What are we?

Parish and town councils are the first tier of local government. We deliver a vast range of services at a community level. There are around 10,000 community, parish and town councils in England and Wales, made up of nearly 100,000 councillors. These first-tier councils can respond to the needs of the community – delivering the services or representation it most needs.

There is a three-tiered structure of local government:

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County Council

How parish councils work

The Parish Council is the local authority for the village of Hempnall and provides a range of social and recreational facilities. It also promotes the interests of the village in its representations to other bodies. It works in partnership with the larger District Council, County Council and other organisations and agencies to provide and supplement services within the village area.

Parish councils are statutory bodies. Members are elected for a term of four years and councils are funded principally by an annual precept. Income and expenditure for the next financial year are calculated in the form of estimates. The net amount (the precept) is added to council tax, collected by the county, borough or district council (principal authorities) and paid to parishes in two six-monthly instalments.

All our business is conducted in accordance with the Code of Conduct based upon Statutory Instrument 3576 of 2001 and in accordance with the Parish Council's Standing Orders. You are entitled to information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 in accordance with our publication scheme.

 For information on becoming a councillor click here and consider joining this Quality Status council.

Who are we?

The Parish Council comprises 9 councillors who are elected every four years. Each year the Parish Council elects from amongst its number the Chairman and the Deputy Chairman. Members are not paid by the Parish Council and do not receive any attendance allowance for their duties. The Parish Council employs one part time Clerk.

When and where do we meet?

The Parish Council meets at least six times a year and has a sub committee called the Playingfield Users Association which deals with the running of Hempnall Playingfield. Agendas for the Council and Committees are available to the public three clear days before the meeting date and can be inspected on the Parish Council Notice Board and on this website. Meetings are open to the public and are generally held in The Mill Centre, Mill Rd, Hempnall.

What do we do?

The Parish Council is responsible for a number of services and duties within the village, these include:

• To listen to and act on local issues protecting and promoting local interests
• Setting the precept (the amount of Council Tax that is spent specifically under the control of the Parish Council)
• Consideration of local planning applications
• Grass cutting - playing field, churchyard, Mill Centre
• Street lighting - Rowland Drive, Mill Fields
• Maintenance of churchyard walls
• Maintenance of bus shelters
• Provision and maintenance of safe play areas
• Conservation
• Provision of Tree Wardens
• Maintenance of War Memorial
• Liaison with other authorities re footpaths, roads, hedges, dogs, traffic, noise.
• Representation on local charities, sporting and social committees.
• Stewardship of public land
• Making and upholding bye-laws
• Police community consultation
• Maintenance of financial records (Audited annually)
• Informing other authorities of local needs
• Input to local signeage
• Street furniture
• Inspection of Recycling Centre
• Provision of grants/funding for village improvements
• Litter clearance

Can I take part?

