Gnosall Parish Council           

We are frequently asked what is the Parish Council and who are the Parish Councillors? With this edition of our newsletter now reaching more homes than ever, it seems like a good opportunity to answer those questions.

What are Parish Councils?

TV representations have not been helpful in illustrating the role of Parish Councils. First there was the Vicar of Dibley, which provided a humorous, if somewhat unflattering and inaccurate portrayal. Then more recently JK Rowling’s The Casual Vacancy presented a nest of intrigue and scheming at Pagford Parish Council. Although we sometimes have our moments, Gnosall Parish Council is not quite as colourful as either of these fictional depictions.  Like all Parish Councils, however, we do play a vital role in the local community.

Gnosall Parish Council is one of 9,000 local parish & town councils in England which serve a quarter of the population. These are not ecclesiastical parishes, but a secular tier of local government - operating as an elected ‘executive body’ of the community. Parish Councils work under a framework of legislation bestowed by Parliament and while we work closely with both our Borough and County Councils, we are still independent of these higher tiers of local government.

What do we do?

Our activities fall into three main categories: - representing the interests of our community, delivering services to meet local needs and striving to improve the quality of life & community well-being.

Our Parish Council has statutory functions to make various decisions and voice the views of residents on local issues, such as planning applications. Although on our own we have limited powers and final decision-making remains with the planning authorities, we can still influence the process by making informed comments and recommendations – including being consulted on major planning documents such as on the Borough Council’s Local Plan. We can also deliver some local services including open spaces, recreational facilities, events and public allotments.

Just as importantly, the Parish Council is often the body required to take a lead on issues or initiatives affecting local interests. This is seen as a natural role because the council is politically independent and may be the only body with access to information or capability to act. A good example of this was the recent Neighbourhood Plan, where the Parish Council initiated the process and brought together the working group that successfully produced the approved document in 2015.