In the case of planning applications the Parish Council is consulted n the same way as any other member of the public. The power to permit or deny the application is usually exercised by Tewkesbury Borough Council. Thus, if the Parish Council feels strongly about an individual application, it writes to and lobbies the Borough Council. On occasions such as these our local Borough or county councillors can be very helpful, and this is why they are invited to our meetings.
In order to have the greatest effect the Parish Council and local residents need to act together on important issues. The Parish Council can frequently be only a catalyst in getting things done and success is very much dependent on parishioners playing their own part by attending meetings and, occasionally, in writing to or telephoning the authorities which have the power to act for the good of the community.
TEDDINGTON PARISH COUNCIL
Teddington and Alstone, together with Bengrove and immediately surrounding areas, form a civil parish. For many years the only arm of local government within the parish was the annual parish meeting, but in 1969, to answer the needs of an expanding population, Teddington and Alstone were granted the status of a Parish Council.
The Parish Council is composed of five members, who are normally electors from the civil parish. Their term of office is for four years after which they retire and a public election is called. The quorum for a meeting is three members. It is the custom of the Council to nominate a Clerk and a Treasurer, who are not elected members of the Council. No elected member of the Council is paid for attendance. Modest honoraria are paid in respect of the duties of Clerk and Treasurer.
The Parish Council meets once every six to eight weeks at 7.45 pm (1945) in Teddington Village Hall, save for two meetings each year that are held in St Margaret=s Church, Alstone. Only five members of the Council have the right to speak and vote. However, it is the practice to invite comments from members of the public who are present, and the agenda for every meeting includes and item - Visitors= Business - during which anyone who is a resident of the Parish may raise an issue for discussion.
One meeting each year is designated the AGM of the Parish Council. This usually takes place in early May. At this meeting the Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Clerk and Treasurer must retire and elections for each post are conducted by the members of the Council themselves.
The Annual Parish Meeting is still held, usually in April. The business is conducted by the Chairman of the Parish Council and all parishioners are entitled both to attend and to speak. At this meeting the happenings of the past year are reviewed, the accounts of the Parish Council are presented, each organisation receiving a grant from the Council is invited to report on its year=s activities and plans for the future. The Parish Meeting is again an opportunity for anyone to raise a topic of concern.
The Parish Council levies a precept, as part of the Council Tax. The amount, which is decided upon by the Parish Council, is set between ,5000 and ,6000 and is spent on local amenities and grants to local organisations. The Parish Council=s powers are strictly limited and, in general, is not legally able to instruct any person either to do something or to refrain from doing anything. These powers belong to the Tewkesbury Borough and Gloucestershire County Councils, which usually seek the views of the Parish Council on local issues. However, the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment act has conferred additional power to Parish Councils particularly in the areas of dog control.
