Cold Ash Parish Council sometimes has vacancies for Parish Councillors. Vacancies will be listed on our Councillors page and in the News section.
If you are interested in becoming a Councillor read the information below, attend a meeting or contact the Parish Clerk.
By becoming a Parish Councillor you become someone your community will look to for help, guidance and support as a community leader with the power to influence decisions for the benefit of the people you serve.
What do Parish or Town councils do?
A Parish Council is a local authority that makes decisions on behalf of the people in the Parish. It is the level of local government closest to the community, with the district authority and the county authority or a principal authority further up the hierarchy. Parish Councils make all kinds of decisions on issues that affect the local community. Probably the most common topics that Parish Councils get involved with are planning matters (they are statutory consultees), crime prevention and roads & highways. Parish Councils have a number of powers they can use and have the ability to negotiate with other decision making organisations such as the district, county or unitary councils, health authorities, police etc. In this respect Parish Councils are very influential. These organisations know that a Parish Council gives the best reflection of how a community feels about something and its views should be taken seriously.
How much time does it take up?
Cold Ash Parish Council meets twice a month for the council meeting to which members of the public are also invited. Meetings last up to two hours. Cold Ash Parish Council also has committees to deal with specific subjects, such as Finance and the Environment. The role may involve additional work outside the meetings, the amount is dependent on your level of involvement and the amount of time you have available to commit. In the main, you can shape the role to fit your personal circumstances.
How long do I serve for as a Parish Councillor?
Once elected, Parish Councillors sit on the council for four years. If they then want to stay in the post they can stand for re-election. This does not mean that you have to stay for four years. If you find it’s not for you, or you can no longer meet the commitment, you can stand down.
Parish Council Responsibilities
