Parish Councils are the tier of local government closest to the individual communities they serve. Some of the duties & responsibilities of the Parish Council are:
- Provide services and create policies
- Raise and spend money on behalf of the community Budget & manage its finances in accordance with the Accounts & Audit regulations
- Ensure adequate insurance cover
- Manage Parish land, buildings & property
- Keeping parishioners informed
- Work in partnership with other bodies
The Council is headed by the Chairman who is appointed every year at the Annual Parish meeting. Some of their duties and responsibilities are:
- Be the public face of the council
- Welcome visitors and represent the council at official meetings or functions
- Summarize debate and facilitate the resolving of clear decisions
- Have a casting vote
- Sign the Minutes of meetings
- Sign documents on behalf of the council, providing the council is in agreement
- Ensure that effective and lawful decisions are taken at meetings of the council
- Involve all Councillors in discussions whilst ensuring the Councillors keep to the point
- Keep discussions moving so that the meeting is not too long
The Councillors contribute to the work of the whole council but no one individual (including the Chairman) can make a decision on behalf of the council. Some of the duties and responsibilities of Councillors are:
- Attend meetings
- Suggest ideas and engage in constructive debate
- Work to bring about improvement through local projects and lobbying other service providers
- Influence and shape the long term development policy for the parish, and as part of the planning process, comment on planning applications in the parish.
- Act fairly within the law
- Vote to enable the council to make decisions
- Be proactive
The primary point of contact for Parish Council business is the Parish Clerk.
The Clerk:
- Provides administrative support to the Council
- Is responsible for ensuring that the instructions of the Council are carried out in a timely and legal manner
- Ensures the Council’s finances are administered correctly and prepares monthly and yearly statements of accounts
RESPONSIBILITIES
The Parish Council is responsible for:
- The maintenance/upkeep of the two bus shelters situated on Dale Road North
- Ensuring that footpaths in the parish are kept mown and clear of obstructions
- the maintenance/upkeep of the seats situated at the top of Northwood Lane, the end of Thorncliffe Avenue, the top of Cote Hillock (opposite Tinkersley Lane), the bottom of Northwood Lane opposite the Shalimar Car Park, and at the south bound bus stop at the bottom of Northwood Lane.
- The grit bin on Park Avenue/Dungreave Avenue
- Commenting on Planning Applications relating to the Parish
- Responding to and commenting on draft policies/ procedures and directives referred to the Parish Council by Derbyshire County Council, Derbyshire Dales District Council, Peak District National Park Authority, Derbyshire Police Authority and Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service..
- Acting on complaints and issues raised by residents about matters within the parish
- Liaising with other local councils (usually Darley Dale Town Council and Rowsley Parish Council) in relation to matters that affect those councils and Northwood and Tinkersley.
- Joining with other local councils and groups in campaigns or making reprentations but only where it is in the best interests of the residents of Northwood and Tinkersley.
MEETINGS
Ordinary meetings of the Parish Council take place at Rowsley Village Hall. Members of the public are welcome to attend. There is limited parking in front of the premises.
Notices of the meetings are posted on the parish noticeboards a week before the meeting. Copies of the minutes for the meeting can be found on the Meeting Papers Page