Notices

Councillor vacancy – information about co-option

Following the resignation of Robin Hollamby there is ONE Councillor vacancy on Capel Parish Council.
If you would like to help your community by becoming a parish councillor for Capel and you meet the below eligibility criteria, please send a brief CV to the Clerk, outlining your knowledge and experience by 5pm, 18th November 2019.
To be eligible to become a councillor for Capel Parish Council you must be:
• a UK or Commonwealth citizen; or be a citizen of the Republic of Ireland; or be a citizen of another Member state of the European Union
• at least 18 years old
• an elector of the Parish or in the past 12 months have occupied land or other premises in the Parish (as owner or tenant) or work in the Parish (as your principal or only place of work) or live within three miles of the Parish boundary
What do Parish or Town councils do?
A Parish council is a local authority that makes decisions on behalf of the people in the Parish. It is the level of local government closest to the community, with Tunbridge Wells Borough Council further up the hierarchy.
Parish councils make all kinds of decisions on issues that affect the local community. Probably the most common topics that Parish councils get involved with are planning matters (they are statutory consultees) and roads & highways. Parish councils have a number of powers they can use and have the ability to negotiate with other decision making organisations such as the district, county or unitary councils, health authorities, police etc. In this respect Parish councils are extremely powerful. These organisations know that a Parish council gives the best reflection of how a community feels about something and its views should be taken seriously.
How much time does it take up?
Capel Parish Council meets once a month for the council meeting to which members of the public are also invited. Meetings may last two or three hours, depending on what’s on the list of items to discuss. Councillors are encouraged to also join one of the several committees within the parish council, these meetings are held three or four times a year and usually last for an hour – these committees include Planning, Housing and Memorial Cottages, Finance and Resources, Flooding and Recreation Ground.
For more information about the role and the work of Capel Parish Council please contact the Clerk.