What is a Community Council?
Community and town councils are the grassroots level of local government in Wales, with statutory powers to influence decisions on behalf of the people in the community ward that they represent. Their work is paid for through a precept, which is an element of the council tax paid by all residents.
The Community Council is the level of government closest to the community, with the local authority, Monmouthshire County Council, above it in the hierarchy. This means that it is often the first place people will go with concerns or ideas.
Community Councils provide a voice for the Community in decision making within the County Council and are often consulted. They can provide residents with help and information about how to access services, provide feedback and raise concerns with the County Council. For this reason they are a vital part of any community. Their work falls into these main categories:
- representing the local community
- helping to deliver services to meet local needs
- striving to improve quality of life in the Community
- liaising with the County Council to ensure that local concerns/needs are understood
What decisions are Community Councils involved in?
Community councils make or influence all kinds of decisions on issues that affect the local community. The most common topics that they get involved with are planning matters (they are statutory consultees), crime prevention, helping local groups, managing open spaces, providing grants to support the work of local groups and village halls and campaigning for and delivering better services and facilities.
It’s true to say that on their own, community councils have limited powers to make decisions. But they do have the ability to negotiate with, and to influence, other organisations that do make the final decisions (such as the local authority council, health authorities, police etc). In this respect community councils can be powerful.
The organisations that make the final decisions know that a community council is best placed to reflect how a community feels about something, and its views are taken seriously. Community councils also have key detailed local knowledge that the local authority may not have and which may be important in decision making.
Council Duties
Trellech United Community Council is made up of 14 Councillors, representing the wards of Trellech Town, Penallt, The Narth, Catbrook, Llanishen, Trellech Grange and Whitebrook. The duties and functions of a community council are many and varied. The Council meets monthly and considers planning applications, grants to local groups and any other matters referred to it by local residents, Monmouthshire County Council and by central government.
We work closely with our County Councillors, Jayne McKenna and Richard John, who usually attend our meetings. All meetings are open to the public and there is a forum before the start of the meeting at which members of the public can raise concerns and ask questions about agenda items. All meetings are advertised on this website well in advance.
Residents can bring to the attention of the community council anything that concerns them, either directly or through the clerk. If matters raised are not the responsibility of the council it can help with finding out who to raise the concerns with or the clerk can bring them to the attention of the proper authority.
Why become a Community Councillor?
If you’ve never been to a community council meeting before, you may be forgiven for thinking that community councillors are a group of (probably older) people who meet now and then in a draughty village hall. If, however, you live in a community where something ‘big’ has happened, you’ll know that when people in the community need support and guidance, it is often the community council that is turned to.
By becoming a community councillor you become someone your community can look to for help, guidance and support; a community leader with the power to influence decisions for the benefit of the people you serve. Seeing your community change for the better, as a result of decisions you have helped make, is something that can give you a sense of achievement and pride.
How much time does it take up?
Councils usually meet once a month for the council meeting, to which members of the public are also invited. Meetings may last two or three hours, depending on the agenda for the meeting. Some councils have committees to deal with specific subjects, such as biodiversity or finance and councillors may also represent the council on other local bodies such as the local school governing body, but meetings are usually planned well in advance and are not too frequent, so it’s not going to take over your life.
How long does a community councillor serve for?
Once elected, community councillors sit on the council for a maximum of five years. If they then want to stay in the post they can stand for re-election.
Applicants should note that Councillors are expected to attend regular meetings and any additional meetings as may be arranged, and to represent the electors of the Trellech United area in raising and discussing those issues of interest and concern on which the Community Council is empowered to act. They are also expected to read the documentation that is sent prior to meetings so that they are prepared for discussion and can contribute to decision making.
Am I eligible to be a Community Councillor?
You have to be:
- a British subject, or a citizen of the Commonwealth or the European Union
- over 18 years of age
Additionally you have to be one of the following:
- a local government elector for the council area for which you want to stand
- have during the whole of the 12 months occupied as owner or tenant any land or other premises in the council area or within 3 miles of it for the whole period or have during that same period had your principal or only place of work in the council area or within 3 miles of it for the whole period.
You cannot stand for election if you
- are subject of a bankruptcy restriction order or interim order.
- have, within five years before the day of the election, been convicted in the United Kingdom of any offence and have had a sentence of imprisonment (whether suspended or not) for a period of over three months without the option of a fine.
- you work for the council you want to become a councillor for (but you can work for other local authorities, including the principal authorities that represent the same area).
You don’t have to be connected to a political party and if you do become a Community Councillor you will be required to sign up to the Code of Conduct.
Don’t take our word for it!
The best way to find out what it’s like to be a community councillor is to talk to someone who’s doing it now. Come along to a community council meeting (dates and times are advertised on the website), contact our Clerk, Sue Baker for more information or speak to one of our councillors and find out what they think of the job.
TUCC Vision
TUCC works with residents and stakeholders to help make the villages and the surrounding area a safe, attractive and peaceful place in which to live and work.
It endeavours to act in ways that are transparent, sustainable, environmentally friendly and cost-effective and fulfil its statutory duties.