The Parish Council
The Parish Council is a small local authority. Its Councillors are elected for four years at a time. Vacancies occurring between elections are filled by by-election (if requested) or co-option. Each year, the Councillors choose a Chair from amongst their number. There is also a Vice-Chair and a Clerk, who is the Proper Officer and the Responsible Finance Officer of the Council.
Parish Councils have a number of formal powers and can do things either by providing them itself, or by helping someone else (such as a charity or volunteers) financially to do so. Parish Councils have the power to improve the quality of community life by spending sums of money on things which, in its opinion, are in the interests of the parish or its inhabitants.
Councils are also the focal point for local consultation on matters such as the strategy documents of other public organisations, including the Borough and County Councils and the Dartmoor National Park Authority and on planning applications. The Parish Council can represent the village’s views to other authorities.
How much does it cost?
Parish Council funds are a tiny part of the council tax. The annual budget for Brentor Parish Council is currently £15250. The Council does not receive any general government grant. The accounts are strictly audited every year by an internal auditor and appropriate documents sent to the external Auditor as required.
Who controls the Parish Council?
You do! You elect its members every four years (provided that there are more nominations to be a councillor than there are places). Members of the public are also encouraged to come to Council meetings and participate in the public session.
The current Parish Council was elected in May 2023. You can get in touch with any of the Councillors via the Parish Clerk if there is something which you think the Parish Council should be addressing.
The Councillors are:
- Cllr Gary Hunt (Chair)
- Cllr Robert Dawson (Vice-Chair)
- Cllr Tim Sheppard
All Parish Cllrs are also members of the Planning Committee.