What we do

Laughton Parish Council Standing Orders, Financial Regulations and Code of Conduct

Powers of Parish Councils

Parish Council elections are held every four years. Parish Councils have the power to co-opt members if a vacancy arises

The following are some of a Parish Council's responsibilities.

• The provision of allotments.
• Provision of bars and launderettes. 
• Cemeteries, crematoria, maintenance of churchyards and the provision of mortuaries. 
• Provision and maintenance of public clocks. 
• Provision of any form of public entertainment and of any premises for giving entertainments; this includes maintaining bands or orchestras and providing for dancing. 
• The provision of buildings for public meetings and functions, indoor sports, physical recreation, for clubs having recreation, social or athletic objectives. 
• The provision and maintenance of footway lighting, which lights roads and pavements. 
• The provision of litter bins and the support of anti-litter campaigns. 
• The provision and maintenance of public open spaces, pleasure grounds and public walks, public lavatories, car parks, cycle parks, public parks and associated facilities. 
• Maintenance of public footpaths and bridleways, planting and maintaining road side verges. 
• Maintenance of public seats, shelters for general public use and particularly for bus passengers, erection of signs which warn of dangers, renounce a place name or indicate a bus stop. 
• Provision of indoor or outdoor swimming pools or bathing places. 
• Provision of facilities for conferences, the encouragement of recreation and business tourism. 
• Powers to maintain a village or town green.
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In addition, a parish council can do anything, provided it is for the general benefit of the community, and that the expenditure in any one year does not exceed £6.44 per local government elector in that particular parish or community. Parishes set a level for the Parish tax (known as the 'Precept') which is to be charged each year. The Precept is collected on behalf of the Parish by the District Council.

Parish Council procedures

Parish Councils must:

• Appoint a Chairman responsible for the smooth running of meetings and for ensuring that all council decisions are lawful.
• Appoint a Clerk as the Parish Council's advisor and administrator.
• Have at least five members. The National Association of Local Councils recommends seven as the minumum number needed for good administration.
• Appoint a Responsible Financial Officer to manage the finances in a sound and professional manner. The RFO is often the Clerk.
• Appoint an independent and competent Internal Auditor.
• Comply with Employment Law, including equal opportunities and disability legislation, and the Freedom of Information and Data Protection Acts.
• Hold a minimum of four meetings a year, one of which must be the Annual Meeting. In practice most Parish Councils meet monthly.