howard mcsweeney1 wrote:most parish councillors give up a few hours a month to do something for their immediate locality. . .
That relates just to those who see their only requirement is to turn up at the parish council meetings - my own experience is that those who take it seriously can spend a few hours EVERY DAY on parish council business. Also they are described as 'sovereign', meaning in general terms they can raise whatever precept they like and spend it however they like provided there is no other law preventing them from so doing.
The following is a description of the duties of local councils (town and parish), i.e. the things they must do:
• comply with its obligations under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, the Data Protection Act 1998 and the Equality Act 2010
• comply with employment law
• consider the impact of their decisions on reducing crime and disorder in their area
• have regard to the protection of biodiversity in carrying out their functions
• consider the provision of allotments if there is demand for them from local residents and it is reasonable to do so
• decide whether to adopt a churchyard when it is closed, if asked to do so by the Parochial Church Council.
And things they can do:
In April 2012, the Government introduced the general power of competence for eligible local councils. The general power of competence is designed to make it easier for eligible councils to act. It is intended to permit eligible local councils to do anything that an individual might do, as long as other legislation does not forbid it. This could include, for example, the development of land for residential or commercial purposes.
So the trend with this government is to give local councils more powers and not restrict their fundraising abilities, unlike higher level councils which are capped.
