BECOME A PARISH COUNCILLOR – IT TAKES ALL SORTS!
Are you passionate about your community? Do you want to make a positive difference to your area, have a say in how the precept is spent, or help your neighbours with pressing community matters? Perhaps being a Parish Councillor is for you! The Parish Council needs people from all backgrounds, ages and experiences to reflect and represent all parts of our community.
What do Parish Councillors do? Our Parish Council is made up of 10 volunteer Councillors. A Parish Council is the first tier of local government and Councillors collectively provide a democratic voice on localised issues and matters that affect the community and a structure for community action. Collective duties are many and varied, and Councillors will usually be asked to undertake specific roles on appointment.
What decisions does the Parish Council make? The Council acts as one corporate body and represents Benhall and Sternfield residents and issues equally. The Parish Council has certain powers to enable it to fulfil its statutory roles and responsibilities - these powers can be extended to allow the Council to do anything (within the law) to improve the social, economic and environmental well-being of the community. The Parish Council sets a proportion of the overall Council Tax to be spent within the villages; submits statutory consultee comments on planning applications; leads or participates in projects to help maintain, improve or enhance local facilities and services; manages the open spaces and play area; administers the cemetery; represents the needs of the community at various meetings with other bodies; and campaigns for the delivery of better services and facilities. The Parish Council speaks for the community to influence and negotiate with others in their decision-making, for example, the district and county councils, health authorities, police etc.
How much time does it take up? The Council usually meets every other month to discuss and act on issues that fall within the Council’s roles and responsibilities and that are of importance to the local community. Depending on the agenda, meetings may last two hours or so; there will be the need to read brief papers for the meeting in advance. If you are assigned a specific role, you will be asked to provide a short update at each meeting of the Council (verbally or in writing).
Am I eligible to be a Parish Councillor? No special qualification is required to be a Councillor, but you will need to meet certain criteria. To be eligible you must be:
§ a British or commonwealth citizen,
§ have owned a property in the parish for at least 12 months; or
§ have worked in the parish (as your principal or only place of work) for the previous 12 months; or
§ for the whole of the previous 12 months lived in the parish or within three miles of the parish boundary; and
§ be a least 18 years old.
You are not eligible if you
§ are subject of a bankruptcy restriction order or interim order.
§ have, within the last five years, been convicted in the United Kingdom of any offence and have had a sentence of imprisonment (whether suspended or not) for a period of over three months without the option of a fine.
§ you work for the Parish Council (but you can work for other local authorities, including the principal authorities that represent the same area).
This Parish Council also requires that its Councillors are IT literate; willing to undertake training related to the role of Councillor or to their specific role; adhere to the Code of Conduct for Councillors; and, to attend meetings regularly to most effectively represent the community in raising and discussing those issues of interest and concern on which the Parish Council is empowered to act.
You do not have to be connected to a political party. In fact, the National Association of Local Councils’ policy states that “party politics should have no place in Parish Councils. Parish Councillors are there to serve their community as members of the community and should not be side-tracked by party political issues”.
This is an interesting and beneficial role – but don’t just take our word for it! Come along to a Parish Council meeting or speak to one of our Councillors and find out what they think of the role. The following resources also provide more information: All About Town and Parish Councils It takes all sorts! Make a Change, become a Councillor
Interested? Please contact our Clerk, Katherine, for an application form. The closing date will be 12 noon on 17 July 2025. Clerk.benhall@gmail.com
We hope to hear from you soon!