Formally adopted by the Parish Council 28th May 2024
Next review 4 years - May 2028
Asterby and Goulceby Parish Council
Parish Councils were founded in 1894 under the Local Government Act and are the first tier of local governance in England, Wales and Scotland. The Parish Council is a corporate body, meaning that individual councillors cannot act on their own and must abide by the majority decisions.
Asterby and Goulceby Parish Council is the formation of 2 parishes and falls within the District of East Lindsey (East Lindsey District Council ELDC) and the County of Lincolnshire (Lincolnshire County Council Council LCC). It is required to hold 4 meetings per year and an Annual Parish Meeting usually in May. Asterby and Goulceby enable 6 parish councillors and requires at least 3 for a quorum in order to carry out its duties and hold a meeting. At the first Parish Council meeting at the beginning of each financial year, after the 1st April and usually held in May, the Chair is elected.
The Parish Council is currently responsible for 1 employee - the Parish Clerk & RFO.
Elections
Parish councillors are elected for a term of four years. Elections are held on the first Thursday in May. The right to vote at any local government election is dependent upon the person's name having been entered in the current register of local government electors which is published annually. In all cases, the ordinary election of local councillors is conducted by means of nomination of candidates by two electors and, if necessary, a poll. A person (unless disqualified) is qualified to be elected to be a councillor if he/she is a British subject, a Commonwealth citizen or a citizen of the Irish Republic if on the relevant day he/she is 18 years of age or over and (1) is and continues to be a local elector for the parish, (2) has during the whole of the 12 months preceding that day occupied as owner or tenant any land or other premises in the parish, (3) his/her principal or only place of work during those 12 months has been in the parish, or he/she has during the whole of those 12 months resided in the parish or within three miles of it.
Should all vacancies not be filled during the election process then the co-option process could be implemented to fill the vacancies. If a vacancy arises due to any other reason such as a resignation of an elected councillor then a mid-term election should then take place to fill the vacancy.
Role of a Parish Councillor
The role of the councillor is a voluntary position. The duties and responsibilities of being a councillor are many and varied and requires a willingness to have contact with local people in their own community and to get involved with concerns, issues and local authority regulations.
Councillors must always carry out their duties considering the interests of the community which they represent despite their political or religious persuasion. A councillor signs a Declaration of Acceptance of Office and thereby undertakes to observe an ethical Code of Conduct when dealing with matters on behalf of the community.
Councillors are expected to abide by the council's Code of Conduct Policy. The responsibilities detailed in the policy are designed to protect councillors as well as the people they serve and give clear guidance so that councillors may undertake their duties with confidence and integrity.
Meetings
A Parish Councillor is summoned to attend meetings of the Parish Council by the Clerk and RFO; this is a legal summons. All meetings are held in the evening.
The Annual Parish Meeting is not a meeting of the local council; the Parish Meeting is a meeting for all of the electors in the parish.
External Representation
Local councils also need representation at other local government meetings or on local bodies/organisations and councillors may be asked to serve on certain groups or attend functions on behalf of the parish council. Councillors act as ambassadors for their community keeping everyone aware of local needs and concerns and reporting back to the local council. Councillors represent the voice of their community as a whole, whilst being aware of and considerate to, specific minority needs.
Asset Register
The Asterby and Goulceby Parish Council are responsible for the Asset Register and it’s annual review for the audit at the end of March each year. The items have to be assessed for condition, location and value. Any items no longer in serviceable condition to be removed from the list appropriately at the annual review.