field and Duloe Common.
Parish Councillors
Staploe Parish Councillors Contact Details and Responsibilities
Staploe Parish Councillors Registers of Interests
Why and how do I become a Parish Councillor?
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