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Parish Council
Minutes
Please visit the Minutes and Agenda page for more information.
What is the Parish Council?
It is the lowest tier of local government. The Council consists of 13 voluntary Councillors who are elected for a four year term of office to serve and administer for the needs of the residents of Sherston. In the event of a vacancy arising, a new member is either elected or co-opted until the next election. The Parish councillors determine and set policy to cater for the social, cultural, welfare and environmental needs of Sherston residents and employ a part time Clerk to the Council to implement policy decisions.
All Councillors adhere to the Parish Council Code of Conduct and complete a Register of Interests. The Council has Committees and Working Groups to concentrate on particular aspects of its work. The membership of Committees and working groups are listed below. It should be noted that where necessary Council co –opts non Councillors onto particular Committees. This has proved particularly beneficial in the past bringing the talents of local residents to bear on specific issues. A present example of this approach is to be found in the make up of the Old School Committee.
What does the Parish Council do?
Whilst the Council has little in the way of direct power it has a reasonable amount of influence and is consulted by the unitary authority Wiltshire Council and national government on a wide range of issues. A good example of this is in relation to planning where the responsible authority is Wiltshire Council. All details of every planning application within the Parish are given to the Parish Council for review and comments are taken into account when decisions are reached.
Another example is highways where Wiltshire Council is the Highway Authority but which consults with the parish over any road scheme or traffic calming measure.
The Parish council is directly responsible for providing the following services to the Village –
• The Pennymead recreation area including all the play equipment
• The Sportsfield including the Skateboard Park and Football pavilion. (The Tennis Courts are privately run by Sherston Tennis Club on land leased from the Council)
• Allotments at Knockdown Road (Contact the clerk if you wish to join the waiting list)
• The High Street Bus shelter as well as public seats around the Village
• Comment on all planning applications
• Promotion of Village projects e.g. Grove Community Wood and the Old School
• Support of Parish organisations through Grants
• Monitoring of Public Rights of Way
How is the Parish Council paid for?
Every year the Council sets its budget and the amount it requires to operate that budget is known as the Parish Precept. This amount is collected by Wiltshire Council from the Council Tax paid by residents of the parish.
See the section below for an explanation about the 2022/2023 precept.
Audited accounts and Budgets
To read the Financial notices, reports and Audited Accounts and Annual Returns for each year please visit the Finance page by clicking on the button below.
Sherston Precept Increase 2022
To read about the Precept increase please visit the Finance page by clicking on the button below.
When and where does the Council meet?
Meetings are usually on the 2nd Thursday of every month (except August when there is no meeting) and are held in Sherston Village Hall at 7.30 pm. They usually last for an hour and a half.
The meetings are open to the public and there are opportunities to raise questions and issues both at the beginning and end of every meeting. During the meeting itself it is only with the invitation of the Chairman and the approval of the Council that a member of the public can participate in any debate. In practice this participation is generally welcomed so as to give Council the widest insight into issues before it.
Meeting dates
Traditionally all meetings have been held in the village hall / The North Building at 7.30pm unless otherwise stated.
2024
| January | 11/01/2024 | The North Building |
| February | 15/02/2024 | The North Building |
| March | 14/3/2024 | The North Building |
| April | 11/04/2024 | The North Building |
| May – Annual Parish Council Meeting (election of chair) Annual Parish Meeting | 9/05/2024 23/05/2024 | The North Building |
| June | 13/06/2024 | The North Building |
| July | 11/07/2024 | The North Building |
| August | No meeting | |
| September | 12/09/2024 | The North Building |
| October | 10/10/2024 | Village Hall |
| November | 14/11/2024 | The North Building |
| December | 12/12/2024 | The North Building |