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Elections for all seats on the Parish Councils within Stafford Borough
are held every four years and the last elections took place on Thursday, May 3rd 2007.
There are over 8,700 parish and town councils representing around 16
million people across England. They form the most local level of government and cover many rural and
urban areas.
Eccleshall Parish Council meets regularly to make decisions on the work
and direction of the council. As an elected body
the work of a Parish Council involves delivering services to meet local
needs, striving to improve the quality of
life in the parish and representing the local community.
Eccleshall Parish Council is not a political body and is made up of 15
councillors representing four wards.
The Parish Council meets on the third Wednesday in every month, with the
exception of August and December. At the start
of each meeting is a session for Public Participation, where residents
can raise issues of local importance. Six out of the 10 meetings
are held at the Community Centre in Eccleshall, with two per
year being held at both Broughton Parish Rooms and Offley Hay Village
Hall to enable local residents to attend more easily. The Planning
Committee meets on the first and third Wednesday of each month.
The Parish Council has several committees:- Traffic Management
Committee, Enhancements Committee, Policy and
Resources Committee, and Footpaths Committee, which meet every 6 weeks
or so. There is also a Staffing Committee which meets as and when
required.
New Parish Councillors usually attend a training course and members are
nominated at the Annual General Meeting in May to
represent various local groups including the Allotments Association, Business Focus Group, Ecclian Society, Care Home, Community Centre,
Tourism Bureau, Offley Hay Village Hall, Croxton Playing Fields, Parish
Forum, Local Agenda 21 and Farmer’s Market.
Each year a sum of money called a ‘precept’ is collected through your
council tax. This money is used by your parish
council to improve facilities and services for local people. The parish
council also applies for grants and receives money from rents and leases
The Council Newsletter is published on a quarterly basis. Ward members
deliver newsletters where possible
andTown
Councillors and the clerk each have a part of the town to which they
deliver.
Eccleshall Parish Council achieved Quality Status in November 2004. A
Parish Plan was published in July 2004 and a
Town Design Statement in May 2006. The Parish Council has a web site
where information is available and minutes can be viewed. There is a
series of 11 footpath walks and also a booklet containing a further
eight walks.
The Parish Council supports the Ecclian Society and funds the watering
of hanging baskets and mangers in the town during the summer
and the purchase of 60 Christmas Trees in December. Annual events
include the Civic Service and Carol Singing.
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.
As a councillor you can become a voice for your community and bring
about real change. Councillors are community leaders and represent the
aspirations of the public that they serve. Parish councils are the most
local part of our democratic system and are closest to the public. Why
don’t you stand for your local parish council and see what a difference
you can make to your local community?
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