Why become a Parish Councillor?

By becoming 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.

Warnham Parish Council has 11 Councillors. From time to time vacancies arise due to a Councillor stepping down. If you are interested at all why not join one of our meetings and talk to the Clerk or Councillor face to face to gain for information. Or contact the Clerk on clerk@warnham.org.uk

What decisions do Parish Councils make?

Parish Councils make all kinds of decisions on issues that affect the local community. Probably the most common topics that parish councils get involved with are planning matters (they are statutory consultees) and roads and highways. Parish Councils have limited powers to make decisions but they do have the ability to negotiate with, and the power to influence those other organisations that do make the final decisions (such as the district or county council, health authorities, police etc). In this respect parish councils are extremely powerful. The organisations that make the final decisions know that a parish council gives the best reflection of how a community feels about something and its views will be taken seriously.

How much time does it take up?

Warnham Parish Council meets 9 times a year for the full council meeting to which members of the public are also invited. Meetings may last two or more hours, depending on what’s on the list of items to discuss. Warnham Parish Council also has sub-committees to deal with specific subjects, such as planning, finance matters and recreation. In addition to the regular council meetings, Councillors may be required to give time for ‘ad-hoc’ meetings- for example with agents to discuss planning applications that the council must give its opinion on, highways meetings with the county council etc.

How long does a Parish Councillor serve for?

Once elected, 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. This does not mean that you have to stay for four years. If you find it’s not for you, or you can no longer meet the commitment, you can stand down.

Code of Conduct

Warnham Parish Council have adopted a new local Code of Conduct dealing with the conduct that is expected of members and co-opted members of the Council under the Localism Act 2011 section 27(2). This Code replaces the code of conduct previously adopted by the Council under the Local Government Act 2000.

The new Code, which took effect on 1 July 2012, applies to all members and co-opted members with voting rights of the Council.

Full details of the Code of Conduct adopted by Warnham Parish Council is available upon request.

Co-Option Application Form to apply for a parish councillor vacancy

Terms of Office and eligibility criteria for being a councillor.