RIBBLE
BANK PARISH COUNCIL ELECTIONS
Parish Council elections are due to be held in a number of Parishes
throughout the Craven Area, on 6th May 2010. Positions on the Ribble
Banks Parish Council will be up for election on that date.
A number of the current Councillors (2 Rathmell Councillors and 1
Wigglesworth Councillor) have decided that it is time to step aside at this
next election. This could be the opportunity for you to consider putting
yourself forward as a prospective Parish Councillor. Or you may know of someone
who might need a little encouragement or support to put themselves forward.
The
closing date for nominations to stand as a Parish Councillor is 8th
April 2010.
A brief description of the position and duties of a Parish Councillor are
as follows:-
What is a
Local Councillor?
As a Councillor
you can become a voice for your community and can affect real change.
Councillors
are community leaders and represent the aspirations of the public that
they
serve. Parish, town, community and neighbourhood councillors are the most
local part
of our democratic system, and are closest to the public.
Am I
qualified?
Most people
are. However, you have to be:-
- a British
citizen, or a citizen of the Commonwealth or the European Union,
- 18
years or older on the day you become nominated for election.
- have
residency or work in the Parish, or be a local government elector for the Parish.
You cannot
stand for election if you -
- are
the subject of a bankruptcy restriction order or interim order
- have,
within five years before the day of the election, been convicted in the
- work
for the Council you want to become a Councillor for.
How
are Local Councillors elected?
Local
Council Councillors are elected to represent a geographical area known as a Parish.
They are elected by the people who live in the Parish.
What do
Local Councillors do?
Councillors
have three main areas of work :-
1.
Decision-making: through attending meetings and 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.
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. This often depends on what
the
Councillor
wants to achieve and how much time is available.
Parish, town and community councils may soon be
granted more powers, especially as part of Quality Status. When councils are
awarded this status they are allowed to negotiate with the local principal
authorities (the district or county council or unitary authority) that certain
responsibilities get devolved to the parish. This is part of the government's
initiative to revitalise local democracy.
What
services do RBPC provide?
RBPC
principally contributes to or comments on the following services :-
community
centres, crime reduction measures, maintaining open spaces, planning matters,
and highways matters.
The Parish
Council works with Craven District Council and North Yorkshire County Council,
who are the “principal authorities” responsible for providing the major
services to the community. They consult with Parish Councils to identify the
needs of the community, and the Parish Council seeks to ensure the effective
delivery of services, provided by these “principal authorities”, to their local
community.
Parish
Councils have a statutory right to be informed of all Planning Applications
that fall within, or have an impact on, their Parish. As a result they have the
right to make comments on these applications, and be represented at public
enquiries, if they so wish.
The constitution of Ribble Banks Parish
Council.
Ribble
Banks Parish Council was formed in 1974 as a Grouped Parish Council,
representing the villages of Rathmell, Wigglesworth and Halton West. The
constitution determines that Rathmell has 2 representatives on the Parish
Council, Wigglesworth has 2 representatives and Halton West has I representative.
This is determined largely by the population size of each village.
How do we
make decisions?
The Parish
Council is made up of 5 of Councillors who generally meet every two months to
make decisions on the work and direction of the council.
Attending
a council meeting is the best way to find out what we do.
Where do
Parish Councils get their money from?
Each year
a sum of money called a ‘precept’ is collected through your council tax. This money
is invested back into the local neighbourhood by the Parish Council, to improve
facilities and services for you and your neighbours.
How much
time does it take up?
RBPC Councillors
say that their duties occupy them for about one to three hours a month.
Obviously there are some councillors who spend more time than this – and some less,
but in the main, being a Local Councillor is an enjoyable way of contributing
to your community and helping to make it a better place to live and work.
If you are
interested in standing as a Councillor further information can be obtained by
contacting Craven District Council’s Democratic Services Department, or by speaking
to one of your Councillors or the Chairman of The Parish Council David Clarke
on 01729 840794.
The NALC Guide: “All About Town and Parish Councils” has provided much of the information outlined above.