Services
Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to questions you might have about your Parish Council.
- How can I talk to Aynho Parish Council?
- Where are the rules that Aynho Parish Councillors follow?
- What does Aynho Parish Council do?
- In Aynho, which facilities are the responsibility of The Parish Council?
- Where can I find the minutes of a meeting and what should they show?
- What are the typical responsibilities of a Parish Councillor?
- How should a councillor communicate with their local community?
- What are the Nolan Princples?
- What are the roles and responsibilities of a Chairman?
- What is the role of the Clerk?
- You haven’t answered my question!
How can I talk to Aynho Parish Council?
You can attend a meeting and, with the Chairman’s permission, speak about an agenda item during the Public Participation session. You may then stay and listen to the Councillors debate and reach a resolution on the agenda item. If you want a subject to be added to an agenda, then contact the Clerk using the form on Contact Us or email clerk@aynho-pc.gov.uk and you may then express your point of view during the Public Participation section of the meeting.
Where are the rules that Aynho Parish Councillors follow?
These are found in our Transparency documents, such as Standing Orders and Code of Conduct. Councillors must declare interests and be careful when accepting gifts and hospitality. There are consequential risks for not complying with the standards.
What does Aynho Parish Council do?
Local Government (localgov.co.uk) states: Parish councils have a variety of powers and duties, all of which impact directly on the community. The link describes a range of services which are the responsibility of parish councils.
In Aynho, which facilities are the responsibility of The Parish Council?
Aynho Parish Council owns The Children’s Play Park and The Sports Field. Facilities not owned by or under the remit of Aynho Parish Council are: village hall, church, churchyard and allotments.
Where can I find the minutes of a meeting and what should they show?
Minutes are found on the Meetings section of www.aynho-pc.gov.uk.
The Openness of Local Government Bodies Regulations 2014 states:
(3) The written record must be produced as soon as reasonably practicable after the decision-making officer has made the decision and must contain the following information—
(a) the date the decision was taken;
(b) a record of the decision taken along with reasons for the decision;
(c) details of alternative options, if any, considered and rejected; and
(d) where the decision falls under paragraph (2)(a), the names of any member of the relevant local government body who has declared a conflict of interest in relation to the decision.
What are the typical responsibilities of a Parish Councillor?
The National Association of Local Councils, NALC provides instruction on how councillors must behave: The Civility, Respect and Roles of a Councillor. It also provides a guide for councillors to follow: The Good Councillors Guide, which can be found on NALC’s Publication page here.
How should a councillor communicate with their local community?
The Civility, Respect and Roles of a Councillor includes the following:
A councillor’s primary role is to represent their local area and the people who live in it. Councillors provide a bridge between the community and the council.
They should ensure that the community is informed about the issues that affect them.
In order to understand and represent local views and priorities, you need to build strong relationships and encourage local people to make their views known and engage with you and the council. Good communication and engagement are central to being an effective councillor.
In order to achieve this, then we must remember that all discussion and debate must be conducted in public. There are a very small number of exceptions which the Clerk will advise on. We must listen and talk with residents in and open and honest manner, being clear about objectives.
What are the Nolan Princples?
The Seven Principles of Public Life (also known as the Nolan Principles) apply to anyone who works as a public office-holder. This includes all those who are elected or appointed to public office, nationally and locally, and all people appointed to work in the Civil Service, local government, the police, courts and probation services, non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs), and in the health, education, social and care services. All public office-holders are both servants of the public and stewards of public resources. The principles also apply to all those in other sectors delivering public services.
Selflessness
Holders of public office should act solely in terms of the public interest.
Integrity
Holders of public office must avoid placing themselves under any obligation to people or organisations that might try inappropriately to influence them in their work. They should not act or take decisions in order to gain financial or other material benefits for themselves, their family, or their friends. They must declare and resolve any interests and relationships.
Objectivity
Holders of public office must act and take decisions impartially, fairly and on merit, using the best evidence and without discrimination or bias.
Accountability
Holders of public office are accountable to the public for their decisions and actions and must submit themselves to the scrutiny necessary to ensure this.
Openness
Holders of public office should act and take decisions in an open and transparent manner. Information should not be withheld from the public unless there are clear and lawful reasons for so doing.
Honesty
Holders of public office should be truthful.
Leadership
Holders of public office should exhibit these principles in their own behaviour and treat others with respect. They should actively promote and robustly support the principles and challenge poor behaviour wherever it occurs.
What are the roles and responsibilities of a Chairman?
The Chairing Skills Workbook, published by the Local Government Association includes: Any chair/chairman has three main roles:
• To represent the council at formal and informal meetings and ensure that discussions are carried out in accordance with the council’s constitution and procedural rules.
• To make sure that meetings are run effectively and inclusively, in line with any agreed agenda, to deal with the business at hand. This will include preparation and follow-up, as well as taking charge during the meeting itself.
• To be an effective advocate and representative of your council at meetings and events in your community. You may be required to act as an
arbitrator, spokesperson or facilitator at these meetings.
What is the role of the Clerk?
This is a hugely important role. A useful guide, partly funded by DEFRA and accessible here, includes:
As clerk, you make a significant contribution to the team. You are a professional officer employed by the council to provide administrative assistance and professional advice. You support the council before, during and after meetings, preparing councillors for their decision making role and putting their decisions into practice.
As its chief officer, you protect the council as a corporate body. Many clerks enjoy their work because it is endlessly varied.
Check your job description, but your work might include:
• writing letters, reports, memos;
• organising meetings and events;
• advising on making lawful decisions and policy;
• researching topics of concern to the council;
• keeping up to date;
• managing projects, sites, facilities and finance;
• managing records, teams and staff;
• negotiating, marketing and public relations;
• purchasing equipment.
The clerk is normally the ‘proper officer’. This is a legal term meaning the appropriate officer for a particular function. The council appoint the officers it needs to discharge its functions. The council must also appoint a Responsible Financial Officer (RFO) to manage its finances. Usually, but not always, the RFO and the clerk are the same person. If you are not the RFO, as clerk you will need to have an overview of the council’s finances.
You haven’t answered my question!
Sorry about that. The Local Government Association have published lots of Q&As here.