Town Council
What are Local Councils
“Local councils” is a universal term for parish/town councils. They are first tier of local government and therefore closest to the communities they serve and are elected by residents every 4 years. They can raise their own precept – a form of council tax. There are 10,000 local councils in England and 120,000 councillors who serve on these local councils.
What do Local Councils do?
Local councils were created in law back in 1894, they can only act within the law by exercising their powers and functions which have been conferred on them by Statutes (Acts of Parliament). Anything a local council tries to do outside of these powers is ultra vires, in other words, outside the law.
Stow on the Wold Town Council has overall responsibility for the well being of its residents which fall into three categories. Below are some examples but is not an exhaustive list of what a local council can deliver.
Delivery of services – some examples:-
- Allotments
- Burial grounds, cemeteries etc
- Bus shelters
- Local illuminations
- Community centres
- Parks and open spaces
- Festivals and celebrations
- Maintain war memorials
- Tourism
- Clocks
Improve quality of life through:-
- Local housing and infrastructure through neighbourhood plans
- Promoting dementia friendly communities
- Tackling loneliness
- Acting as community hubs
- Funding community projects and vital services that have been cut
Giving communities a voice through representing:-
- To the local police and health services
- On planning matters with principal authorities and developers
- To parliamentarians and government
Where does the council get their funding from?
Each year a sum of money called a “precept” is collected through resident’s council tax. This money is invested back into the community to improve facilities within the parish. It can also apply for grants and loans and if they own any property can receive money from rents or leases. It can also borrow money from the Public Works Loan Board.
Council Staff
The council employs a full time Clerk & Responsible Financial Officer and a part time Deputy Clerk.
The council normally meet on the last Thursday of each month, except August, at 7.00 pm at Stow Youth Centre, Fosseway, Stow on the Wold GL54 1DW.
Cotswold District Council
Cotswold District Council (CDC) is the second tier of local government.
CDC is responsible for:-
- Waste & recycling collections
- Street cleaning and litter bins
- Planning services, including development management, strategy, planning enforcement, heritage and conservation and tree protection
- Environmental health services
- Council managed leisure centres and swimming pools
- Helping the homeless and those at risk of homelessness
- Supporting development of affordable housing including council housing
- Providing support with rent payments and council tax for low income households
- Public conveniences
- Supporting tourism, economic development and regeneration
- Supporting arts, sports and cultural activities including museums
- Operating council managed car parks
- Reducing crime and anti social behaviour and environmental crime
- Collecting council tax and local business rates
Stow on the Wold is represented by Cllr Dilys Neill
Cllr Dilys Neill
Telephone: 01451 830656
Mobile: 07799 431044
Email: dilys.neill@cotswold.gov.uk
Gloucestershire County Council
Gloucestershire County Council (GCC) is the third and final tier of local government.
GCC is responsible for:-
- Education
- Public transport and highways
- County planning services
- Fire and public safety
- Adult and children’s social care
- Libraries
- Waste disposal
- Trading Standards
Stow on the Wold is represented by Cllr Mark Mackenzie-Charrington – Cotswold Division
Cllr Mark MacKenzie-Charrington
Telephone: 01451 821851
Email: mark.mackenzie-charrington@gloucestershire.gov.uk
Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown MP for The Cotswolds
Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown
Telephone: 020 7219 5147
Email: cliftonbrowng@parliament.uk
Address: Houses of Parliament, Westminster, London SW1A 0AA