Two vacancies for members of parish council

Two members, Chris Cullen (current co-chair) and Anne Stephens have resigned from the parish council and the electoral services department at Chichester District Council has notified us that no local residents have called for a full election in response to our notice of the two vacancies on the parish council, we have been legally instructed to fill the vacancies by co-opting new members – so the council members will select these from any available candidates at the next parish council meeting on 26th March 2025.

So far, only one person has volunteered to fill these vacancies but, if anyone else is interested, a summary of the role is set out below and our parish clerk – or any of the existing members - would be happy to tell them more about what is involved in being a member of the council. Volunteers need to be nominated and seconded by residents of the parish (they can nominate themselves) in time to be listed on the agenda of the parish council meeting.

Formal applications will therefore be required by 19th March 2025, so interested residents are advised to contact the clerk (see panel above) by 18th March (latest) to be nominated and seconded in time.

Summary of the role:

The community parish council is nothing to do with the church; since the Local Government Act of 1894 it has been the local level of democratic government. It is a group of 7 unpaid members (councilors) elected by local residents who are responsible for providing services for the local community (see our website for details) and representing their interests in dealings with the district and county council levels of local government. To pay for the services we provide, we charge every elector in the parish about £2 per month through the council tax system, which raises £4,000 per year.

We hold a full council meeting once every 2 months (usually at 6pm on the 4th Wednesday of the month) and some members also volunteer for extra committee meetings and other duties. Training and advice are readily available.

Our members are elected in local elections every 4 years (next due in May 2027) and must be British, Commonwealth or EU citizens over 18, who are not subject to a bankruptcy restriction order and have not, within the last five years been convicted of any offence involving a prison sentence (whether suspended or not) for a period of over three months without the option of a fine. They must also have satisfied at least ONE of the following conditions:

• Be registered as a local government elector for the parish
• During the whole of the preceding 12 months, have occupied (as owner or tenant) a property in the parish
• During the whole of the preceding 12 months, have worked in the parish
• During the whole of the preceding 12 months, have resided in the parish or within 3 miles (4.8 km) of its border.

They must be seconded by another registered elector.

For more information about the role of a parish councillor, contact the clerk or, for a full description, download the "Good councillor's guide" from the National Association of Local Councils: www.nalc.gov.uk/publications

Notice posted on 12th February 2025

Neil Ryder, parish clerk