Here is a handy list of some of the duties we must do and the powers we can use.
Our duties
The Parish Council MUST do the following:
| Accounts: | We must keep proper accounts which are audited and have someone responsible for keeping them |
| Acceptance of Office: | All Parish Councillors have to sign to say they will follow the law and the rules of the Parish Council |
| Annual Parish Meeting: | We must hold one for anyone in the Parish to attend if they wish. This is a meeting about parish matters, not just Parish Council matters. Anyone could call it, but in reality it is the Parish Council which does |
| Annual Meeting of the Parish Council: | A formal meeting called by the Parish Council which involves electing a Chair and Vice Chair for the next year. Councillors will also resolve to adopt key governance document and representatives for working groups, policies and financial standings |
| Bio-diversity: | Duty to consider it in all Council activity |
| Website information: | Duty to provide information |
Our Powers
The Parish Council CAN do:
| Allotments: | We can provide allotments if that is possible. The price of land makes this very expensive. There are already two allotment sites in the village. The contact for allotments (Not a Parish Council Service – these are run by Committee)
–Allotments adj Saxon Rise – Frank Letts 01604 881229 -Allotments by the Church – Robin Pool 01604 881166 or 07977144596 |
| Benches | Provision of 3 benches, previously situated at the the Brixworth Railway Station and now placed at Glebe Road Allotments, the Millennium Gardens and on Holcot Road. These were refurbishing tas part of a heritage project and work completed in April 2024 |
| Burial grounds | At present Parish Council provision of this is not necessary in Brixworth |
| Bus shelters | We do provide bus shelters. Some near new estates are given to us by developers |
| Bye-laws | We have bye laws for our Recreation Grounds which have the force of law |
| Christmas lights | We organise the community Christmas lights in the village every year year |
| Citizens Advice | We have the power to provide grants to the CAB |
| Community Centre | The Parish Council are trustees of the charity which runs the Community Centre building. Also custodian trustee to the Village Hall |
| Crime prevention | We have Speedwatch in the village with members of the local community being trained to use radar speed guns to educate speeding motorists. It is now run by the Community, but the Parish Council set it up initially. It runs at no cost to the Parish Council |
| Entertainment | Power to support |
| Grass Cutting | The Council maintains the grass on its own land and works on a two weekly cycle. It also cuts the highway verges on the 30 mph roads only on behalf the new unitary council (West Northamptonshire Council). It is reimbursed for this work. To report grass cutting outside of the village area please use the West Northamptonshire Council’s Self Service – Reporting Form
Note – Grass cutting on The Ashway (David Wilson) please contact of call 01604 784000 (Option 3) Since 2023, Brixworth Parish Council has embraced ‘No Mow May’ to promote biodiversity. |
| Highways | West Northants Council provides this service. However the Parish provides street seats, carries out the grass cutting on behalf of the Council and provides some environmental enhancements such as the entrance sign planters. Highway faults can be reported via the County Street Doctor online reporting tool |
| Litter | We provide a number of litter bins and dog waste bins on our own land. West Northants Council provides this service on the highway including outside of the shops |
| Newsletters | Our newsletter is published within the Brixworth Bulletin at quarterly intervals. This is supplemented by our website ,Twitter, Instagram & Facebook feeds in between times |
| Open Spaces | We maintain both The Pound and the Millenium Gardens |
| Parks | We own and maintain St David’s Rec,Spratton Road Rec, the Ashway Sports Field, the Pocket Park near Eaglehurst and a number of smaller patches of land throughout the village. We provide and maintain play equipment on them |
| Planning | We are consultee’s on Planning Applications, though the West Northamptonshire Council makes the final decision. We also consider Pre Apps if these are referred to us for comment |
| Play Equipment | Provision of play equipment at Spratton Road, The Ashway and St David’s Recreation Grounds |
| Street Lights | The Parish Council owns and maintains street lights at
St David’s Road – outside numbers 22, 25 and 28 Parkfield Road – outside number 23 All Saints Church – Gate on Church Street and Gate on Station Road Swedish Houses at Froghall Spratton Road 55 – 66 All street lights upgraded to Holophone 18w LED Lanterns in August 2021. Note – Street lights on The Ashway (David Wilson) please contact of call 01604 784000 (Option 3) Street Lights on Saxon Rise also maintained by a Management Company – Chamonixe Estates – All other street lights are owned and maintained by the Highway Authority. Please use Street Doctor to report faults |
| Traffic calming | We can take measures to reduce speeding. In 2018 we introduced a Speed Indicator Device and this is moved around the village. We share the collected data |
| Transport | Powers to fund community transport schemes |
| Trees | Maintenance of over 100 trees. All inspected on an annual basis and any required work undertaken |
| Village signs | Powers to provide village signs.- Maintenance of over 100 trees. All inspected on an annual basis and any required work undertaken |
| War memorials | The Parish Council has taken on the right to maintain this listed memorial and in recent times has arranged its cleaning |
What else could we provide?
Not top of our list, but we have powers to provide Public Clocks, to buy land, can subsidise any telecommunications facilities and also provide public toilets.