Yatton Parish Council
Serving the villages of Claverham and Yatton
Our mission: to ensure provision of high quality services for the benefit of our communities in Yatton and Claverham.
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About Parish Councils
What is a Parish Council?
A Parish Council is a local authority whose members are elected by the electors in the Parish area and serve for four years.
What can Parish Councils do?
Parliament has given various powers to Parish Councils. These powers relate to planning, provision of recreational facilities, community centres and public buildings, crime prevention, community transport, public toilets, tourism, allotments, footpaths, street lighting, certain aspects of highway maintenance, litter, open spaces, traffic calming etc. Powers were recently increased. They also act to represent residents of the parish on issues such as the Local Plan, problems with highways and bins, and with local businesses.
Where do Parish Councils get their Funding?
They may precept for a sum to be raised by the County/District/Borough Council as part of the Council Tax. They may also receive grants and income in other ways. They use this to help improve life for their local community in many ways.
What does a Parish Council do?
The Parish Council provides a means for getting something done about parishioners’ complaints regarding overgrown trees, silted up drains, street lighting, sewage problems, grass verges, street cleansing and the availability and cleanliness of public toilets. They lobby for improvements in highways, footpaths, road safety etc.
Representation is made to other local authorities where appropriate on planning and other matters.
It is also able to provide grants to groups within the community.
It is responsible for managing open spaces, allotment provision, public buildings
and can identify areas for small-
Parish Council Responsibilities
Parish councils currently have a limited number of duties but they all impact directly on the community. The following can all be managed by local councils:
Allotments
Burial Grounds, Cemeteries, Churchyards and Crematoria
Bus Shelters
Bye-
Clocks – public clocks can be provided and must be maintained
Community Centres, Conference Centres, Halls, Public Buildings
Drainage – of ditches and ponds
Entertainment and the Arts
Footpaths
General Spending – parish councils can spend a limited amount of money on anything they deem of benefit to the community that is not covered by the other specific responsibilities described in this list
Gifts – parish councils may accept gifts
Highways – lighting, parking places, right to enter into discussions about new roads and road widening, consent of parish council required for diversion or discontinuation of highway, traffic signs and other notices, tree planting and verge maintenance
Land – acquisition and sale of
Legal proceedings – power to prosecute and defend any legal proceedings in the interests of the community, power to take part in any public enquiry
Litter -
Planning – parish councils must be notified of, and display for residents, any planning applications for the area. Any comments submitted to the planning authority by the parish council must be taken into account
Postal and Telecommunication Facilities – power to pay a public telecommunications operator any loss sustained in providing services in that area
Public conveniences – provision and maintenance of public toilets
Recreation – provision of recreation grounds, public walkways, pleasure grounds, open spaces, village greens, gymnasiums, playing fields, holiday camps and boating ponds
Rights of Way – footpath and bridleway maintenance
Seats (public)
Signs – danger signs, place names and bus stops signs
Tourism – financial contributions to any local tourist organisations allowed
Traffic Calming
War Memorials
Water Supply – power to utilise stream, well or spring water and to provide facilities for general use