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What is a Parish Council? A Parish Council is a small local authority representing the tier of local authority closest to the community. Iden Parish Council has 5 members who are elected to serve a term of 4 years. They try to ensure that the views of the community are expressed and taken into account by other authorities, agencies and organisations responsible for taking decisions which affect Iden and its residents. |
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Select Property to see application only current applications are shown |
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To stand as a councillor, You have to be: • a British subject, or a citizen of the Commonwealth or the European Union; and • on the “relevant date” (i.e. the day on which you are nominated or if there is a poll the day of the election) 18 years of age or over; and additionally: • on the “relevant day” a local government elector for the council area for which you want to stand; or • have during the whole of the 12 months preceding that day occupied as owner or tenant any land or other premises in the council area; or • have during that same period had your principal or only place of work in the council area; or • during that 12 month period resided in the council area. In the case of a sitting member of a parish or community council you can also satisfy the criteria to be elected if you have lived in the council area or within 3 miles of it for the whole of the 12 months preceding the “relevant day”. You cannot stand for election if you • are subject of a bankruptcy restriction order or interim order. • have, within five years before the day of the election, 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 council you want to become a councillor for (but you can work for other local authorities, including the principal authorities that represent the same area). |
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PARISH CLERK Mary Philo Island Cottage Swan Street Wittersham Kent, TN30 7PH E.: email T.: 01797 270790 |
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Michael J Miller Old School House Church Lane Iden TN31 7XD 01797 280304 |
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Chris Wood Dolphin Cottage Main Street Iden 01797 280314 |
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Parish, town and community councils in England and Wales have a number of basic responsibilities in making the lives of local communities more comfortable, many of which are often taken for granted. Essentially these powers fall within three main categories: representing the whole electorate within the parish; delivering services to meet local needs; and striving to improve quality of life in the parish. Individual powers include the provision and maintenance of community transport schemes, traffic calming measures, local youth projects, tourism activities, leisure facilities, car parks, village greens, public lavatories, litter bins, street lighting, street cleaning, burial grounds, allotments, bus shelters, commons, opens spaces, footpaths, bridleways, and crime reduction measures. Community, parish and town councils can also comment on planning applications - they are statutory consultees (they have to be consulted if they so wish) and can be represented at public inquiries.
How often does the Parish Council meet and what happens at a meeting? The Parish Council meets once every month, usually on the first Tuesday. Meetings are held in the village hall and these usually commence at 7.30 p.m. A notice of each meeting is placed on the notice board, and on this website, in the week prior to the meeting. Whilst not required by law the Agenda for each meeting is also placed on the notice board and this website so that members of the public can see what business the Parish Council will be conducting. The Parish Councillors will discuss and consider each item on the Agenda. Sometimes they will resolve to take action on a matter; in other cases it will be necessary for the matter to be deferred so that further information or advice can be obtained A period of time is set aside at each meeting for the public to ask questions and make reports. This is also the public’s opportunity to make comments upon agenda items if they so wish, but it must be remembered that once the public session has finished the public should take no further part in the meeting except with the express permission of the Chairman. How do I bring a matter to the attention of the Council ? You might be concerned about any number of matters, e.g. the cleanliness of the streets, dog fouling, highway related matters, anti-social behaviour etc. You can bring your concerns to the Council by: 1) speaking with or writing to a Councillor or the Clerk. Do this as soon as you become aware of a problem – the sooner an issue is reported the sooner the chance of it being resolved. In appropriate cases, where the Parish Council has had sufficient notice of a problem (usually no less than 14 days before a meeting) and the problem is such that a formal decision by the Council is needed to progress the matter, an item may be put on the agenda for a formal discussion; 2) asking a question or reporting a matter during the public session at a Parish Council meeting. This part of the meeting is intended to provide a means of exchanging information. It is not possible for the Parish Council to take decisions on matters raised during this time. |
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Freedom of information act relating to Iden parish council
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