Parish Council Responsibilities

Every Parish Council in the UK has a responsibility to it's community for ensuring the delivery of a number of services and work closely with the District Council (in this case Selby District) to make this work. The list itemised below is taken from the government website which delegates these repsonsibilities to Parish Councils.

  • Allotments
  • Burial Grounds, Cemeteries, Churchyards and Crematoria (when closed)
  • Bus Shelters
  • By-laws - the power to make bye-laws concerning: baths and washhouses (swimming pools), cycle parks, mortuaries and pleasure grounds
  • Clocks - public clocks can be provided and must be maintained
  • Community Centres, Conference Centres, Halls, Public Buildings
  • Drainage - of ditches and ponds
  • Entertainment and the Arts
  • Footpaths
  • General Spending - Parish Councils have a limited amount od money they can spend, on anything they identify as a benefit to the community that is not covered by the other specific responsibilities contained in this list
  • Gifts - Parish councils may accept gifts
  • Highways - lighting, parking places, right to enter into discussions about new roads and road widening, consent of Parish Council required for diversion or discontinuation of highway, traffic signs and other notices, tree planting and verge maintenance
  • Land - acquisition and sale of
  • Legal proceedings - power to prosecute and defend any legal proceedings in the interests of the community, power to take part in any public enquiry
  • Litter - provision of litter-bins and support for any anti-litter campaigns
  • Planning - Parish councils must be notified of, and display for residents, any planning applications for the area. Any comments submitted to the planning authority by the Parish council must be taken into account
  • Postal and Telecommunication Facilities - power to pay a public telecommunications operator any loss sustained in providing services in that area
  • Public conveniences - provision and maintenance of public toilets
  • Recreation - provision of recreation grounds, public walkways, pleasure grounds, open spaces, village greens, gymnasiums, playing fields, holiday camps and boating ponds
  • Rights of Way - footpath and bridleway maintenance
  • Seats (public)
  • Signs - danger signs, place names and bus stops signs
  • Tourism - financial contributions to any local tourist organisations allowed
  • Traffic Calming
  • War Memorials
  • Water Supply - power to utilise stream, well or spring water and to provide facilities for general use