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Community

What does the Parish Council actually do?

Make a difference to the community you live in! Want to find out more?

What is a Parish Council?
A parish council is a local authority that makes decisions on behalf of the people in the parish.  It is the level government closest to the community, with the district authority (Mole Valley District Council) above it in the hierarchy. As it is the authority closest to the people, parish councils are invariably the first place people will go with concerns or ideas.  For this reason they are a vital part of any community.

Why become a Parish Councillor?
If you’ve never been to a parish council meeting before, you may be forgiven for thinking that parish councillors are a group of (probably older) people who meet now and then in a draughty village hall.  If, however, you live in a community where something ‘big’ has happened, you’ll know that when people in the community need support and guidance, it is sometimes the parish council that is turned to.

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. Seeing your community change for the better, as a result of decisions you have helped make, is something that can give you a sense of achievement and pride.

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), crime prevention, managing open spaces and campaigning for and delivering better services and facilities.

It’s true to say that on their own, 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 borough 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?
Leigh Parish Council usually meet once a month for the council meeting, to which members of the public are also invited.  Meetings normally last up to two hours, depending on the agenda set for the meeting to discuss.  In addition to the regular meetings, councillors are  sometimes asked to attend other meetings representing the council.

How long does a parish councillor serve for?
Once elected, parish 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.

Am I eligible to be a Parish Councillor?
To stand for election on a parish council, you must:

  • be a UK or commonwealth citizen, or;
  • be a citizen of the Republic of Ireland, or;
  • be a citizen of another Member state of the European Union;
  • be a least 18 years old.

To be eligible to stand for an election for a particular parish, you must:

  • be an elector of the parish, or;
  • for the whole of the previous 12 months have occupied (as owner or tenant) land or other premises in the parish, or;
  • during the previous 12 months have worked in the parish (as your principal or only place of work), or;
  • for the whole of the previous 12 months lived in the parish or within three miles of the parish boundary.

You don’t have to be connected to a political party.

If you do become a parish councillor you will have to sign up to the Code of Conduct.

What powers do parish councils have?
They have a wide range of powers which essentially related to local matters, such as looking after community buildings, open space, allotments, play areas, bus shelters, car parks and much more.  The council also has the power to raise money through taxation, the precept.  The precept is the parish council’s share of the council tax.  The precept demand goes to the billing authority, the district council, which collects the tax for the parish council.

Parish Duties – Leigh Parish Council meets at Leigh Cricket Pavilion on the 3rd Monday of a month in the evening from 7:30pm (apart from August). There are currently 2 vacancies which means that new councillors if suitable, can be co-opted on without election.

Don’t take our word for it! The best way to find out what it’s like to be a parish councillor is to talk to someone who’s doing it now.  Come along to a parish council meeting, or speak to one of our councillors and find out what they think of the job.

If you contact the clerk on leighparishcouncil@gmail.com they will put you in touch.

What does the Parish Council actually do?

Make a difference to the community you live in! Want to find out more?

What is a Parish Council?
A parish council is a local authority that makes decisions on behalf of the people in the parish.  It is the level government closest to the community, with the district authority (Mole Valley District Council) above it in the hierarchy. As it is the authority closest to the people, parish councils are invariably the first place people will go with concerns or ideas.  For this reason they are a vital part of any community.

Why become a Parish Councillor?
If you’ve never been to a parish council meeting before, you may be forgiven for thinking that parish councillors are a group of (probably older) people who meet now and then in a draughty village hall.  If, however, you live in a community where something ‘big’ has happened, you’ll know that when people in the community need support and guidance, it is sometimes the parish council that is turned to.

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. Seeing your community change for the better, as a result of decisions you have helped make, is something that can give you a sense of achievement and pride.

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), crime prevention, managing open spaces and campaigning for and delivering better services and facilities.

It’s true to say that on their own, 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 borough 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?
Leigh Parish Council usually meet once a month for the council meeting, to which members of the public are also invited.  Meetings normally last up to two hours, depending on the agenda set for the meeting to discuss.  In addition to the regular meetings, councillors are  sometimes asked to attend other meetings representing the council.

How long does a parish councillor serve for?
Once elected, parish 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.

Am I eligible to be a Parish Councillor?
To stand for election on a parish council, you must:

  • be a UK or commonwealth citizen, or;

  • be a citizen of the Republic of Ireland, or;

  • be a citizen of another Member state of the European Union;

  • be a least 18 years old.

To be eligible to stand for an election for a particular parish, you must:

  • be an elector of the parish, or;

  • for the whole of the previous 12 months have occupied (as owner or tenant) land or other premises in the parish, or;

  • during the previous 12 months have worked in the parish (as your principal or only place of work), or;

  • for the whole of the previous 12 months lived in the parish or within three miles of the parish boundary.

You don’t have to be connected to a political party.

If you do become a parish councillor you will have to sign up to the Code of Conduct.

What powers do parish councils have?
They have a wide range of powers which essentially related to local matters, such as looking after community buildings, open space, allotments, play areas, bus shelters, car parks and much more.  The council also has the power to raise money through taxation, the precept.  The precept is the parish council’s share of the council tax.  The precept demand goes to the billing authority, the district council, which collects the tax for the parish council.

Parish Duties – Leigh Parish Council meets at Leigh Cricket Pavilion on the 3rd Monday of a month in the evening from 7:30pm (apart from August). There are currently 2 vacancies which means that new councillors if suitable, can be co-opted on without election.

