Warwickshire
and
(Affiliated
to the National Association of Local Councils)
25,
Stoneleigh Deer Park, Stareton, Kenilworth , Warwickshire
CV8 2LY
Tel: 02476 217349 Fax: 02476 306741 e-mail: walc@walc.org.uk www.walc.org.uk
THE LOCAL COUNCILS’ CHARTER –
HOW SHOULD LOCAL COUNCILS MAKE USE OF IT?
The Charter is a document
to be made use of by all three tiers of Local Authority. It describes the responsibilities placed on
each tier of authority to put into practice the partnerships between them.
Some very useful services
are offered to Local Councils by Principal Authorities. The potentially most useful ones are
summarised below. Local Councils can
make use of the Charter to remind the Principal Authorities of their responsibilities
to Local Councils.
By the same token, Local
Councils should be aware of the expectations placed upon them. These are listed on the last page of this
summary.
The
numbers refer to the paragraphs in the Charter
Communication and Access Improved
5.1
District
and
meetings. These councillors act as a useful two way
communication
between
Local Councils and Principal Authorities.
Principal
Authorities encouraged to appoint Parish Liaison Officers 5.1
Code of Conduct 5.1
The
Monitoring Officers at Principal Authorities will provide guidance to
Local
Councillors over prejudicial and non prejudicial issues.
Standards
Committees membership will include Local Councils’ 12
representatives
Community Strategies and
Partnerships 3
Principal
Authorities will involve Local Councils in the preparation of
Community
Plans.
Concurrent Services and
Double Taxing 13
Principal
Authorities will consult with Local Councils where it
wishes
to change the basis for the delivery of concurrent services
and
will seek to agree on the basis for concurrent services as far as
possible
to avoid Double Taxation.
Consultation 7.7
There
is an undertaking that Principal Authorities will consult Local
Councils
on any decision that will affect their area including adjoining
parishes
and give them adequate time to respond in accordance with
statutory
requirements: including planning applications, highway matters
Electoral Roll 10.4
Will be provided to Local
Councils for the parish on request
Emergency Planning 8.3
Local Councils will be
provided with unfilled sandbags
Health and Safety and Fire
Safety Matters 15.3
Free of
charge help from Principal Authority where resources permit
Landscaping and Community
Enhancement 15.3
Free of
charge help from Principal Authority where resources permit
Maintenance Contractors 15.2
Local
Councils may request Principal Authorities approved list of
maintenance
contractors and agreed schedules and rates.
Planning Issues 4.2
Parish
Plans and Village Design Statements maybe adopted as
supplementary
planning guidance -
Some
Principal Authorities had not worked out their policy towards
Parish
Plans inclusion in the Charter has forced the issue
Development Plans 4.3
Principal
Authorities will discuss with Local Councils any changes
as part
of the review process
Procedures for the
Determination of Planning Applications 7.7
Principal
Authorities will consult on procedures for the determination
Planning
Applications
Play Equipment Inspections 15.3
Principal
Authorities will provide for a fee a qualified engineer to
carry
out annual inspections.
Promotion of Local Council Initiatives 10.2
Principal Authorities
consider promoting Local Council initiatives in
Their newsletters and on
websites
Quality Councils 16.2
Principal
Authorities willing to discuss in particular with Quality
Parish
Councils delegation of services on basis of a Service Level
Agreement
Right of Address and
Representation 5
Local
Councils have the right of address at County Council and
District
Council Area Committees and other joint forums
School Governors 6.2
Due to
a change in the legislation, Local Councils no longer have
automatic
right of appointment to junior schools’ Governing body. The
Charter
ensures that Local Councils will be given the opportunity to appoint.
Shared Use of Buildings 6.1
Principal
Authorities will willingly consider the shared use of buildings
Traffic Calming Schemes 15.3
Principal Authorities will
design and supervise for a fee
Websites 10.6
County Council will provide
Local Councils with free of charge
assistance on web site
design
EXPECTATIONS PLACED ON
LOCAL COUNCILS BY THE CHARTER TO ACHIEVE PARTNERSHIP WORKING WITH PRINCIPAL
AUTHORITIES
Casual Vacancies 5.1
Local Councils follow
correct procedure to fill casual vacancies, which
should include notifying the
District Councils of any vacancies.
Complaints Procedure 11.2
Local Councils will have a
Complaints Procedure in place to
investigate complaints about
the administration of their Council.
The
National Association of
Local Council’s model for handling
complaints
is given at Appendix 1
Information and Access Points 17
Local
Councils may provide information on Principal Authority services
Local Councils’ Meetings 5.1
Local Councils will send on
request, meeting papers to relevant
principal authority
councillors
Principal Authority
councillors will be given the opportunity to speak
at Local Council meetings
Parish Plans.
Local Councils will involve
Principal Authorities in the preparation of
Town or Parish Plans, Village Design
Statements, Market Town Health
Checks, Guided Walk Publications, Community Transport
Initiatives
Community Grants or Donations to Voluntary Groups 14.2
Just as Principal
Authorities grant aid community groups,
Local
Councils should make use of
their power under Section 137 of the
Local Government Act 1972,
to aid voluntary or community groups
within their parishes
Co-operate with
Emergency Planning Procedures 8.1
All Local Councils will
co-operate with these procedures
Newsletters 10.2
Local Councils, on request, will send Principal
Authorities a
copy of their Newsletters
Urgent Information 9
Local Councils will
disseminate urgent information to parishioners,
when requested by Principal
Authorities
Local
Councils’ Charter Document