What We Do
The Parish Council is part of the three tiers of Local Government which comprises Parish Council; District (Rother)and County Council (East Sussex).
The Council meets in public on the 3rd Monday in the months of January, March, May, July, October and November and additionally when required.
A period for public questions or suggestions is allowed at the start of each meeting. Additionally, Planning Committee meetings are held on the 1st Monday of every month. Notice of meetings is displayed on the parish notice boards at least three days before the meeting and on the meetings page on this website, with agendas and supplementary documents for meetings. There is also an Annual Parish Meeting (also referred to as an Annual Parish Assembly) each April which is not a Council meeting, but a meeting for the electors of the parish.
The Council has the powers to raise income by means of a precept levied on households in the parish and this is collected together with Council Tax by Rother District Council. The Council precept and expenditure is, of course, monitored annually by independent auditors. The Council is also able to borrow money (see below).
What is the money spent on?
The Parish Council precept has to cover all the expenses of the parish. This includes all administrative costs, such as the parish office, website, staff salaries and the Village Steward. The Parish Council also supports / facilitates the following:
- Represents the parish / liaises with outside agencies, including ESCC, RDC, Police, Environment Agency
- Small grants / donations to local organisations on application
- Funds the road closure for Christmas Capers
- Arranges the road closures and admin for Remembrance, working alongside the British Legion
- Facilitates celebration and commemoration of national events (Jubilees / Coronation etc)
- Facilitates a (free) summer event
And the following public amenities:
- More than 25 acres of land for recreation and enjoyment – see Open Spaces
- The Parish Cemetery
- War Memorial and public clock
- Streetlighting
- Sports / Recreation ground and sports pavilion, playgrounds and play equipment
- Car parks
- Public toilets
- Dog waste bins; salt bins; benches; bus shelters; notice boards
- Public access defibrillators
- Vehicle Activated signs
- Christmas lighting (lamp post motifs and tree lights outside Parish Office)
