The Parish Council is part of the framework of local government, which includes West Northamptonshire Council and is responsible for overseeing Woodford Halse, Hinton, and West Farndon.
The Parish Council holds regular meetings on the second Tuesday of every month at 7 pm in the Memorial Hall.
Additionally, special meetings may be held at other times.
Members of the public are always welcome to attend.
On the agenda for each Parish Council meeting, there will be an item that allows the public to speak directly to the council.
Councillors
Meet your Parish, West Northants, and National Councillors on our ‘Meet Your Councillors’ page.
Meetings
We upload all meeting documents, past and upcoming, such as Agendas so they can be viewed at any time.
Parish Council Responsibilities
Parish Council responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following:
Local Services
Providing and maintaining local services such as street lighting, public seating, litter bins, and bus shelters.
Community Facilities
Managing and maintaining community facilities like village halls and recreational grounds.
Planning and Development
Reviewing and commenting on planning applications for local development and land use to ensure they align with the village’s character and needs.
Highways and Footpaths
Reporting and addressing issues related to local roads, pavements, and public footpaths, including maintenance and repairs.
Local Events
Organizing or supporting community events and activities that foster a sense of community and local identity.
Financial Management
Managing the parish budget, including setting the precept (local council tax), and ensuring financial transparency and accountability.
Representation
Representing the interests and concerns of the local community to higher levels of government, such as the district or county council.
Community Engagement
Engaging with residents through public meetings, consultations, and other means to gather input on local issues and priorities.
Local Grants
Providing grants or support to local organizations and community groups for projects that benefit the village.
Liaison with Authorities
Working with the police, fire service, health authorities, and other agencies to address local concerns and issues.
Our Strategy
The Parish Council has agreed a strategy for the council covering the next five years.
This strategy is intended to guide decisions on spending and priorities for the services that the council delivers.
It is based on feedback from residents and issues raised by them.
The strategy is intended to be reviewed annually and will be used in the budgeting process, for planning activities and monitoring the Council’s progress against key priorities.
Code of Conduct
When acting for the Council, Council Members must conform to a Code of Conduct.
If you believe that any Member has contravened the Code, a complaint should be made to the Parish Clerk or to the West Northamptonshire Council Monitoring Officer.
Standing Orders
Standing Orders give the framework for running the Council and govern such matters as how decisions are made, how budgets are set, and how spending is authorised.
Financial Matters
Councillors are unpaid. Council staff are paid according to national formulae. Councillors and staff are reimbursed with expenditure on approved items.
No parish councillor or staff member receives an “Allowance”. The Parish Clerk is the Parish’s Responsible Financial Officer.
Freedom of Information
Your Council follows the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and publishes the information that it has available and how to access it.
Requests for information not available on this website or in other published media should be directed to the Parish Clerk and clearly marked “Freedom of Information Request”.
Health and Safety
The Council uses a health and safety procedure with respect to the management of its venues and estates.
Register of Interests
Councillors have to register any personal interests that they may have in respect of Council business.
This list is available on the West Northamptonshire Council website.
Parish Council Elections
Parish Council elections in England are held according to the following rules:
- A council has a defined number of councillors, based on the population of the parish. (In the case of Woodford cum Membris parish it is 14).
- Councillors serve for a term of four years before becoming eligible for re-election. At that point, all those wishing to stand for a further term must seek nomination and face a possible election.
- If there are more nominees than seats, an election is held and the 14 candidates receiving the most votes form the new Council.
- If there are fewer nominees than seats. no election is held and all those nominated form the new Council. The Council can then co-opt additional members as it sees fit.
- If a Councillor leaves the Council between elections, a “Notice of Casual Vacancy” is posted, allowing electors of the Parish to request an election for the vacant seat (if 10 or more residents so request). If no election is held, the Council can co-opt a replacement.
