Councillors are over 18 and a British National, but could also be a citizen of the Commonwealth or the European Union.

A Councillor is not a paid employee of the Council because the law forbids it. Councillors give their time and effort free and hope to make a difference by influencing decisions that affect their community.

The Council is an 'it'. In law a Council is a single corporate body and the decisions it takes are the responsibility of the Council as a whole.

The Council is responsible for the services it provides. It establishes policies for action and decides how money will be raised and spent on behalf of the community. It is responsible for spending public money lawfully and without risk, and achieving the best value for money.

The Council represents and serves the whole community. Most communities are made up of many smaller communities, often with different interests; a Council's duty is to serve them all. The Council balances the different elements of the community to get the best result. Frequently it has the difficult task of deciding what that best result might be.

Parish Councils are local authorities first created by statue in 1894. Parliament has given Parish Councils the power to raise and spend money - a power shared by other local authorities.

The Parish Council is a tier of local government closest to the people. In England four tiers of local government can be identified, each serving a greater geographical area and larger population. These are:

• The Parish Council
• A District Authority
• A County Council
• Regional Government

In some areas the district and county authorities have been replaced by a single Council known as a Unitary Authority.

No individual Councillor (including the Chairman) can make a decision on behalf of the Council.

The Chairman assisted by the Clerk, guides these activities by managing the meetings of the Council.

The Council as a body decides whether to work in partnership with other organisations and can agree to serve on other bodies. When working in partnership, Councillors often represent the Council as a corporate body.