Click here for leaflet on public participation

[DCLG 5018]
Local Authorities (Model Code of Conduct) Order 2007 No.1159
THE MODEL CODE OF CONDUCT
FOR PARISH AND TOWN COUNCILS
Part 1
General provisions
Introduction and interpretation
1.—(1) This Code applies to you as a member of an authority.
(2) You should read this Code together with the general principles prescribed by the
Secretary of State (see Annexure to this Code).
(3) It is your responsibility to comply with the provisions of this Code.
(4) In this Code—
“meeting” means any meeting of—
(a) the authority;
(b) any of the authority’s committees or sub-committees, joint committees or joint
sub-committees;
“member” includes a co-opted member and an appointed member.
(5) References to an authority’s monitoring officer and an authority’s standards
committee shall be read, respectively, as references to the monitoring officer and the
standards committee of the district council or unitary county council which has functions
in relation to the parish council for which it is responsible under section 55(12) of the
Local Government Act 2000.
Scope
2.—(1) Subject to sub-paragraphs (2) to (5), you must comply with this Code whenever
you—
(a) conduct the business of your authority (which, in this Code, includes the business
of the office to which you are elected or appointed); or
(b) act, claim to act or give the impression you are acting as a representative of your
authority,
and references to your official capacity are construed accordingly.
(2) Subject to sub-paragraphs (3) and (4), this Code does not have effect in relation to
your conduct other than where it is in your official capacity.
(3) In addition to having effect in relation to conduct in your official capacity, paragraphs
3(2)(c), 5 and 6(a) also have effect, at any other time, where that conduct constitutes a
criminal offence for which you have been convicted.
(4) Conduct to which this Code applies (whether that is conduct in your official capacity
or conduct mentioned in sub-paragraph (3)) includes a criminal offence for which you are
convicted (including an offence you committed before the date you took office, but for
which you are convicted after that date).
(5) Where you act as a representative of your authority—
(a) on another relevant authority, you must, when acting for that other authority,
comply with that other authority’s code of conduct; or
(b) on any other body, you must, when acting for that other body, comply with your
authority’s code of conduct, except and insofar as it conflicts with any other lawful
obligations to which that other body may be subject.
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General obligations
3.—(1) You must treat others with respect.
(2) You must not—
(a) do anything which may cause your authority to breach any of the equality
enactments (as defined in section 33 of the Equality Act 2006(a));
(b) bully any person;
(c) intimidate or attempt to intimidate any person who is or is likely to be—
(i) a complainant,
(ii) a witness, or
(iii) involved in the administration of any investigation or proceedings,
in relation to an allegation that a member (including yourself) has failed to comply
with his or her authority’s code of conduct; or
(d) do anything which compromises or is likely to compromise the impartiality of
those who work for, or on behalf of, your authority.
4. You must not—
(a) disclose information given to you in confidence by anyone, or information
acquired by you which you believe, or ought reasonably to be aware, is of a
confidential nature, except where—
(i) you have the consent of a person authorised to give it;
(ii) you are required by law to do so;
(iii) the disclosure is made to a third party for the purpose of obtaining
professional advice provided that the third party agrees not to disclose the
information to any other person; or
(iv) the disclosure is—
(aa) reasonable and in the public interest; and
(bb) made in good faith and in compliance with the reasonable
requirements of the authority; or
(b) prevent another person from gaining access to information to which that person is
entitled by law.
5. You must not conduct yourself in a manner which could reasonably be regarded as
bringing your office or authority into disrepute.
6. You—
(a) must not use or attempt to use your position as a member improperly to confer on
or secure for yourself or any other person, an advantage or disadvantage; and
(b) must, when using or authorising the use by others of the resources of your
authority—
(i) act in accordance with your authority’s reasonable requirements; and
(ii) ensure that such resources are not used improperly for political purposes
(including party political purposes).
(c) must have regard to any applicable Local Authority Code of Publicity made under
the Local Government Act 1986.
7. Paragraph 7 does not apply to your authority.
(a) 2006 c.3.
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Part 2
Interests
Personal interests
8.—(1) You have a personal interest in any business of your authority where either—
(a) it relates to or is likely to affect—
(i) any body of which you are a member or in a position of general control or
management and to which you are appointed or nominated by your authority;
(ii) any body—
(aa) exercising functions of a public nature;
(bb) directed to charitable purposes; or
(cc) one of whose principal purposes includes the influence of public
opinion or policy (including any political party or trade union),
of which you are a member or in a position of general control or
management;
(iii) any employment or business carried on by you;
(iv) any person or body who employs or has appointed you;
(v) any person or body, other than a relevant authority, who has made a
payment to you in respect of your election or any expenses incurred by you
in carrying out your duties;
(vi) any person or body who has a place of business or land in your authority’s
area, and in whom you have a beneficial interest in a class of securities of
that person or body that exceeds the nominal value of £25,000 or one
hundredth of the total issued share capital (whichever is the lower);
(vii) any contract for goods, services or works made between your authority and
you or a firm in which you are a partner, a company of which you are a
remunerated director, or a person or body of the description specified in
paragraph (vi);
(viii) the interests of any person from whom you have received a gift or hospitality
with an estimated value of at least £25;
(ix) any land in your authority’s area in which you have a beneficial interest;
(x) any land where the landlord is your authority and you are, or a firm in which
you are a partner, a company of which you are a remunerated director, or a
person or body of the description specified in paragraph (vi) is, the tenant;
(xi) any land in the authority’s area for which you have a licence (alone or jointly
with others) to occupy for 28 days or longer; or
(b) a decision in relation to that business might reasonably be regarded as affecting
your well-being or financial position or the well-being or financial position of a
relevant person to a greater extent than the majority of—
(i) (in the case of authorities with electoral divisions or wards) other council tax
payers, ratepayers or inhabitants of the electoral division or ward, as the
case may be, affected by the decision; or
(ii) (in all other cases) other council tax payers, ratepayers or inhabitants of your
authority’s area.
(2) In sub-paragraph (1)(b), a relevant person is—
(a) a member of your family or any person with whom you have a close association;
or
(b) any person or body who employs or has appointed such persons, any firm in
which they are a partner, or any company of which they are directors;
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(c) any person or body in whom such persons have a beneficial interest in a class of
