Parish council (England)

They can vary enormously in size, activities and circumstances; representing populations ranging from fewer than 100 (small rural hamlets) to up to 130,000 (Northampton Town Council).

[3][8] Civil parish councils were formed in England under the reforming Local Government Act 1894 (56 & 57 Vict.

c. 73) to take over local oversight of civic duties in rural towns and villages from the vestry committee.

Compared to higher tiers of English local government, parish councils have very few statutory duties (i.e. things they are required to do by law) but have a much more extensive range of discretionary powers which they may exercise voluntarily.

For this reason, there are large variations in the activities of parish councils, depending on their size, resources and abilities.

[16] To be eligible for this a parish council must meet certain conditions, such as at least two-thirds of the councillors being elected as opposed to being co-opted or appointed, and having a clerk with suitable qualifications.

[18] In principle the GPC can allow councils to engage in a range of activities such as setting up a trading company or co-operative to operate commercial activities, such as lending or investing money, or running a local shop, post office or energy company.

A Council can also appoint advisory groups which are exempt from these constraints to give flexibility, but these have no delegated powers and cannot make financial decisions.

Items brought up by the attendance of the general public or in correspondence can be discussed,[22] but formal resolutions on these must be deferred if they are not covered by the existing agenda to the next meeting so that due notice can be given.

Procedures for the conduct of meetings are set out in Schedule 12 of the Local Government Act 1972, and where this is not overridden by legislation, by the standing orders of the Council.

Councillors are expected to adhere to the "Nolan principles" of conduct in public life[24] The administration of the Council is managed by its Clerk, a paid employee appointed by the council, who acts in a combined statutory role of Proper Officer (secretary or chief executive) and Responsible Financial Officer (treasurer).

A councillor cannot become the paid clerk of their council, due to conflict of interest, but they can be appointed on an unpaid basis; preferably temporarily.

Elections only occur if, following the advertisement of the vacancy for 14 days, 10 electors send a written request to the returning officer.

If vacancy occurs within 6 months of a scheduled election, then a by-election cannot be called, but the council has the power to co-opt.

[27] Civil parish councils were formed in England under the reforming Local Government Act 1894 (56 & 57 Vict.

The act created two new types of local authority, parish councils and district councils, to rationalise the large number of bodies which existed for a variety of activities such as public health, secular burials, water supply and drainage.

It also finally removed secular duties from the local vestry committees and gave them to the new parish councils.

Two principal Acts of Parliament have increased the general powers of parish councils, and removed onerous constraints.

However, the parish council was retained as the "grass roots" tier of local democracy for rural areas.

However, the original proposal to grant a general power of competence to councils was not carried through, and the doctrine of ultra vires remained.

An eligible council is one which has resolved to adopt the GPC, with at least two-thirds of its members being declared elected, rather than co-opted, and the Clerk must hold an appropriate qualification.

[33] However the precept may not be raised specifically for activities which rely only on the power of the GPC, and such funding must be obtained from other sources.

[34] In 1974, the local government reforms allowed the creation of successor parish councils, to cover those areas formerly the responsibility of a municipal corporation.

[13] In England, there are currently eight parishes with city status, all places with long-established Anglican cathedrals: Chichester, Ely, Hereford, Lichfield, Ripon, Salisbury, Truro and Wells.

[7] Principal councils have the power to make a community governance review at any time for all or part of their district.

It is envisaged that such reviews will occur at intervals of between 10 and 15 years, and will take into account population changes, the need for well-defined boundaries and the wishes of local inhabitants.

[35] At the end of the review process, which must be completed within 12 months, the principal council is empowered to issue a reorganisation order setting out the changes.