A Parish Council is a local authority that makes decisions on behalf of the people in the parish. It is the level of government closest to the community, with Somerset Council above it in the hierarchy.
As it is the authority closest to the people, the parish council is often the first place people go with concerns or ideas. For this reason, it is a vital part of any community and parish councils and councillors can make a big difference to local people’s quality of life.

By being a parish councillor, you become someone your community will look to for help, guidance and support, a community leader with the power to influence decisions for the benefit of the people you serve. Seeing your community change for the better because of decisions you have helped make is something that can give you a sense of achievement and pride. A councillor’s role can include developing strategies and plans for the area, helping with problems and ideas, representing the community, working with other local community groups, decision making and reviewing decisions and talking to the community about their needs and what the council is doing.

Parish Councils make decisions on issues that affect the local community. The council has the power to raise money through taxation which is known as the precept. The precept is the parish council’s share of the council tax and this money is used for the benefit of the community.
Parish Councils are statutory consultees in planning matters so we make informed recommendations regarding planning, but the ultimate decision is made by Somerset Council. Parish Councils also campaign for and deliver better services and facilities. The latter is often achieved through their ability to negotiate with and influence other organisations that make the final decisions (such as Somerset Council or the Police). The new Local Community Networks are made up of parish councillors and other representatives of the community and enable parish councils to have an important voice.

Baltonsborough can have up to eight Councillors who stand for election every four years. The Council meets monthly and considers planning applications and any other matters referred to it by residents. All meetings are open to the public. There is also an Annual Meeting which all parishioners are invited to attend. All meetings are advertised on the council notice boards and website. Residents can bring to the attention of the Parish Council anything that concerns them, either directly or through the clerk. If matters raised are not the responsibility of the council, the clerk can bring them to the attention of the proper authority

Baltonsborough Parish Council will arrange and pay for training and support via the Somerset Association of Local Councils (https://www.somerset-alc.org.uk/), the representative body for local councils in the area.

Baltonsborough Parish Council meets once a month in the evening, in the Village Hall. Meetings may last up to two hours, depending on the agenda set for the meeting to discuss. In addition to the regular meetings, councillors may occasionally be required to attend other meetings representing the council, for example acting as a representative on an outside body, community activities or helping develop a new project for the community.

Once elected, parish councillors sit on the council for a maximum of four years. If they then want to stay in the post they can stand for re-election.

You can stand for election.
If, after an election, there are some unfilled seats, the Parish Council will make co-options to fill any vacancies. You can put yourself forward to be co-opted and then the council may ask you for some information about yourself and why you’d like to become a councillor and/or invite you for an informal chat. The council will choose their co-opted councillor.
There may be a casual vacancy which is the most common route to joining the council. This is a seat that becomes available between elections, which may occur because, for example, a councillor has resigned. A by-election has to be held if at least ten electors request it, but if there is no demand for a by-election, the council will fill the vacancy by co-option. Casual vacancies are advertised on the notice board, website and usually News and Views.

To stand for election you must be:
•  At least 18 years old.
•  A citizen of the UK, Commonwealth, Republic of Ireland or another Member state of the European Union.

To be eligible to stand for an election for a particular parish, you must either :
• be an elector of the parish (i.e. on the electoral role)
• for the whole of the previous 12 months have occupied (as owner or tenant) land or other premises in the parish
• during the previous 12 months have worked in the parish (as your principal or only place of work)
• for the whole of the previous 12 months lived in the parish or within three miles of the parish boundary.

You don’t have to be connected to a political party.

If you do become a parish councillor you will have to sign up to the Code of Conduct and adhere to the Parish Council’s Standing Orders.