The Council
South Leverton Parish Council consists of residents of both villages who are 7 voluntary Councillors serving a four year term ending in 2023 and 3 part-time members of staff.
Council Meetings are usually held bi-monthly, 6 times per year, at the Memorial Institute Hall in May, Jul, Sep, Nov, Jan & Mar. See the diary of meetings for more information. Whilst meetings are open to the public, please understand that Council meetings are held in public, but they are not public meetings, the public are not allowed to comment, speak, take part in the meeting or disrupt it. There is a designated time for the public to speak, should they wish to do so, please see our Public Participation Policy for further details. Please See the diary of meetings for more information.
Origins - Our Council was founded in December 1894 by the Local Govt Act. The Act split the non-religious elements of the former 'Vestry Meetings' into those of Parish Council's and Parochial Church Councils. At our formation, a local person was appointed Surveyor of Highways, Roads & Drains (a Parish Employee who looked after the repair of the roads) and two people acted as 'Overseers of the Precept' whose role was to collect the precept monies to run the Council. The Overseer roles were abolished in 1927 when Precept collection duties transferred to the District Council, the Surveyor role was abolished in 1952 when County Councils took over the maintenance of the roads.
The role of the Parish Council has changed over the years with ever changing legislation.
The work our council does can be both interesting and rewarding, however, it is worthwhile understanding what South Parish Council owns and maintains, to put things into perspective: several public waste bins, salt bins, the village gateway signs, a noticeboard and the small piece of ground it sits upon, a defibrillator, several public benches, a small extension area at the churchyard for future burials and the Millennium Sculpture. In addition to the Clerk, the Parish Council employs a part time Litter Picker and Village Lengthsman.
An integral part of this work is the job councillors do: engaging with local people, groups and businesses to find out their needs; making decisions on the services and projects the council could take forward; and getting involved to ensure services are meeting the community's needs.
Who we are & what we do
Did you know?
The primary purpose of a parish council is to represent the concerns of parish residents and provide some services to meet local needs. Parish councils have a wide range of powers which may include looking after community buildings, play parks, street furniture and land.
The most common areas that Parish Councils get involved in include planning issues, managing open spaces and village halls. It is fair to say that on their own, Parish Councils have limited decision-making powers, but they do have the ability to negotiate with, and the power to influence, those organisations that do make final decisions, such as District and County Councils, health authorities etc. These authorities know that a Parish Council gives the best reflection of how a community feels about something and its views will be taken seriously.
Parish councils are a form of Local Government being the first tier of local and community consultation. They are democratically elected Local Authorities and exist in England, Wales and Scotland. Parish and Town Councils, often known simply as "local councils" exist in many English Parishes. They vary from councils based in small rural villages to ones serving large urban areas with thousands of electors. The "parish council" is a civil organisation and should not be confused with the term "parish church" or "parochial church councils" that administer parishes of the Church of England. Civil parish councils were formed in England under the Local Government Act 1894 which developed the civil structure from the previously ecclesiastical parishes.
A parish council makes decisions on behalf of the people in a defined and bounded locality deemed to be "the parish". As the parish council is the authority closest to the residents of that locality they usually operate as the first place people will go with concerns or ideas and for this reason are a vital part of any community.
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 Bassetlaw District ouncil (on behalf of the Parish Council).
The Council also raises funds through grants from other organisations.
Councillors
Our councillors are elected or co-opted. They do not get paid, receive a salary or an expenses allowance, they volunteer their time for the community.
As a Parish Councillor you become somebody who residents will look to for help, guidance and support, a community leader with the power to influence decisions for the benefit of the people they serve. Seeing your community change for the better, because of decisions you have helped to make, is something that gives a sense of achievement and pride. The main role of Clerk is to ensure that the Council conducts its business properly and to provide independent, objective, and professional advice and support.
- Councillor Responsibility List
A list of our councillors along with contact information and which committees they are on.
