PARISH COUNCIL

Parish Councils have a number of formal powers. Many provide allotments, look after playing fields, play areas and village greens.

They maintain and guard things such as rights of way, bus shelters, public seats, small scale street lighting, and often provide village halls and meeting places. The Parish council can do these things by actually providing them itself, or by helping someone else (such as a charity or volunteers) financially to do so. Parish councils have the power to improve the quality of community life by spending sums of money on things which, in their opinion, are in the interests of the parish or the inhabitants.

Councils are also the focal point for local consultation on matters such as planning applications and strategic planning. The parish councillors know the village and can represent its views to other authorities such as District and County Councils. They are entitled to be consulted on planning applications and are often consulted on things like schools and roads. They put the parish’s case at public enquiries.

Langford has a Parish Council of 5 members plus the Parish Clerk. Councillors are elected every four years (2023 was the last election year), and anyone who is resident in the parish can stand for election. Each year the councillors choose a chairman from amongst their number. There is also a vice-chairman and a clerk, who is the Proper Officer and the Responsible Finance Officer of the council.

How much does the Parish Council cost?

Not much is the simple answer. Parish councils are the most unbureaucratic and cheapest kind of local authority in existence. Their funds are a tiny part of the council tax. They get no general government grant, and so have every incentive to be economical. The accounts are strictly audited every year by an internal auditor and the Audit Commission.

Who controls the Parish Council?

You do! You elect the members every four years and you are entitled to go to the annual parish meeting and say what you think. Members of the public are also welcome to sit in on the normal council meetings every couple of months, and participate when there is a public session.

Meetings

Documents

Parish Councillors

Activities Fund

Standing Orders

The Parish Council have adopted a bespoke version of the Standing Orders as a document to be governed by. A copy of these standing orders are available here: 

LPC Standing Orders – Nov 21

Complaints Procedure & Media Contact

All complaints can be directed to the Parish Council Chairman, Vice Chairman or the Parish Clerk for consideration. All complaints will be investigated.

All press and media correspondence should be directed to the Parish Clerk. parishclerk@langfordparishcouncil.com

Accessibility Statement

Langford Parish Council is committed to making its website accessible to as many people as possible.

You should be able to change text size, zoom in, and use most of the site with a keyboard or screen reader.

Some older documents and images may not be fully accessible. We are working to improve this.

If you need information in a different format or want to report a problem, please contact  parishclerk@langfordparishcouncil.com

Data Protection

Langford Parish Council  is committed to protecting personal data and handling it responsibility in line with UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018

We only collect and use personal information where we have a lawful reason to do so, for example to carry out council business, respond to enquiries, manage staff and finances, administer services, and comply with legal obligations.  Parish councils should identify and document a lawful basis for processing and explain this in their privacy information.

We take reasonable steps to keep personal data secure, accurate and only for as long as needed.  Individuals have rights over their personal data, including the right to ask for access to the information we hold about them and to request corrections where appropriate

If you have any questions about data protection please contact:

Clerk to Langford Parish Council parishclerk@langfordparishcouncil.com

Freedom of Information

Langford Parish Council is subject to the Freedom Information Act 2000.

You can request information by contacting: Clerk to Langford Parish Council parishclerk@langfordparishcouncil.com

We will normally respond within 20 working days.

Most information is free, although a small charge may apply for printing or postage.

If you are unhappy with our response, you can complain to the Information Commissioners Office.

Council Employment Policy

The council take direction from the National Association of Local Councils and the Society of Local Clerks in regards to the employment policies and procedures of employing our Parish Clerk who also acts as our Responsible Financial Officer.