Local Councils
Local Councils (incorporating Town and Parish Councils and
smaller Parish Meetings) are statutory bodies representing civil
parishes. They are the first tier of local government closest
to communities (the other tiers being District/Borough, County or
Unitary Councils) and deliver a range of services at a community
level.
Local Councils are involved in many activities ranging from
providing and maintaining local facilities such as playing fields
and open spaces, playgrounds, shelters, village halls, clocks etc.
either on their own or in partnership with other bodies as well as
having duties regarding footpaths and churchyards. They are
seen as increasingly important in representing the views and needs
of local communities.
Local Councils are funded principally by an annual
precept. The net amount (the precept) is added to Council
Tax, collected by the Principal Authority and paid to Local
Councils.
In the Cheshire West and Chester authority area, there are
currently 97 Local Councils. Contact and liaison with Local
Councils is primarily through a Clerk who is employed by the Local
Council. An A-Z of Local Councils and their Clerks has been
produced and can be viewed below.
Any changes in clerkship should be reported to partnershipsandareaworking@cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk
The Council has a dedicated Hotline number exclusively for the
use of Town and Parish Council representatives which is
0300 123 7049.
Officers at Cheshire West and Chester Council
are encouraged to regularly liaise with and involve officers
at the Cheshire Association of Local
Councils (
ChALC
), a
member-based organisation representing the interests of Local
Councils and providing information and advice to those members.
Contact: Jackie Weaver, Chief Officer,
ChALC
, Blue Bache
Barn, Burleydam, Whitchurch, SY13 4AW (Tel: 01948 871314).
More on Local Councils below: