 Parish and town councils get involved in a wide range of local issues. |
This page describes what parish councils are and why we think they are the best form of community governance.
There are over two hundred parish and town councils in Northamptonshire, ranging from very small rural ones with just a few hundred electors to large urban ones with over twenty thousand electors. The majority of parish councils are rural but an increasing number are being set up in urban areas, and there are some well established councils in areas in Northamptonshire such as Duston, Billing and Rushden.
A parish council is the first tier of local government, closest to the people it serves. Parish councils are local authorities and are completely autonomous. They often work in partnership with the borough and county council but are seperate organisations in their own right.
There are two reasons why we think parish councils are the best form of community governance. Firstly parish councils are statutory bodies; they are set up in law and have a legal status and standing. Secondly they have the power to raise money (called the precept) through the council tax. This means that parish councils have their own financial resources to do things that are of benefit to their communities.
The amount of precept varies from council to council, but a starting point would be £2 per month per household. Not a high price to pay to have influence and control over what happens in your local area!
To read more about parish and town councils, the benefits they can bring to your area and how you can create one please download Power to the People from the National Association of Local Councils.
If you have any questions about parish councils, or about setting one up we would be very happy to hear from you. Please call Danny Moody, Chief Executive, Northamptonshire County Association of Local Councils, on 01327 831482 or send an e-mail to: dmoody@northantscalc.gov.uk.