About Us - What Are We?

Parish and town councils are statutory bodies that form the first tier of local government in England. They sit below principal authorities (county, borough and district councils) and have a wide range of powers and are involved in activities such as commenting on planning applications, providing allotments & bus shelters, creating bye laws, the provision of community centres, crime prevention, maintaining public footpaths, providing litter bins and parking, public clocks, open spaces, play areas, community transport and war memorials.

Parish council councils are funded through an annual precept - income and expenditure are estimated for the year and the net amount (the precept) is added to the local council tax and collected by the principal authority on the parish councils behalf. Parish councils do not receive funds direct from government in the way that principal authorities do.