The Parish Council usually meets on the first Monday of every month, excluding August and Bank Holidays.
Meetings are held in the Club Room at the Portal Hall in Church Lane, and begin at 7 pm.
Parishioners are always welcome to attend the meetings and raise any concerns or issues they may have or to just see how Parish business is managed.
What is a Parish Council?
Parish or Town Councils are an important tier of Government within the UK; a Parish/Town Council is the smallest and most localised tier of local government in the UK and is a properly constituted local authority.
The powers and duties, and the manner in which a Parish Council operates are laid out in local government statute and regulations; Parish Councils operate at a level below national government and also below district and borough councils. Parish & Town Councils are elected and can help on a number of local issues, like planning applications or running local sports grounds and community halls.
The Parish Council has legal responsibilities as an employer, and sometimes as an owner of public land and buildings.
Parish Councils are Statutory Bodies, having powers under a number of different Acts (the Local Government Act 1972, the Public Health Act 1936, etc.). Only a few Councils need to use all their available powers. It is up to each Council to choose what is appropriate for the community they serve.
The Council raises funds by the annual Precept is set in January of each year. The amount required is guided by the setting of the annual budget in the November preceding.
The Parish Council precept is added to the Council Tax bill and collected by Basingstoke & Deane Borough Council (on behalf of the Parish Council).
The Council also raises funds through grants from other organisations.
The Parish Council has eight members, who are currently:
Alex Patrick-Smith – Parish Council Chairman and Vice Chair of Pinder Recreation Trust, Member of Planning Working Group and Staffing Working Group. Representative on Earlstone Common Management Committee
Geoff Morton – Tree Officer, Member of Finance Working Group. Parish Council Representative on Earlstone Common Management Committee
Sandra Whiting – Chair of Pinder Recreation Trust, Member of Finance and Planning Working Groups, Member of Staffing Working Group
Julian Parkes – Parish Council Vice-Chairman, Member of the Planning Working Group and Staffing Working Group.
Amanda Harvey – Footpaths and Playground Monitoring
Claire Barnard – Defibrillator and Roads
Karen Turner
Kayleigh Watson
They can be contacted via the Parish Council Clerk and Responsible Financial Officer – Jacqui Letsome
clerk@burghclereparish.gov.uk 07851 956078
Additional Information and completed register of interest forms can be found on Basingstoke & Deane’s website – here.
We will endeavour to keep the information provided on our own site accurate and up to date. If you spot any errors or omissions please contact us so that we can investigate and correct.