How to join the Council
Our values
- Civility and Respect; Code of Conduct
Herstmonceux Parish Council have signed up to the Civility and Respect Pledge, supported by many councils across the UK and endorsed by National Association of Local Councils and Sussex Association of Local Councils.
The pledge is designed to help define the right behaviours within council - politeness, courtesy and respect in behaviour, speech, and in the written word; listening and paying attention to others, having consideration for other people’s feelings, following protocols and rules, showing appreciation and thanks, and being kind.
The Council's Code of Conduct (based on the National Association of Local Council's CoC), protects the Council’s democratic role, encourages good conduct and safeguards the public’s trust in local government.
The Localism Act 2011 requires all local authorities to adopt a members’ Code of Conduct, setting out the standards of behaviour expected from all Council members, elected or co-opted.
Who we are, what we do
Members of the Council, each of equal value, work as a single, democratic body of statute (set up and controlled by Acts of Parliament) to help the Council to make decisions on behalf of the local electorate.
Herstmonceux Parish Council consists of 11 Councillors who serve for a four year term. All Councillor positions are voluntary.
General Power of Competence Herstmonceux Parish council confirm and resolve their eligibility for the prescribed conditions for the General Power of Competence at the annual Herstmonceux Parish Full Council Meeting each May. This statute, General Powers of Competence (section 235(6) of the Localism Act 2011, (General Power of Competence) (Prescribed Conditions) Order 2012, offers Herstmonceux Parish Council (and any other eligible council) 'explicit freedom' to make reasonable, accountable and lawful decisions; undertaking anything that an individual (with full capacity) may do.
Herstmonceux Parish Council are currently eligible. To be eligible for the GPoC, a Council must fulfill certain criteria:
AGREEING AND RESOLVING ELIGIBILITY OF THE GENERAL POWER OF COMPETENCY
- the number of councillors elected at the last ordinary election, or at a subsequent by-election, must equal or exceed two thirds of its total number of councillors.
- the Clerk hold at least one of the sector-specific qualifications and has completed the relevant training designed as part of the National Training Strategy for local councils (as per the requirement of undertaking the CILCA)
- Members annually RESOLVE ELIGIBILITY of General Powers of Competency
Members carefully considered information on the and found themselves to the eligible to adopt the GPC under the following criteria:
- At least two thirds of Herstmonceux Parish Council members have been declared elected
- the Clerk holds an appropriate (CILCA) qualification.
The Parish Office is located at The Old Forge, 4 Gardner Street, Herstmonceux, BN27 4LG.
Full Council Meetings are usually held on the third Monday of every month at Herstmonceux Village Hall. The Planning Committee usually meets on the first Tuesday of every month. The Finance and General Purposes Committee usually meets on the second Tuesday of every month and the Amenities Committee meet on the fourth Monday of every other month - January, March, May, July, September, November. See the diary of meetings for more information.
For further information relating to the services offered by the Parish Council please contact the Clerk at the Parish Office on 01323 833312 who will be happy to give advice and assistance.
Herstmonceux Parish Councillors
Your Parish Councillors - what they do
Councillors are the representation of local community voice, highlighting local issues and contributing to the work of the council by:
- suggesting ideas;
- engaging in constructive debate;
- commenting on proposals to ensure the best outcomes;
- voting to enable the council to make decisions.
Herstmonceux Parish Councillors' Register (Declarations) of Interest
You can find each Parish Councillor's Declaration of Interest, held within their individual record, on the Wealden District Council website - Councillors' Register of Interests
Any subsequent Declaration of Interest, for example those appertaining to a specific / one off agenda item, will be found within the Parish Council meeting minutes.
Decision Making - Committees and Working Groups
- Herstmonceux Parish Council Decision Making Structure - Committees
To explain our decision making structure, the different Committees and Working Groups and their areas of responsbility.
Staff at Herstmonceux Parish Council
Member's Allowances
Members can claim an allowance to cover the expenses which are normally associated with the basic duties of being a parish councillor. Travelling and subsistence expenses are treated separately.
The level of allowance must be the same for all but the Chairman of the Council.
An independent remuneration panel makes recommendations on the allowance for town and parish councils. This information is held on the Wealden District Council Website Click where the public notice regarding the setting of the town councillors' allowance is held.
The following Parish Councillors claim an allowance:
Cllr David Harding
Cllr Emma Goodsell
Cllr Bryan Naish
Key Policy and Operational Documents
HPC Co-Option Policy (PDF, 150 Kb)
The formally agreed procedures for Co-Opting of new Councillors that Herstmonceux Parish Council abide by.
Code of Conduct (PDF, 304 Kb)
All Council Members have a duty to uphold high standards of behaviour in public life (The 7 Nolan Principles). The code of conduct is an agreed set of rules, in which all members are strictly expected to adhere to, outlining the norms, rules, and responsibilities of, and or proper practices and expected behaviours for, Herstmonceux Parish Councillors (and their staff).
The Code is revised annually by Council between May and July.
Standing Orders (PDF, 336 Kb)
The Standing Orders set out the procedure by which parish council meetings are organised and how business is conducted in its meetings. Many of the provisions of the Standing Orders are required by law, as part of the drive to achieve greater transparency and public access to information.
Standing Orders are revised annually by Council between May and July.
Please see our Meetings Diary for dates, times, venues, Agendas and Minutes of our Parish Council meetings.
- Financial Regulations: Herstmonceux Parish Council Financial Regulations can be found on our Financial Information Page