INTERESTED?
Are you passionate about your community? Are you are interested in how your Parish is looked after and how it develops? Do you want to help make a long-lasting change? Do you have innovative ideas for the council? Could you work as part of a team? Are you able to take part in meetings? Can you make sound judgements based on what is best for the community? Do you have concerns about a specific issue and want to do something about it? If this, is you, then Portreath Parish Council need you? We need people.
Why not stand for co option on to Portreath Parish Council?
Questions?
(we knew there would be a few!)
What is a council and what does a council do?
The Council is a corporate body, made up of elected members it is the first tier of local government. Councils have powers to raise money through taxation and powers to spend public money. The role of the council is to represent the interests of the community.
Local councils should work to understand the views of the electors that they represent to enable them to improve and provide the required services. Councils engage with their electors and act as consultors where required. Local councils are also statutory consultees in areas such as planning. Local councils must comply with obligations including those to publish certain information including annual accounts, notice of meetings, agendas and meeting notes. Local councils must ensure the rules for administration of the council are met by appointing a chairman and officers to carry out its functions, including a Clerk and Responsible Financial Officer.
Have I got time to be a councillor?
Most councillors indicate that it takes around three hours a week, however of you have more time to offer there will always be things that need to be done.
I can’t be a councillor, can I?
To be a councillor you must be:
Over 18 years old and a Commonwealth citizen or a citizen of a member state of the EU and be registered as a local government elector,
and
For the preceding 12 months live in or within 4.8kms of the parish or have your principal place of work within the parish.
Being a councillor is not for me……
If being a councillor is not for you maybe you can think of someone who would be prefect for the role. Speak to them and nominate them to become a councillor.
and finally, here are the thoughts of some of our councillors…………… Chairman - Ian Stewart
Why did you want to be a councillor?
I was interested in things that affected us at a local level and wanted to offer my experience to help improve the service provided by the council.
What would you like to see this council achieve?
To improve the area and facilities within it to the benefit of parishioners and visitors alike. To give a local voice to planning applications that go before the unitary authority.
What is the role of the Chairman?
I see the role of chairman as being the lead co-ordinator of the activities of the council as a whole. This starts with chairing the full council meetings, but also further meetings with the clerk and other relevant persons both within and outside of the council. I attend the meetings of other local groups such as the Camborne, Pool, Illogan and Redruth (CPIR) Community Network and also the Mining Villages Regeneration Group (MVRG), both of which help spread knowledge and ideas that affect the local areas especially where we are all able to work together to a common aim
Councillor Chris Matijasevic (Retired)
Why did you want to be a councillor?
To serve the people of Portreath at the first level of local government
How long have you been a Councillor?
8 years
What makes a good councillor?
Someone who listens, understands and then represents the views of as wide range of parishioners as possible
What powers does the Parish Council have?
Its powers reside mainly in raising sufficient funds to achieve its goals and appointing staff and sub-contractors. In addition, it is a consultee on a number of matters most notably planning applications.