Corporate Govrnance

Civil parish councils were formed in England under the reforming Local Government Act 1894  to take over local oversight of civic duties in rural towns and villages from the vestry committee.  Parish councils are generically referred to as "local councils" to distinguish them from 'principal councils' e.g. district councils, county councils, unitary authorities or borough councils. 

Fernhurst Parish Council is an elected corporate bodies, with tax raising powers, and undertakes beneficial public activities within the parish of Fernhurst.  The Council receives the majority of its funding via a precept upon the council tax paid by the residents of the Fernhurst parish. The Council is formed of eleven volunteer, unpaid councillors, each with different skill sets who are elected, or co-opted, to serve for four year terms.  The proper officer of the Council (The person who provides the Councillors with statutory advice and who maintains the Councils statutory records is the Clerk & Responsible Finance Officer).

Council business is governed by two statutory documents which are reviewed and readopted by Council Members, at least once annually:

• Standing Orders
• Financial Regulations

Further, the Council devises a portfolio of policy documents to assist the regular operations of the Council.

The Council has various Powers & Duties which it can exercise in order to represent the local community, delivering services to meet local needs, improve the quality of life and community well being:

• The power to provide facilities
• Consultative powers (i.e. planning)
• Miscellaneous powers

Fernhurst Parish Council consists of the chairman and 7 elected, and 2 co-opted parish councillors, (currently there are two vacancies).  The central function of the Council, the making of local decisions and policy relevant to the public interest of the parish, is performed at the meetings of the Council. All parish council's must hold an annual meeting and at least three other meetings in a year.  An extraordinary meeting may be called at any time by the chairman or members, but due notice must be given.

Fernhurst Parish Council consists of the chairman and 7 elected, and 2 co-opted parish councillors, (currently there are two vacancies).  Each meeting of the council or its subcommittees requires a quorum, that is at least one-third of the members, or three members, whichever is the greater. Every meeting is open to the public, who are encouraged to attend, except for those items where the Council formally resolves to exclude the public and press on the grounds that publicity would be prejudicial to the public interest. This would have to be due to the confidential nature of the business.

Fernhurst Parish Council has 3 subcommittees: 

• Finance Committee
• Planning Committee
• Property, Highways and Environment committee

After the conclusion of the financial year, the 31st March, all English parish councils are required by the Secretary of State to complete an Annual Governance and Accountability Return (AGAR) which requires an independent Internal Audit of the council's financial statements and internal controls to be undertaken.  

Upon completion, Council Members sign-off the accounting and governance statements and submit this to the Government appointed External Auditors for examination.   The results of the External Audit are returned with the External Auditor's Certificate and the Notice of Conclusion of Audit which are published on the council's website and noticeboards.