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Guide to Parish Councils

Stradbroke Parish Council is your local authority and it is a legal entity in its own right.

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There are 13 Councillors who are elected every 4 years.  Councillors may also be co-opted if elections do not fill all seats.

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Councillors are unpaid and they volunteer their time to improve the Parish and maintain it as a sustainable place to live and do business.

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Councillors agree to abide by the Code of Conduct, which draws upon the 7 Nolan Principles of Public Life - Selflessnes, Integrity, Objectivity, Accountability, Openness, Honesty and Leadership. 

Parish Council

Decision making

The Parish Council operates much like any other local authority in that most decisions about what the Council does are taken during meetings by Councillors.  The Council operates to its Standing Orders and Financial Regulations and other adopted policies.

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Although the public has a right, and is most welcome to attend meetings, it is Councillors who collectively make decisions about council business and what services and facilities is provides.  Decisions are taken by voting by all Councillors present, if there is a tie in any vote, the Chair of that meeting has a casting vote.

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Time is set aside at each meeting to allow external input, not just from the public but also the local District and County Councillors if they are present.

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There are times when discussions must take place in closed sessions; this usually happens when discussing staffing matter or items that are commercially sensitive.

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The Parish Council employs a part time Clerk who acts as the Council's Proper Officer and Responsible Financial Officer.  The Clerk administers the Council's business and must carry out all the functions required by law.

Parish Council

Responsibilites

The Parish Council has a variety of powers

 

Stradbroke Parish Council holds the General Power of Competence - which, in simple terms, gives the Council the power to do anything an individual can do provided it is not prohibited by other legislation.

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The Parish Council owns property and land in the Parish.  It holds these assets on behalf of the community and is responsible for maintaining their value.

County Council

Responsibilites

Suffolk County Council is responsible for:

  • Birth, marriage & death registration

  • Education

  • Fire

  • Highways - including parking & lighting

  • Libraries

  • Recreation, arts & museums

  • Social Care

  • Strategic planning

  • Trading Standards

  • Transport

  • Waste disposal

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Link to website

Link to highways reporting tool

Link to apply for a blue badge

District Council

Responsibilites

Mid Suffolk District Council is responsible for:

  • ​Collection of council tax and business rates.

  • Environmental health

  • Housing

  • Leisure centres

  • Local Plans and planning applications

  • Public conveniences

  • Waste collection

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Link to website

Link to planning

Link to waste collections

Parish Council

Finances

The Parish Council raises revenue to help meet its spending needs by issuing a "precept".  This is a figure set by the Parish Council and collected by Mid Suffolk District Council through council tax.

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As a Burial Authority, the Parish Council operates the cemetery on the Laxfield Road.  Income derived from burial fees is used to offset the maintenance costs of the area.

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The Parish Council also receives income from renting the Health Centre to the Fressingfield Medical Practice.

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Other grants are received from the County & District Councils. 

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The income is used in the following areas:

  • Administration

  • Grass Cutting, tree works and ditch maintenance

  • Recreation

  • Street cleaning

  • Health Centre

  • Other Council Assets

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Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) is received from development in the Parish.  The Parish Council has an approved Parish Infrastructure Investment Plan (PIIP) which guides the Councillors on where the monies are spent.

Parish Council

 Communication

The Parish Council strives to be open, transparent and accessible to local people through effective communication.

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Given the importance of effective communication with parish residents and the media, the Parish Council:

  • Maintains the Parish Council's website.

  • Runs a Parish Council Facebook page, where recordings of live broadcasts can be viewed.

  • Undertakes public consultations on major projects.

  • Publishes a summary of Council meetings in the Stradbroke Monthly

  • Ensures training needs of both Councillors and staff are met

  • Appoints representatives to appropriate external committees and agencies.

  • Attends relevant conferences and meetings.

  • Like other village groups, the Parish Council, reports to residents each year at the Annual Parish Meetings.

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A more in depth guide to Parish Councils can be read here.

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