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A Parish Council is a statutory local authority set up under the Local Government Act 1894. It operates in the area of a defined civil parish.
In Hertfordshire, there are three tiers of local government - Hertfordshire County Council, District Councils and Town/Parish Councils. Elections
to Parish Councils are held every four years.
Parish Councils are an essential part of the structure of local democracy and have a vital role in acting on behalf of the communities they represent. They:
- give views, on behalf of the community, on planning applications and other proposals that affect the parish;
- undertake projects and schemes that benefit local residents;
- work in partnership with other bodies to achieve benefits for the parish;
- alert relevant authorities to problems that arise or work that needs to be undertaken; and
- help the other tiers of local government keep in touch with their local communities.
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A Parish Council has a wide range of powers which essentially relate to local matters, such as looking after community buildings, open space, allotments,
play areas, street lighting, bus shelters, car parks and much more.
The Parish Council also has the power to raise money through taxation, the precept. The precept is the Parish Council's share of the council tax. The precept
demand goes to the billing authority, the District Council, which collects the tax for the Parish Council.
Furneux Pelham Parish Council has responsibility for the Village Hall carpark, some common land, allotments, bus shelters, notice boards and
benches.
More information is available via the agendas and minutes of meetings and the
Parish Council's finance and governance arrangements.
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