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About the Council

Wellesbourne and Walton Parish Council comprises 11 Councillors elected to represent the interests of residents. There are five Councillors each for Hastings and Mountford wards and one for Walton ward. The Parish Council does not have a legal duty to deliver services. However, as an elected tier of local government, it has the legal power to take action and a greater freedom to choose what action to take. One of these powers is the ability to raise money through taxation (the precept) and there are a further range of powers enabling it to spend public money.

Parish Councillors play a vital part in representing the interests of the community and work to improve the quality of life and the local environment. Through the Parish Council, they can influence other decision makers, such as Stratford District Council for planning applications, and can work with other agencies, such as the airfield market and the police, to minimise traffic problems.

Elections

Every 4 years all the seats on the Parish Council are up for election. The last election was held in May 2019 and the next election will be advertised on the Parish Council notice board, Wellesbourne and Walton News, this website and the WWPC Facebook page. In the meantime casual vacancies sometimes occur between elections and are advertised on the notice boards and website and in Wellesbourne and Walton News.

Precept

A precept is raised in order to deliver specific services to meet local needs. In Wellesbourne and Walton the Council pays for grounds maintenance of the Mountford and Dovehouse sportsfields and play areas. In the past year it has also provided two new items of play equipment, litter bins, notice boards, benches and a new bus stop. It also gives grants to community groups and has compiled and distributed the conservation leaflet and emergency plan. Every two years a new edition of the Index of Shops and Amenities is published, wholly funded through advertising.

Meetings

Parish Council meetings generally take place on the 1st Tuesday of every month commencing at 7.30 pm in the Methodist Hall in Bridge Street. Agendas and minutes appear on this website; agendas are also displayed on the notice boards immediately before monthly meetings. You are encouraged to come to meetings and listen to proceedings and at a point in each meeting there is an opportunity for residents to raise concerns or comment on matters relating to the Parish.

Committees

In addition to the main council meetings there are four committees: Finance, Community Facilities, Highways, Environment and Emergency and Office & Staffing. They generally meet every six to eight weeks. These meetings are usually held in the Parish Council offices at 2 School Road. Councillors are encouraged to involve themselves in as many committees as possible in order to represent fully the constituents they serve.

Council Roles and Responsibilities

Wellesbourne Parish Council comprises eleven elected Councillors, five representing Wellesbourne Hastings, five representing Wellesbourne Mountford and one representing Walton plus a Parish Clerk. The Parish Council has ownership of a range of public assets in the Parish and plays a vital part in representing the community we serve and in improving the quality of life and the local environment.

In carrying out its duties the Council must ensure that parish business is conducted in accordance with the law and our proper standards, and that public money is safeguarded, properly accounted for and used economically, efficiently and effectively. In discharging this accountability, the Council is responsible for putting in place and maintaining proper arrangements for the governance of Council affairs and stewardship of the resources at its disposal. To those ends the Council has developed and operates with a set of policies, procedures and monitoring systems, including a strategic plan, financial regulations, budget controls, risk assessment and standing orders.

Key responsibilities and associated activities

Setting the annual budget, together with the precept (local rate), to cover the Council’s operating costs including expenditure on staff, administration, maintenance, repair and replacement for amenity areas and equipment, grants and capital projects.

  • Annual production of accounts for public accountability.
  • Maintenance, repairs and improvements to parish assets including recreational areas (and associated equipment) and public spaces.
  • Initiation and delivery of capital projects to improve the environment and amenities within the village.
  • Management for revenue generating assets including lease rentals.
  • Scrutinising and commenting on planning applications within the parish, submitted to the local planning authority, Stratford District Council.
  • Supporting local community, sports, youth groups and societies, including grants where appropriate.
  • Liaison with the local police on crime, anti-social behaviour and security issues.
  • Liaison with other local authorities on the maintenance, repair and improvement of highways, drainage, footpaths, cycle-ways, public transport, street cleaning, and conservation matters including trees and listed buildings.

Investigation and resolution of local problems and complaints received from the community.

Parish Assets

The parish assets we are currently responsible for include:

  • The Mountford Sports Ground and play areas.
  • The Dovehouse Sports Ground and play areas.
  • Public spaces.
  • Bus shelters.
  • Litter bins around the village streets
  • Wayside seats and benches around the village.