Padbury is situated in semi-rural North Buckinghamshire, 3 miles to the South of Buckingham. It is a charming village with a vibrant community. It is made up of around 320 households and has a population of about 800. Padbury’s Parish Council has the role of representing the interests of this community, and of improving its quality of life and the local environment. To this end the Council does its best to influence other decision-makers, for example the District and County Councils and their agencies, the police and the public utilities – on such matters as speeding through the village, the state of the roads and pavements, street-lighting. The Council also delivers services to meet local needs, for example, looking after the Playing Field at Springfields, the Play Area on Main Street, the Millennium woodland, the war memorial, the bus shelters. In 2008 after a round of public consultation, the Council produced the Padbury Village Plan which guides its decisions and its actions. The Council has 7 members, elected every 4 years, together with its Clerk, who acts as its administrator. It meets 10 times a year at the Pavilion at Springfields. Its meetings are advertised on this website and on the village notice-boards; they are open to the public. Minutes of these meetings are published, also on this website and on the main village notice-board at the village hall. Please do support your Council. Raise issues and concerns, opportunities and suggestions, through the Clerk or any Councillor or by coming along to one of the meetings.
What is a town, parish or community council?
POWERS AND DUTIES – PADBURY PARISH COUNCIL
Parish councils have a variety of powers and duties, all of which impact directly on the community.
A Parish Council is the first and most local tier of Government. It should not be confused with the Parochial Church Council (PCC) which governs the activities of the ecclesiastical parish.
The Parish Council has a role in consultation with Aylesbury Vale District Council (AVDC) and Buckinghamshire County Council (BCC) in certain areas, and the opportunity to influence those bodies for the benefit of the parish.
Parish Councils can only act within the law, which imposes a range of Duties (which are mandatory) and Powers (which permit the Council to act). These are summarised in the following link, PowersAndDuties which does not contain a number of procedural powers and which are reflected in our Standing Orders However, it should be noted that, for Padbury:
- The Allotments are the responsibility of the PCC, as is
- The provision of a burial ground (at least while the churchyard still has capacity to accept new burials).
In addition, BCC and AVDC can delegate some of their powers and duties to Padbury PC. For example, the PC is responsible for much of the grass-cutting in the village.
Although we only have primary responsibility for a relatively few functions, we can advise on the most appropriate Local Authority to whom you can channel your concerns and perhaps complaints (links are also provided to BCC and AVDC on this website), and will represent the concerns of Parishioners if it is within our power to do so.
Parish and town councils in England and community and town councils in Wales are the first tier of local government. They deliver a vast range of services at a community level.
There are around 10,000 community, parish and town councils in England and Wales, made up of nearly 100,000 councillors. These first-tier councils can respond to the needs of the community – delivering the services or representation it most needs.
How parish councils work
Parish councils are statutory bodies. Members are elected for a term of four years and councils are funded principally by an annual precept. Income and expenditure for the next financial year are calculated in the form of estimates. The net amount (the precept) is added to council tax, collected by the county, borough or district council (principal authorities) and paid to parishes in two six-monthly installments. Parish and town councils can apply for other funding such as grant and funding awards, but they do not receive funds direct from central government, as principal authorities do.
Our Councillors are:
Cllr Michael Long – Chairman
Cllr Stephen Dickens – Vice-Chairman
Cllr Peter Burton
Cllr Fred Morris
Cllr Victoria Murray
Cllr Ken Roberts
Cllr Michael Williamson
The Clerk 07905 457784 Padbury Parish Clerk
Link to AVDC website with Councillors’ Register of Interests