- Parish Councillors Register of Interests
Bassetlaw District Council's Register of Parish Councillors Interest.
Members are required to register not only their own interests under this
heading but also those of their husband or wife, civil partner or of any person
with whom they are living as if husband and wife or as civil partners when
such interests are known by them.PLEASE NOTE, ANY ERRORS or OMISSIONS on the Bassetlaw page is due to Bassetlaw's electoral dept not updating the records as all registers have been provided to Bassetlaw.
Committees
South Leverton Parish Council Standing Orders
Standing Orders (PDF, 213 Kb)
Standing Orders
Our Staff
Clerk to the Council
Clerk & Responsibile Financial Officer to the Parish Council
The Clerk is Proper Officer and Responsible Financial Officer of the Parish Council. He carries out all functions expected by law of such an officer and undertakes all administrative duties of the Council. The Clerk's duties include but are not limited to:
- Ensure that the Council is run in accordance with the law and abides by statute.
- Maintain financial records of the Council and prepare records for audit
- Prepare the Council's Budget
- Implement the Council's decisions
- Submit the Precept Requirement to Bassetlaw Council
- Monitor and Process Staff wages, PAYE and HMRC returns
- Ensure the Council has adequate Insurance Cover.
- Keep property/asset registers and other legal documents up-to-date
- Work with the Chairman and other members as appropriate
- Prepare and issue the Council Agendas
- Produce the minutes of the meetings
- Provide appropriate legal and practical advise to the Council members
- Obtain quotes for tenders
- Review rental incomes, Negotiate Leases & Contracts with the Council for its lands/tenancies
- Receive, Study & Reply to all correspondence on behalf of the Council.
- Deal with phone inquiries for the Council
- Carry out proactive research for the Council suggesting ways to improve procedures or services of the parish.
- Supervise staff and undertake tasks in connection with salaries and conditions of employment
- Act as a representative of the Council and attend meetings
- Liaise with the District Council and County Council on matters of concern to the Parish Council
- Maintain contact with the local District Councillor and County Councillor
- Prepare press releases for the Council
- Act as a point of contact for residents within the Parish and for outside bodies to facilitate replies too and from the Council.
Jack Foster
Village Warden Lengthsman
Jack looks after various 'hands on' jobs around the parish. Jack undertakes many duties, including but not limited to:
- Lengthsman Duties which can potentially include:
- Parish Street Furniture Maintenance
- Road & Street Sign Cleaning
- Maintenance of the Parish Assets
- Top up the Salt Grit bins and use the parish salt spreader on key pavements in icy weather
- cutting back overhanging hedges
- ensuring visibility of traffic signs
- maintaining heritage and non-mains powered signs
- clearing drains
- clearing minor storm debris
- tidying roadsides
- repainting traditional finger and mile posts
- Litter Picking
- Disposal of Litter
- Reporting Fly-tipping to Bassetlaw Council
The lengthsman scheme is an arrangement between Notts County Council and parish/town councils or community resource trusts, also an agreement with the District Council in exchange of the annual Street Cleaning Grant for litter picking. The parish councils employ a lengthsman. They carry out minor local highways jobs identified by the parish council. Notts County Council contribute to this work through Council Tax. You might see Jack working in all weathers, keeping the parish looking good. If there's a message for Sam or you have noticed something which could do with his attention, please either email the Clerk.
Historic Council Documents
Below are the historic records of the Council, the originals have been sent to Nottinghamshire Archives:
- 1868-1960 - minute books, declarations of acceptance of office, financial records, correspondence, overseers' accounts and poor rate books, Highway surveyor's accounts, Constables' rate books, allotments registers and rent books.
- 1950 - 1974 Minute Book
- 1974 - 1983 Minute Book
- 1983 - 1994 Minute Book
- 1994 - 2000 Minute Book
- 2000 - 2013 Minute Book
- 2013 - 2017 Minute Book
