The future of grassroots democracy across North Yorkshire is set to be secured next week when a new parish charter is due to be adopted to ensure that local councils remain the voices of their communities.
Earlier this year, parishes across England’s largest county took part in a consultation on the charter, which defines how parishes and ourselves will work together in the future.
Following an overwhelmingly positive response, members of our executive will be asked on Tuesday next week (18 July) to officially adopt the parish charter and herald a new era of partnership, working and understanding in the county.
Council leader, Cllr Carl Les, said: “Parish and town councils and parish meetings are an important part of local government. They are the first tier of local government and play a vital role for their communities.
“The charter is the result of experience and local consultation in order to establish better ways of working and to ensure we are all using best practice in everything we do.
“I am delighted to support this charter and, if it is approved by the executive, I look forward to working closely with our colleagues in the parishes and the towns in the years to come. This is set to be the dawn of a new era for democracy in North Yorkshire.”
The charter has been drawn up with the help of a working group that included representatives from parishes.
Pledges in the charter include working with parishes to promote and protect social, economic and environmental wellbeing for the benefit of communities, engaging on issues that are likely to affect or be of particular interest to an area, consulting on planning, licensing and highways matters, and supporting parishes to maintain their own local services and assets if they wish to, and where it is practicable.
Executive member for corporate services, Cllr David Chance, added: “The charter is due to allow us to work with those at the heart of their communities and ensure that we can all make the biggest difference possible at a grassroots level.”
At the same meeting, the executive will also be asked to confirm that we will cover the cost of all parish by-elections held in the year 2023/24.
We are due to also cover costs for scheduled elections going forward when they occur in conjunction with principal authority elections.
From 2024/25, costs for any parish or town council by-elections incurred by us are due to be recovered from the relevant authority. The move would standardise the approach across the county.