Don’t take our word for it! The best way to find out what it’s like to be a parish councillor is to talk to someone who’s doing it now.  Come along to a parish council meeting, or speak to one of our councillors and find out what they think of the job.

If you contact the clerk on leighparishcouncil@gmail.com they will put you in touch.

Edward (Ted) Brain – Sad News

It is with sadness that we report the news that  Ted Brain passed away last Wednesday 3rd May.  In his long time living in Leigh, Ted served on the parish council and for many years looked after The Spinney, the patch of woodland behind the recreation ground.  Our thoughts are with his wife Caryl and his family at this time.

New Facilities for St Bartholomew’s

The new loo and kitchenette for St Bartholomew’s Church has been a mammoth undertaking, but the sparkling new facilities were officially opened on Saturday 7th January by Councillor Paul Potter, the Chairman of Mole Valley District Council; our minister Jonathan Willans; myself; Mick Lock, our amazing builder; and his beautiful little granddaughter Isla.

St Bartholomew Church Leigh New Facilities
Isla, Mick Lock, Jonathan (with “Hooray” cake!), me, and Councillor Paul Potter

Vicar Jonathan expressed his delight that Leigh church has these facilities which means the church will be able to reach out more into the community. The Cosy Corner coffee morning held on every 2nd and 4th Monday morning from 10.30-1230 is the first of these supportive initiatives. The Vicar expresses his personal thanks to all who laboured along side him for 20 years to achieve this aim. He especially thanks Mick Lock the craftsman builder, Peter Joyce as project manager and Eileen Winstanley, John Worsfold among others.

Progress has not been easy, and has been made all the more difficult by the loss of our architect, Roderick Maclennan, in his battle against cancer. Not only did Roderick project manage the build until his untimely death, but being the good Christian that he was, he provided constant encouragement.

The resulting facilities are a triumph, and look as though they have always been a part of our beautiful church. The side wall with its window had to be completely taken down and moved outwards between the side buttresses so that we didn’t lose precious space at the west entrance. Every block was numbered and placed in its original position. Horsham tiles had to be found to mimic those on the existing roof. Finally, the tiles in the west entrance had to be completely lifted and relaid in the porch area to lose the 100mm drop, and to allow for a completely flat surface for ease of access. During the course of the works it was found that the porch had sunk in one corner, and this has now been underpinned with concrete to provide many more centuries of use.

This project has been a tribute to so many people. To Mick Lock and his boys, who soldiered through without an architect; to the members of the PCC for their unfailing support; to Sue and Douglas Frost for their fundraising efforts and their successful attempts to put St Bartholomew at the heart of the Leigh community; to Jonathan and Sharon for providing support whenever needed; to Paul Potter and our local councillors for their political underpinning for the project; to our wardens Eileen Winstanley and Keith Bryant, always there to assist and encourage; to Colin and David for managing the money; to my long-suffering wife, Alison, for putting up with my obsession; and of course to Isla for cutting the ribbon.

St Bartholomew Church Leigh New Facilities
External wall – each block was numbered to replace exactly as original

St Bartholomew’s has not been able to function properly without a loo and a kitchenette. We know that people have turned away the chance to hold a wedding or a funeral because of a lack of these facilities. We can now work on drawing people in not just for worship, but also for a number of new activities which will give the church the chance to become where it should rightfully be – at the heart of the community!

Peter Joyce

Deputy Warden

 

King Charles III Coronation Planning Meeting

King Charles III’s Coronation Celebration

Leigh Parish Council is hosting a meeting, inviting residents and groups to come together to discuss potential events and opportunities that could take place in Leigh to mark the occasion.

This informal, initial meeting will be on Monday 30 January at 19:30. It will be held at the Cricket Pavilion on Bunce Common Road.

The King’s coronation will take place on Saturday 6 May, 2023. Monday 8 May will be a celebratory bank holiday. This means that there are three bank holidays in May next year: Monday 1 May, Monday 8 May and Monday 29 May.

All are welcome to join us! If you are unable to attend but would like to put forward any suggestions or volunteer your time however much, please email through to leighparishcouncil@gmail.com so you can be included.

WI January trip to London

W.I are planning a trip to London, hiring a coach on Saturday 7th January to go to London for the day. It will leave the Village at 8.30am and return leaving London at 4.30pm.

The coach drops and picks up at Marble Arch.

The cost is £18 per person, and there are some spaces still available to fill the coach.

Please let Judy know if you would like to join the outing by the end of November – to judith_bartley@hotmail.com or phone on 01306 611472.

It is open to all not only WI members.

Leigh Cricket Club – Players Wanted

Leigh Cricket Club welcomes players of any ability, gender and experience; those who want to play every week or just occasionally.  The Club plays a mixture of village league and friendly matches from April to the end of September.  Most are competitive but they always have fun.

Platinum Jubilee tree planting

On 19th March the Leigh and District Cottage Garden Society planted a commemorative tree to celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Year on the village green.  With thanks to Chairman of Surrey County Council Helyn Clack for her support, as well that of other local councillors, cottage garden society members and villagers, not to mention the enthusiastic help of some smaller members of our community.  The tree is a Tulip Tree (Liriodendron tulipifera) which it is hoped will be an attractive feature at the heart of the village for many years to come.

Mark Dobell
Mark Dobell