Mawnan Community Website - Parish Council

MAWNAN PARISH COUNCIL

The Parish Council is the first tier of local government covering the parish of Mawnan, which includes Mawnan Smith, Helford Passage, Durgan, Penwarne, Bareppa and Maenporth, near Falmouth.

The council provides services for, and manages and maintains the assets of Mawnan Parish, within the resources provided by the annual precept and other incomes, taking into account the wishes of the residents and the need to obtain value for money.

We set ourselves high standards of governance, which in recent years have produced significant benefits, including :-

The council is are based at its office, within Berry & Co, Goldmartin Square, Mawnan Smith. The office is manned every Thursday and Friday morning, and the Clerk is available to meet members of the public between 10.00am and 12.00 Noon.

The Parish Council undertakes a range of local responsibilities :-

Please refer to our Newsletters and Council Minutes to read our current objectives.

COMPOSITION OF THE PARISH COUNCIL

The Parish Council comprises 10 elected councillors (also called members), who are volunteers drawn from the local community, plus a salaried clerk (also called an officer). Councillors are normally elected every four years, although the next elections have been delayed until 2013, to coincide with the second Unitary (“One Cornwall”) Elections. The council’s Chairman and Vice-Chairman are elected each May, from among councillors.

Currently, all parish councillors in Mawnan are “independents”, in that they do not represent any political parties, but instead the general interest of the local community. However, there is nothing to prevent candidates from political parties from standing for election to the council.

MEETINGS

Parish Council meetings are usually held on the third Thursday of the month (with no meeting in August) at 7.30 p.m. in the Memorial Hall, Mawnan Smith. Additionally, there is a Finance Committee Meeting early each December, which makes recommendations in respect of the council’s Budget and Precept for the following year.

Dates of meetings can be found on this web site, and notices are displayed on the notice board at least three days beforehand.

All meetings are open to the public, other than when confidential business is being considered. At the start of every meeting there is an opportunity for the public to comment on agenda items. At the end of every Parish Council meeting there is a further public discussion period. Here people have the opportunity to bring up any matters which may be of concern or interest to the community as a whole.

Agendas, Draft Minutes, Annual Reports, Quarterly Newsletters and other information are all available on the notice board, and from the Parish Council office. Most documents can also be found on this web site.

RESIDENTS' VIEWS

The council welcomes the views of residents on all local issues. Such views may be expressed in writing to the Clerk to the Council, using the Contact Form on this web site. Alternatively, residents may call to see him at the council office on Thursday or Friday mornings.

Should you wish to discuss any matter with a Parish Councillor, feel free to approach any of the councillors whose contact details are set out on this web site.

KEEPING YOU INFORMED

The council publishes an Annual Report in April/May each year, together with quarterly newsletters and various information leaflets. The Annual Report is distributed to every household. All of the above documents are available on the web site and notice board.

It has recently developed strategy documents for Community Engagement and Democracy & Citizenship, and also has adopted a Publication Scheme, under the Freedom of Information Act. Details of classes of documents, which may be inspected and copied, are displayed here on the web site. For further information please contact the Clerk to the Council.

POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

The way that the council meetings operate is determined by its Standing Orders, and there are also Financial Regulations which set out how its finances will operate, including its policy on tenders and contracts. All councillors must abide by the council’s Code of Conduct, which includes a requirement for councillors to declare various interests.

The council also maintains an Asset Register, containing details of eveything it owns. A Risk Assessment document has been drawn up, to ensure that the council has taken the necessary steps to protect its assets, and to ensure its continuing operation and financial viability.

If required, there is a Complaints Procedure, although we hope that no-one will ever need to use this. Complaints concerning the council, members, officers, or its procedures or administration should initially be put in writing to the Clerk or Chairman.

PARTNERSHIP

There are some matters that are dealt with more effectively by a the different tiers of local government working together. Mawnan Parish Council collaborates with the Cornwall Council on issues such as housing, planning, policing, etc. The Parish Council is also a member of the Cornwall Association of Local Councils (CALC), a grouping of parish and town councils, which works for the general good of the county.

The council has links with local voluntary organisations, and is always eager to forge new ones. Any such organisation may have copies of Agendas and Minutes on request. Organisations are encouraged to give a brief report on their year at the Annual Parish Meeting, which is held each April, immediately prior to the April council meeting. Details are displayed beforehand, both on this web site and the notice board.

BUDGET

The council’s annual (April to March) budget is set in December the previous year, when present and future needs of the Parish are discussed, and priorities agreed and costed. Kerrier District Council collects the parish precept through the council tax, and provides this to the Parish Council the precept in two instalments during the year.