Why not stand for Casual Vacancy on 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 top 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 of the parish
Or
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.
Vicki Webb, Councillor
Why did you want to be a councillor?
I started attending the parish council meetings as a member of the public, during the end of lockdown, over zoom. My reason for attending, like most people, was because of a local issue I wanted to try and find a solution to. This was and still is, the parking issues on Tregea Hill. During the meetings I became interested in the matters the Parish were discussing and was asked by the Chairman to volunteer to attend Police Liaison Meetings. When a vacancy opened to be co-opted, after some deliberation, I decided to give it a go.
How long have you been a Councillor?
August Meeting 2022 (6 months)
What do you hope to achieve?
I continue to raise the issue of Tregea Hill with our local County Councillor Dave Crabtree. Highways have re-designed the format of the hill to make it safer. This is ongoing, and we are waiting to see if funding will be allocated for the preferred design. I live in hope that this solution will be funded to make the hill safer for motorists and pedestrians.
It was recognised that as a council we don’t engage with our community as much as we should, including with young people. I made a proposal to set up a working group with the PIC to begin engaging with Young People. This has had a positive start.
I am keen to start conversations between the Parish Council, local schools, clubs and businesses, so that we can build positive partnerships within the Parish. These conversations have started through our new projects including the Portreath Warm Welcome, Youth Engagement project and Dog Fouling Campaign.
What makes a good councillor?
Sign up to the 7 Nolan Principles. Be genuine and serve the interests of the parish rather than your own. To have an open and honest approach. Commit your time – it requires more than just attending monthly meetings. Come to the meetings prepared. Don’t make promises you can’t keep, and - if you say you will do something, do it!
How much time do you dedicate each month to your councillor
duties?
I dedicate a lot of time. I have been working on Youth Engagement; Dog Fouling Campaign and the Portreath Warm Welcome projects, alongside standard parish council business. I have chosen to immerse myself in this role as I really enjoy it and feel passionate about working with the wider community.
If you are considering joining the Parish, I would advise that you should allow enough time to: prepare for meetings – reading the previous minutes for accuracy; reading the supporting reports/information; looking at each planning application on the Planning Portal and make notes of support/objection and fully understand the application, so you can ask questions and join in the discussion at the meeting, before making your decision. This could take up to 2 hours. You need to attend the monthly Parish Council meetings, which run from 6.30pm – 8.30pm (legally meetings must not run past 9pm).
After this, it is up to you how much additional time you put into the council. It is important that if you put yourself forward to research or do something before the next meeting, that you do so. The parish council must work as a team for it to work smoothly and to make positive changes for the community it serves.
What advice would you provide to others interested in joining the Council?
I would think carefully about the time required and the skills you have to offer. For the parish to make a difference, it requires all councillors to work as a team, take an active part in decision making and attend meetings and/or complete work outside the monthly meetings. I would advise that you first attend a meeting as a member of the public, speak to current councillors, attend Parish Council run events, read the Parish Council Website and Facebook Page to get up to speed with current projects. The council are there to represent the interests of the whole community and it is important that all councillors apply the seven Nolan principles to their conduct.