What is a parish council?

A parish council is the level of elected government that is closest to the community, with the district authority above it in the hierarchy. Being close to the community, parish councils are very often the first place people will go with concerns or ideas. For this reason they play a vital part in village life, making decisions on behalf of the people in the parish. A parish councillor must have a passion for making a difference within their local community, recognising the needs of the young and the elderly in equal measure while taking into consideration the legal boundaries in which they work.

The number of councillors making up a parish council varies with the size of the parish – in Bassenthwaite we have nine. They are elected to serve for a period of four years with elections taking place in May. Their work is entirely voluntary; no Councillor receives any payment for attending the meetings. Councillors are entitled to be reimbursed for expenditure incurred on Council business according to scales laid down by Allerdale Borough Council.