About the Parish Council

The Parish Council is the lowest tier of local government. Elections to the Council are held every four years, with the next elections due in May 2011. Its funds come from a precept (which is set annually by the Parish Council), to which all council tax payers in the parish contribute. Details of this year's precept can be found here.

Roles of the Parish Council

The Parish Council is responsible for the upkeep of many village facilities, including the playing fields, the main children's play area and paddling pool, footpath lighting, bus shelters, the churchyard and cemetery, dog bins, most litter bins, public seating, noticeboards, grit bins, and the village flagpole. The precept covers the cost of upkeep of these items. The Council also provides the major source of funding for the Papworth Newsletter (although it is an independent publication, and the Parish Council accepts no responsibility for its content).

The Parish Council can apply for funding from a variety of grant-giving bodies to enhance village facilities, and is playing a major role in the plans to refurbish the village hall, and upgrade its facilities.

The Parish Council is consulted on all planning applications made to the District and County Councils which affect the parish. However, while comments made by the Parish Council are taken into consideration, all planning decisions are made by the referring authority. The Council also monitors items that are the responsibility of the County Council, including roads, pavements, street lighting, verge cutting and public footpaths.

In 2006, the Parish Council will become responsible for looking after the open spaces on Old Pinewood Way, and the play area on Woodhead Place, but it is not responsible for the open spaces or play areas on the Varrier-Jones Drive, Hayman's Way or South Park developments, or on any of the land owned by the Varrier-Jones Foundation, the Papworth Trust or the Papworth Hospital NHS Trust.

Co-option of Councillors

When the Parish Council has free seats between elections, it can co-opt new councillors. Please refer to the table below to check eligibility - a positive response to all questions is essential.

Eligibility for Office as a Parish Councillor

• Over 21 years of age.
• A British Citizen or a citizen of the Republic of Ireland.
• You will:
  a) be a local government elector for the area of the authority on the day of co-option and thereafter, or
  b) have during the whole of the 12 months preceding the day of co-option occupied as owner or tenant any land or other premises in the area, or
  c) have had your principal or only place of work in the area during the whole of the 12 months preceding the day of co-option, or
  d) have resided in the area for the whole of the preceding 12 months, or
  e) have resided in the parish or within 3 miles of it for the whole of the 12 months prior to co-option

  Have not held any paid office or employment under this authority.

  Have not been a person adjudged bankrupt.

  Have not been a person who within five years before the day of co-option has been convicted of any offence and has had passed on him/her a sentence of imprisonment for a period of not less than 3 months (whether suspended or not) without option of a fine.

On receipt of an application by the Parish Clerk, a formal resolution to co-opt may be tabled at the next full Council meeting. When formally co-opted, new members will sign the Declaration of Acceptance and the Declaration of Interests, agreeing to abide by the Code of Conduct which applies to everyone serving on Parish Councils. Information provided on these declarations will go into the public domain.

Who to Contact

If you would like to know more about the work of the Parish Council, please contact the Parish Clerk at the email address below. If you are interested in becoming a Parish Councillor, please include a summary of your personal history and your potential skills contribution to the work of the Parish Council.

Clerk@PapworthEverardPC.org.uk