securities exceeding the nominal value of £25,000; or
(d) any body of a type described in sub-paragraph (1)(a)(i) or (ii).
Disclosure of personal interests
9.—(1) Subject to sub-paragraphs (2) to (5), where you have a personal interest in any
business of your authority and you attend a meeting of your authority at which the
business is considered, you must disclose to that meeting the existence and nature of
that interest at the commencement of that consideration, or when the interest becomes
apparent.
(2) Where you have a personal interest in any business of your authority which relates
to or is likely to affect a person described in paragraph 8(1)(a)(i) or 8(1)(a)(ii)(aa), you
need only disclose to the meeting the existence and nature of that interest when you
address the meeting on that business.
(3) Where you have a personal interest in any business of the authority of the type
mentioned in paragraph 8(1)(a)(viii), you need not disclose the nature or existence of that
interest to the meeting if the interest was registered more than three years before the
date of the meeting.
(4) Sub-paragraph (1) only applies where you are aware or ought reasonably to be
aware of the existence of the personal interest.
(5) Where you have a personal interest but, by virtue of paragraph 14, sensitive
information relating to it is not registered in your authority’s register of members’
interests, you must indicate to the meeting that you have a personal interest, but need
not disclose the sensitive information to the meeting.
Prejudicial interest generally
10.—(1) Subject to sub-paragraph (2), where you have a personal interest in any
business of your authority you also have a prejudicial interest in that business where the
interest is one which a member of the public with knowledge of the relevant facts would
reasonably regard as so significant that it is likely to prejudice your judgement of the
public interest.
(2) You do not have a prejudicial interest in any business of the authority where that
business—
(a) does not affect your financial position or the financial position of a person or body
described in paragraph 8;
(b) does not relate to the determining of any approval, consent, licence, permission
or registration in relation to you or any person or body described in paragraph 8;
or
(c) relates to the functions of your authority in respect of—
(i) this sub-paragraph does not apply to your authority;
(ii) this sub-paragraph does not apply to your authority;
(iii) statutory sick pay under Part XI of the Social Security Contributions and
Benefits Act 1992, where you are in receipt of, or are entitled to the receipt
of, such pay;
(iv) an allowance, payment or indemnity given to members;
(v) any ceremonial honour given to members; and
(vi) setting council tax or a precept under the Local Government Finance Act
1992.
11. Paragraph 11 does not apply to your authority.
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Effect of prejudicial interests on participation
12.—(1) Subject to sub-paragraph (2), where you have a prejudicial interest in any
business of your authority—
(a) you must withdraw from the room or chamber where a meeting considering the
business is being held—
(i) in a case where sub-paragraph (2) applies, immediately after making
representations, answering questions or giving evidence;
(ii) in any other case, whenever it becomes apparent that the business is being
considered at that meeting;
unless you have obtained a dispensation from your authority’s standards
committee; and
(b) you must not seek improperly to influence a decision about that business.
(2) Where you have a prejudicial interest in any business of your authority, you may
attend a meeting but only for the purpose of making representations, answering
questions or giving evidence relating to the business, provided that the public are also
allowed to attend the meeting for the same purpose, whether under a statutory right or
otherwise.
Part 3
Registration of Members’ Interests
Registration of members’ interests
13.—(1) Subject to paragraph 14, you must, within 28 days of—
(a) this Code being adopted by or applied to your authority; or
(b) your election or appointment to office (where that is later),
register in your authority’s register of members’ interests (maintained under section 81(1)
of the Local Government Act 2000) details of your personal interests where they fall
within a category mentioned in paragraph 8(1)(a), by providing written notification to your
authority’s monitoring officer.
(2) Subject to paragraph 14, you must, within 28 days of becoming aware of any new
personal interest or change to any personal interest registered under paragraph (1),
register details of that new personal interest or change by providing written notification to
your authority’s monitoring officer.
Sensitive information
14.—(1) Where you consider that the information relating to any of your personal
interests is sensitive information, and your authority’s monitoring officer agrees, you need
not include that information when registering that interest, or, as the case may be, a
change to that interest under paragraph 13.
(2) You must, within 28 days of becoming aware of any change of circumstances which
means that information excluded under paragraph (1) is no longer sensitive information,
notify your authority’s monitoring officer asking that the information be included in your
authority’s register of members’ interests.
(3) In this Code, “sensitive information” means information whose availability for
inspection by the public creates, or is likely to create, a serious risk that you or a person
who lives with you may be subjected to violence or intimidation.
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Annexure - The Ten General Principles
The general principles governing your conduct under the Relevant Authorities (General
Principles) Order 2001 are set out below:
Selflessness
1. Members should serve only the public interest and should never improperly confer an
advantage or disadvantage on any person.
Honesty and Integrity
2. Members should not place themselves in situations where their honesty and integrity
may be questioned, should not behave improperly and should on all occasions avoid
the appearance of such behaviour.
Objectivity
3. Members should make decisions on merit, including when making appointments,
awarding contracts, or recommending individuals for rewards or benefits.
Accountability
4. Members should be accountable to the public for their actions and the manner in which
they carry out their responsibilities, and should co-operate fully and honestly with any
scrutiny appropriate to their particular office.
Openness
5. Members should be as open as possible about their actions and those of their
authority, and should be prepared to give reasons for those actions.
Personal Judgement
6. Members may take account of the views of others, including their political groups, but
should reach their own conclusions on the issues before them and act in accordance
with those conclusions.
Respect for Others
7. Members should promote equality by not discriminating unlawfully against any person,
and by treating people with respect, regardless of their race, age, religion, gender,
sexual orientation or disability. They should respect the impartiality and integrity of the
authority's statutory officers, and its other employees.
Duty to Uphold the Law
8. Members should uphold the law and, on all occasions, act in accordance with the trust
that the public is entitled to place in them.
Stewardship
9. Members should do whatever they are able to do to ensure that their authorities use
their resources prudently and in accordance with the law.
Leadership
10.Members should promote and support these principles by leadership, and by
example, and should act in a way that secures or preserves public confidence.