Home

Chalgrove Parish Council

Chalgrove Parish Council consists of eleven local people elected or co-opted to represent parishioners at the first level of local government. Our aims are to provide and maintain community facilities, represent our parishioners' rights and views to other authorities and to guide the development of the Village to the benefit of the residents whilst preserving our village character.

What is a Parish Council?

A Parish Council is a local authority that makes decisions on behalf of the people in the parish. It is the first level of government closest to the community, with the district authority (SODC) above it in the hierarchy.
As it is the authority closest to the people, Parish Councils are invariably the first place people will go with concerns or ideas. For this reason they are a vital part of any community.

What decisions do Parish Councils make?

Parish Councils make all kinds of decisions on issues that affect the local community. Probably the most common topics that Parish Councils get involved with are planning matters (they are statutory consultees), crime prevention, managing open spaces and community facilities, and campaigning for and delivering better services and facilities.
It’s true to say that on their own, Parish Councils have limited powers to make decisions. But they do have the ability to negotiate with, and the power to influence, those other organisations that do make the final decisions (such as the District Council, health authorities, police etc).
In this respect parish councils are extremely powerful. The organisations that make the final decisions know that a Parish Council gives the best reflection of how a community feels about something, and its views will be taken seriously.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE A PARISH COUNCILLOR?
Chalgrove Parish Council currently have two vacancies, with permission to co-opt.
If you have some spare time, and an enthusiasm to help your community, please read the information below: