Bacton and Edingthorpe Parish Council
The Parish Council is your voice in the attractive North Norfolk villages of Bacton and Edingthorpe. We meet on the second Monday of alternate months (usually January, March, May, July, September and November) and we represent the interests of our two villages.
Parish councils do have quite a few powers (though some of these are quite obscure) and we are consulted about many things that affect the villages. We can be a focal point for matters of concern. We are keen to promote our villages and are always receptive to ideas and suggestions.
Council meetings are held in public in Bacton Village Hall, starting at 7pm unless otherwise notified.
We are often confronted by people who say "Why doesn't the parish council do........?" The reality is that all of us who are councillors are volunteers: we give our time for freely and all parish councillors do much more for the village than simply attending meetings. Our resources are limited, but we can achieve a lot so long as we get the support of the people who live in our community. So next time you feel like a grumble at the parish council, come along to a meeting and say "Why don't we all get together and......?" or something along those lines!
We are developing a photo gallery of both old and modern photographs and we invite members of the public to contribute to them.
Parish Councillors
Susan Holden - Chair
Patricia Myles - Vice Chair
Richard Barr
Richard Kimble
Ian Witham
01692 650530
Nigel Lee
tbc
Coral Salih
Jan Rush
Ralph Bell
01692 650483
Church View, Rectory Road, Edingthorpe, NR28 9TN
The Role of a Councillor
A councillor is a member of the council and is normally elected for a term of four years. People of any political or religious persuasion are eligible to become a councillor, although their personal views should not extend into their parish council work. A councillor is an unpaid voluntary role.
They are elected to represent the interests of the local community as a whole and promote a harmonious local environment. The number of elected councillors depends on the size of the area. In Bacton and Edingthorpe we are able to have 11 councillors.
Local councils are the first tier of governance and are the first point of contact for anyone concerned with a community issue. They are democratically elected local authorities and exist in England, Wales and Scotland. The term ‘local council’ is synonymous with ‘parish council’, ‘town council’ and ‘community council’.
Ever thought of becoming a councillor?
Parish councils are a very important part of our democracy in this country. Even though they are the lowest level of local authority, they are arguably the most important, especially in country areas as they represent the villages they serve.
Bacton and Edingthorpe Parish Council is no different. We are a group of volunteers who give our time to try to enhance and support the villages of Bacton and Edingthorpe. We are receptive to new ideas and suggestions and use the council's resources where we believe they are most needed.
But a parish council can only be as good as its members (and only if it is backed by the village it serves). Our budget is tiny compared to other government bodies, but by being resourceful we CAN make a difference to our villages.
We need more support. We do not have our full quota of councillors (we are allowed up to 11). The more we have the more we can achieve - and we are always on the look out for new ideas, new faces and fresh blood.
There was no election for parish councillors at the last election as not enough people have stood to fill all the vacancies. However, the parish council can always co-opt up to the full number (11). If you would like to join us, please contact our clerk.