Who we are & what we do

Denton consists of nine elected councillors who serve for a four-year term. All Councillors are voluntary unpaid volunteers who work for the benefit of the community and all local residents.

The Clerk to the Parish Council is the only paid, part-time employee.

Residents may attend full council meetings and can speak briefly on village matters / agenda items prior to the commencement of the meeting during the public session.

Council Meetings - see the diary of meetings for more information.

For further information relating to the services offered by the Parish Council and any other enquiries about this website or content then please contact the Clerk who will be happy to give advice and assistance.

Our councillors are elected or co-opted, there is currently one vacancy on the Parish Council.

All current members of Denton Parish Council are members of the local community and live in Denton village. They all joined the PC as they want to do something positive for the village and want to make a difference by influencing decisions that affect your parish. Parish Councillors are volunteers who give up their time freely to work on your behalf, serving to improve the quality of life and the local environment of Denton.

The Team work well and the challenges they are currently working on are refurbishing the play area and improving the village aesthetics.

If you would like to become a councillor in the first instance please contact the Clerk to express your interest.

What is a Parish Council?

A parish council is a corporate body, a local authority in England that serves as the first level of local government. It's the level of government that's closest to the community, and is responsible for representing the community's interests and acting on their behalf.

It is a legal entity separate from its members. It is a collective decision-making body; its decisions are the responsibility of the whole of the council. All the councillors have equal rights and responsibilities, even the chair or councillors who also sit on a principal authority are no more important than any other member. This means that councillors do not have any authority as individuals. In short, no councillor can act alone or speak on behalf of the council without first being formally granted the authority to do so by that council. It is also important to understand that local councils are autonomous and not answerable to a higher authority. They have been granted their own powers by Parliament Parish Councils also called town councils, neighbourhood councils or community councils in some areas are responsible for delivering local services.

There are over 10, 000 parish councils (some of which are called town, community or neighbourhood councils) representing around 16 million people across England. They form the most local level of government and cover many rural and urban areas. As of April 2024, Northamptonshire has 218 parishes with councils, plus 51 parish meetings that don't hold elections. Together, they cover almost all of the county, except for unparished areas in Kettering and Corby.

Parish councils are a vital part of any community, as they're often the first-place people go with concerns or ideas.

What do Parish Councils do?

Your parish council has an overall responsibility for the well-being of your local neighbourhood. Their work falls into three main categories:

• representing your local community
• delivering services to meet local needs
• striving to improve quality of life in the parish

Your parish council might provide, maintain or contribute to the following services:

They will often work with larger councils (district, borough or county) in your area called 'principal authorities' and cooperate to ensure the effective delivery of services to the local community.

What do Parish Councillors do?

Parish councillors represent the views of their parish's residents and contribute to the work of the parish council which includes making decisions about policies and services in the local area that they serve on behalf of their community and parishioners.

Councillors have three main areas of work:

• Decision-making: through attending meetings and committees with other elected members, councillors decide which activities to support, where money should be spent, what services should be delivered and what policies should be implemented. Decisions can only be made at meetings whilst discussing the relevant agenda item relating to the said item.

• Monitoring: councillors make sure that their decisions lead to efficient and effective services by keeping an eye on how well things are working.

• Getting involved locally: as local representatives, councillors have responsibilities towards their constituents and local organisations. This often depends on what the councillor wants to achieve and how much time is available.

The day-to-day work of a parish councillor may include:

• Going to meetings of local organisations such as tenants' associations.

• Going to meetings of bodies that affect the wider community, such as the police, the Highways Authority, schools and colleges.

• Taking up issues on behalf of members of the public, such as making representations to the principal authorities.

• Running a surgery for residents to bring up issues.

• Meeting with individual residents in their own homes.

Why should I become a councillor?

As a councillor you can become a voice for your community and affect real change. Councillors are community leaders and represent the aspirations of the public that they serve. Parish, town, community and neighbourhood councillors are the most local part of our democratic system and are closest to the public. By standing for your parish council, you could make a real difference to your local neighbourhood.

Can I become a parish councillor?

Most people can stand for election if it's the election year otherwise can be co-opted at a council meeting, however there are a few rules. To be a councillor you need to be:

• British or a citizen of the Commonwealth. You may also be eligible as a citizen of the European Union, however the criteria has changed now that the UK has left the European Union. Please check on the gov.uk website for advice about EU citizens' voting and candidacy rights in local elections.
• At least 18 years old.
• Registered to vote in the area or have lived, worked, or owned property there for at least 12 months before an election.

You can't be a councillor if you:

• Work for the council you want to be a councillor for, you can work for another local authority as long as you are not in a political restricted post.
• Are the subject of a bankruptcy restrictions order or interim order.
• Have been sentenced to prison for three months or more (including suspended sentences) during the five years before election day.
• Have been convicted of a corrupt or illegal practice by an election court.
• Are subject to any relevant notification requirements, or a relevant order, in respect of a sexual offence.

How much time will I need to spend?

It is possible to spend a lot of time on council work - but most people have jobs, families and hobbies that also demand a lot of time. However, as with most things, the more you put in, the more you (and your community) will get out. Generally speaking, the larger your community the larger your workload will be. The times of the meetings vary, as do the venues. Parish councils normally meet in the evening. It is important to establish the pattern of meetings and venues to make sure they can accommodate your domestic and/or business arrangements. Most councils meet once a month and many also have committees, in which case you would probably be invited to sit on a committee. These usually meet in between the meetings of the full parish council.

Quite often councillors say that their duties occupy them for about three hours a week. Obviously, there are some councillors who spend more time than this – and some less, but in the main, being a local councillor is an enjoyable way of contributing to your community and helping to make it a better place to live and work. At Denton Parish Council it is anticipated you would spend a few hours each week.

Frequently Asked Questions

Am I personally liable for anything as a councillor?

Generally speaking, no. The council is a corporate body, which means that in law it has an identity separate to that of its members. Anything that the council decides to do by resolution is the action of the corporate body and any land, property, leases and other contracts are in the name of the council. The exception would be in extreme cases of negligence where an individual councillor has acted contrary to council policy, which may lead to personal liability.

Will my employer support me if I need time off for council business in work time?

Yes. You are allowed reasonable time off to go to meetings or to carry out your duties. The time must be agreed with your employer beforehand and your employer can refuse your request if it is unreasonable. A specific amount of time off is not laid down in law. Your employer doesn't have to pay you while you take time off for public duties, although many do. Your employment contract will normally say whether you are paid for this time off.

Does it take up a lot of time?

It can, but it doesn't have to. You will be required to attend meetings of the full council (monthly or bi-monthly) which are normally 2 to 3 hours long. You should be well-prepared for meetings and preparation can sometimes take longer than the meeting itself! If you are really getting your teeth in to council business you may put yourself forward for any committees that the council has (e.g. finance or planning committees), which will involve further meetings and preparation. Quite often councillors say that their duties occupy them for about three hours a week.

Denton Parish Council meetings are monthly (bar August and December) on the 2^nd Wednesday of the month from 7.30pm for approx. 2 hours at Denton Village Hall.

How do I become a Parish Councillor?

Firstly, contact your Parish Clerk to register your interest and find out if you meet the criteria to apply.

What's in it for me and my community?

You should consider becoming a parish or town councillor if:

• You Want To Do Something Positive for Your Community
• You Want To Spend Your Time Productively
• You Can Think, Listen and Act Locally
• Then contact your Parish Clerk to register your interest and find out if you meet the criteria to apply.