About Bradpole Parish Council (1894 ~ 2024)

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Bradpole Parish Council comprised a maximum of 10 Councillors

Bradpole Parish Council was dissolved on 1st April 2024 These are the rules under which the Council operated.

The Legal Basis of the Council

Founded in 1894 under the 1894 Local Government Act Bradpole Parish Council was a corporate body, a legal entity separate from that of its members.

Its decisions are the responsibility of the whole body.

The council has been granted powers by Parliament including the important authority to raise money through taxation and a range of powers to spend public money.

The council is bound by a number of rules and policies:

see our “Policies” page.   

Parish Council Structure & Elections

Bradpole Civil Parish is divided into two wards; Bradpole Ward (9 seats) & Claremont Ward (1 seat)

Bradpole Parish Councillors are elected for a four-year term.

Contested elections are held providing that more than 10 candidates choose to stand.

From time to time vacancies occur on the Council between elections in which case the Council does have powers to co-opt* Councillors.

*Co-option
If a vacancy occurs on the Council this is advertised by the Returning Officer in accordance with electoral protocols.
If, as a result,  no-one is elected to fill the vacancy the Parish Council may then advertise the vacant role based upon the personal skills required to fill that vacancy, much like a job advertisement although it is, of course, an unpaid role.

 The Role of the Parish Councillor

  • An unpaid volunteer who represents the Council to the Community and vice – versa using all appropriate means.
  • Is a channel of communication for the Parish and ensures constituents are informed of services available; decisions that affect them and the reasons for those decisions.
  • Deals with constituents’ enquiries and representations fairly and without prejudice.
  • Champions the causes which relate to the interests and sustainability of the Council’s area
  • Parish Councillors take collective decisions which form the policy of the Council. The policy of the Council will therefore reflect the views of the majority of its members.

Source: Dorset Association of Parish and Town Councils (DAPTC)

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Bradpole councillors adhere to The Nolan Principles of public life.

The following guide provides much information on the duties and responsibilities for our councillors: The-Good-Councillors-guide-2018

The Role of the Parish Clerk

  • The Clerk is the proper officer of the council in law.
  • The Clerk provides legal and financial advise and information to support the council’s decisions.
  • The Clerk is responsible for agendas and the recording of the minutes of council meetings.
  • the Clerk provides administrative support and takes action to carry out the council decisions.
  • The Clerk is the Responsible Financial Officer of Bradpole Parish Council
  • The Clerk is answerable only to the Council as a whole and not to individual Councillors, Officers of the Council.
  • The statutory and other responsibilities of the Parish Clerk are central to the internal administration of the Parish Council.

source: DAPTC

Unlike Bradpole Parish Councillors, whose work is unpaid, the Parish Clerk is a paid employee of the council and as such does not have a vote on council business but provides support as detailed above and is not answerable to any other body.

Councillors Allowances & Expenses

Bradpole Parish Councillors are unpaid volunteers.

An allowance scheme for councillors does exist which Bradpole Parish Council has NOT adopted.

Bradpole Councillors claim few, if any, expenses.

All of the above helps to keep your Council Tax lower than in those Council areas where Councillors’ allowances are paid under an Allowance Scheme.

Councillors’ Register of Interests

For the duration of  Councillors terms of office these are transparently held by the Local Authority.

Politics

Bradpole Parish Council is politically neutral.

Councillors volunteer their time freely for the benefit of Bradpole Civil Parish and all residents of the Community.

Return to Bradpole Parish Council (Dissolved)

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