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March 5, 2011
Serving your Local Community
On Thursday 5 May all our local villages (along with some 10,000 others around the country) will be going to the polling stations to elect the people they want to represent them on their Parish Council for the next 4 years. One has to just wonder how many local villagers could name the people who presently represent their villages.
Who can be a Parish Councillor
Anyone over the age of 18 who is a British subject, a citizen of the Commonwealth or the Irish Republic may become a Parish Councillor, providing they are a registered elector of the Parish or live within three miles of the Parish.
Parish Councillors are unpaid and give their time freely. That said, it can be a very rewarding and interesting experience and helps you to give something back to the community you live in. It enables you to work alongside likeminded people, share ideas, discuss projects, and have a very real input into decisions concerning the parish and the continuing development of the community. You really can make a difference to your community by becoming a Parish Councillor.
The duties of a Parish Councillor are governed by law and are not as far reaching as many casual observers may think. Being a Parish Councillor means that you are the nearest level of local government to the electors you represent. It gives the opportunity to be involved in local decision making and strategic planning which cover many facets of daily life. Being a Parish Councillor brings no special privileges other than the satisfaction of working for the Parish in which you live.
Parish Councils have a number of basic responsibilities in making the lives of local communities more comfortable, many of which are often taken for granted. Essentially these powers fall within three main categories: representing the whole electorate within the parish; delivering services to meet local needs; and striving to improve quality of life in the parish. Powers include the provision and maintenance of community leisure facilities, car parks, village greens, public lavatories, litter bins, street lighting, street cleaning, burial grounds, allotments, bus shelters, open spaces, footpaths, bridleways, planning issues and crime reduction measures, just to name a few. Most Parish Councils meet once every month to make decisions on these issues.
Nomination process
A prospective candidate must deliver or send by post to the Returning Officer a valid nomination paper. This form is obtained from the Returning Officer at North Kesteven District Council. The candidate's surname, forenames, residence must be entered and his or her number and prefix letter from the current register of electors. The Returning Officer and the clerk of the local council have a copy of this register.
The Election Procedure
As mentioned the election this year is on Thursday 5 May.
The returning officer is the person responsible for the conduct and arrangement for parish council elections. If you are considering becoming a candidate for election it could be wise to contact the Returning Officer to obtain any more detailed information. Also for more information about what life is like as councillor contact your local County Association of Local Councils or alternatively your local parish council.
If you would like any information about what is involved in being a Parish Councillor or are interested in standing as a candidate then contact the Clerk to your Parish Council or Cliff Robinson at NKDC on 01529 308245.
Our local Clerks' contact details:-
Nocton & Dunston - Doreen Green - 01526 322323
Metheringham - Sharon Wetherall - 0800 6343307
Scopwick - Joe Kennard - 01526 321938
Martin - Ann Parkinson 01526 3549477
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