Casual Vacancy to be filled by Co-option November 2012

Transcription

1 Dorstone Parish Council Casual Vacancy to be filled by Co-option November 2012 Notes for Potential Applicants These notes are designed to give Parishioners who may be interested in being considered for the vacancy on Dorstone Parish Council an idea of what is involved. The first two sections give a general overview of the role and responsibilities of a Parish Council and what being a Councillor involves. The third section sets out eligibility criteria for standing. The fourth section outlines specific features relating to Dorstone and the last Section sets out what the current Council is trying to achieve in terms of objectives. 1. The Role and Responsibilities of a Parish Council Generally the role of a parish council is to improve the quality of community life for their parish and its inhabitants. They can: Give views, on behalf of their community, on planning applications and other proposals that affect the parish. Undertake projects and schemes that benefit local residents. Work in partnership with other bodies to achieve benefits for the parish. Alert relevant authorities to problems that arise or work that needs to be undertaken. Help the other tiers of local government keep in touch with their local communities. 2. What Does Being a Councillor Involve? A councillor is a member of a parish council and is normally elected for a term of four years at each election. Sometimes councillors are elected at a by-election or, as in this case, by co-option during the four year period. Most parish councillors are a range of men and women of all ages. Their political views do not normally extend into their local council work. What parish and town councillors do all have in common is an active interest in their local community and a concern for promoting the best interests of it. Councillors have 3 main components to their work: 1. Decision making through meetings and attending committees with other elected members, councillors decide which activities to support, where money should be spent, what services should be delivered and what policies should be implemented. 1

2 2. Monitoring - councillors make sure that their decisions lead to efficient and effective services by keeping an eye on how well things are working. 3. Getting involved locally as local representatives, councillors have responsibilities towards their constituents and local organisations. These responsibilities and duties often depend on what the councillor wants to achieve and how much time is available,. 3. Eligibility for Office To qualify for election as a local councillor, and to hold such office, an applicant must be a Commonwealth citizen (which includes a British subject) or Euro national and on the relevant day (defined below) has reached 18 years of age AND a) on that day he/she is, and thereafter continues to be, a local government elector for the Parish. or b) he/she has during the whole of the 12 months preceding that day occupied, as owner or tenant, any land or other premises in the Parish or c) his/her principal or only place of work during that 12 months has been in the Parish.or d) he/she has during the whole of those 12 months resided in the Parish; or e) he/she has during the whole of the 12 months preceding the relevant date resided within three miles of the parish or community. The relevant day will be the day on which the person is nominated as a candidate and, if there is a poll, the day of election. A person is disqualified for being elected as a local councillor or being a member of a local council if he/she: a) holds any paid office or employment of the local council (other than the office of Chairman) or of a joint committee on which the council is represented; or b) is a person who has been adjudged bankrupt or has made a composition or arrangement with his/her creditors c) has within 5 years before the day of election, or since his/her election, been convicted in the UK, Channel Islands or Isle of Man of any offence and has been sentenced to imprisonment (whether suspended or not) for not less than 3 months without the option of a fine; or d) is otherwise disqualified under Part III of the Representation of the People Act 1983 for corrupt or illegal practices, or under the Audit Commission Act 1998 consequent upon audit proceedings. 2

3 The person selected to fill the vacancy will be required to sign a Declaration of Acceptance of Office & complete a Notice of Registrable Interests. 4. Dorstone Parish Council Dorstone Parish Council comprises 7 members plus a Clerk who is paid a salary for undertaking his duties. The current members were elected in May 2011 and serve a 4 year term. The casual vacancy is caused by the resignation of John Platts. The members of the Council elect annually a Chairman, currently Colin Thomas, and a Vice Chairman, currently Simon Gaze. The Council meets on a monthly basis, usually on the second Wednesday of the month. The meeting starts at 7.30 and lasts about two hours and is held in the Village Hall. In addition additional meetings are sometimes called, usually to deal with Planning Applications in the Parish, where comments are required before the next formal meeting of the Council. Dealing with Planning Applications is an important part of the work of the Council. The Parish Council is a consultee in the Planning Process; it does not make Planning decisions as such, although views expressed by the Council are examined seriously by both Herefordshire Council Planners and the Ward Councillor. In order to ensure that Parishioners are aware of Applications, a Councillor is given the task of visiting neighbours to the Application and acting as a contact point for gathering views. Individual Councillors also undertake specific duties in respect of part of the Council s duties. For example one Councillor overseas the Lengthsman s Scheme as well as acting as Footpath s Officer, others act as liaison with other Village Groups, such as the Village Hall, Church and Young Farmers. John Platts had an overview of financial matters and Emergency Procedures. This doesn t necessarily mean that the co-opted member will take on these duties as the Council tries to match activities with particular interests, as well as taking account of time availability Outside regular meetings, communication is undertaken via E Mail and agendas and minutes are also distributed in this form. The Council has embarked on preparing a Neighbourhood Plan for the Parish, which will take about 18 months to complete. Dorstone is part of a Front runner scheme and the current Council sees this as a very important development in shaping Dorstone over the next 20 3

4 years in terms of housing, land development and other related economic activities. The Steering Group will comprise all members of the Council plus other co-opted Parishioners who wish to get involved in the detail preparation of the Plan. This activity will involve additional meetings and training sessions. 4. Dorstone Parish Council Priorities, Objectives and Approach The following sets out the approach that the newly elected Council in May 2011 wished to adopt in dealing with issues, services and wider County and Government policies which have an impact on the Parish. 1. Parish Plan - the Dorstone Parish Plan provides a clear basis for guiding the Council in its approach to the range of issues and policies facing the Parish. It continues to provide a sound basis for judging Parishioners views on a broad range of topics as well as dealing with the list of Actions that were agreed when the Plan was completed. It is in effect a Plan for the Council, and as such should be at the heart of the Council s discussions, activities and prioritisation of action. 2. Communications & Consultation - the Council wishes to be as open as possible in all its dealings, continuing to provide open access to the formal record of Council proceedings on the Village web site, but also continuing and developing the quarterly Parish Update reports, circulated via E mail and on Notice Boards and the DFR. The Council will undertake to consult as widely and effectively as possible on any major issue which arises, including arranging Open Meetings for Parishioners to directly express their views. 3. Community Organisations - the Council will work closely with Community organisations for the benefit of the whole Parish. The establishment of a Community Fund will be introduced this financial year and its effectiveness will be closely monitored. 4. Services - many of the services provided to the Parish are undertaken by other providers, so the Council will do its utmost to ensure that these services are continued and provided effectively. In particular this will involve close liaison with the Ward Councillor and key members of Herefordshire Council, for example in Planning and Highways Departments. 5. Making Dorstone s views known - the Council will make every attempt to ensure that the views of the Parish are known and heard, as far as possible, with the objective of influencing important decisions concerning provision of services and policy decisions taken by other bodies, including the County Council, that have an impact on the Parish. This includes the key area of Strategic Planning policy where the future status and size of parishes, such as Dorstone are considered. 4

5 6. Quality Council status - the Council will investigate the possibility of attaining Quality Council status which may bring future benefits to the Parish in terms of the quality of services provided by the Council and may bring improved prospects of securing possible future grant aid, only available to designated Quality Councils. Any further enquiries or questions please contact the Chairman, Colin Thomas or the Clerk, Chris Hendy, or any member of the Council. 5