Councillor Vacancies

Good communication skills, problem solving, analytical thinking, tolerance and being a team player are all advantageous attributes. Local Councils are governed by legislation so there are processes to follow, but training courses to help you are available and many are online.

The Clerk will provide an induction pack which will contain links to documents and policies you need when you have been co-opted.  Essential reading is the Code of Conduct – the declaration of willingness to serve which must be signed before a councillor can take up office requires you to sign to say you will abide by the Code of Conduct.  The Council’s Standing Orders govern meetings and the Finance Regulations govern how money is spent and accounted for and are also vital for councillors to understand. A paper copy of documents can be provided to candidates should you need them. Council policies can be found on this website on the policies page. Here is a link to the page https://dartington-pc.gov.uk/policies-and-procedures/

How much time does being a councillor take?

As with anything, what you get out of being a Parish Councillor will depend on what you are able to put in. As a minimum you must attend the monthly council meetings (held  on the second Wednesday of every month except August from 7-9pm in the Village Hall) and prepare for them by reading the papers sent to you. The Council can only make decisions if an item is on the agenda of a Council meeting. Being an effective councillor requires both commitment and hard work, but the rewards are that you can make a real difference to your community.

What is the Council?

Parish Councils are a separate legal, corporate entity first created by the Local Government Act of 1894 in Dartington’s case. Councillors have to balance the needs and interests of residents and the council.

The Council represents residents and has the power to do many things to make the parish better for residents.

What does Dartington Parish Council do?

Each year the Parish Council raises a precept on council taxpayers to cover many of its expenses. More information on current council precept levels and finances can be found here.

Additional funds are also obtained from the income received for advertising in Our Dartington and by obtaining grants from other bodies. Parish Council activities cover just the parish and include:

• Producing the community parish magazine “Our Dartington”.
• Looking after parish property such as the allotments, bus shelters, benches and notice boards.
• Clearing the virtual footpath, clearing the Meads Field footpath, cutting grass at Shinner’s Bridge greens and at Droridge.
• Liaising with Devon County Council regarding traffic problems. The Parish Council has also successfully worked with DCC to:
  • create a footpath opposite Huxhams Cross leading to the entrance to the cycle path;
  • maintain public footpaths in the parish;
  • replace the signs on the main roads into Dartington.
• Commenting on planning applications within the parish. South Hams District Council makes the final decision on planning applications but will take into account the views of the Parish Council.
• Working on the Neighbourhood Plan since 2014 which will be a material consideration in planning applications when it is adopted.
• Supporting local community projects with grants.

Councillors are expected to represent their communities but not campaign for their own causes.

Councillors must complete, and keep updated, a registration of interests form for themselves and their partner/spouse. An interest includes any land or property in the parish (including where they live);  any employment, office, trade, profession or vocation carried on for profit or gain; any organisations they are a member of which: exercise functions of a public nature; any body directed to charitable purposes; or one of whose principal purposes includes the influence of public opinion or policy (including any political party or trade union). These registrations must be sent to the Monitoring Officer at South Hams District Council and to the Parish Clerk. A summary of declared interests must be available on the Parish Council website for members of the public to see.

Councillors must also behave in an ethical manner according to the Members Code of Conduct and other policies. At the start of a council meeting councillors must declare any interests they have which relate to the agenda and leave the room when likely to be prejudiced.

The Council employs an experienced and qualified Clerk who manages the council’s administration and finance and provides advice.

Who can become a councillor?

Almost anyone who is a British citizen, an eligible Commonwealth citizen or a citizen of any member state of the European Union, 18 years of age or older, on the electoral roll or living in the parish or within 3 miles of its boundary or working in the parish, can become a councillor.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA: Here are the criteria from the document above.  You can be a Councillor for several Councils at the same time: County, District and Parish/Town Council. You can be a Councillor if you have a full-time job; by law your employer must allow you to take a reasonable amount of time off during working hours to perform your duties as a Councillor. You do not need to belong to a political party to stand for election and can stand as a candidate to become a Parish/Town Councillor if: You are 18 or over on the day you submit your nomination paper and are a British, Commonwealth or European Union Citizen* and at least one of the following:

• a registered local government elector in the electoral area you are wanting to stand as a candidate

• have resided in the area for the whole 12 months preceding the day of nominations, or

• work in the electoral area in which you want to stand and have for at least the past 12 months

• own property in the electoral area you are wanting to stand and have for at least the past 12 months

• for all of the previous 12 months you have lived in the Parish/Town or within 3 miles of the boundary

* This is expected to change for European Citizens in 2025

Please see the Electoral Commission website for more information.

The Clerk is available to advise and answer any questions you might have.