What exactly do a Parish Council do?

[Orinoco]

Message withdrawn

LOL I sometimes come across them in the course of my work and have never actually been able to figure out what they do so will be watching this thread with interest.

And whenever I hear about them I always think about Smug Shula in the Archers.

they meet once a month

they are responsible for a tiny amount of things

I used to go to their meetings all the time for work

i think the job could be a) a doddle or b) running around after the whims and irritations of a group of middle aged Telegraph readers

I would guess, although I don't know, that the post you have seen would be the person responsible for the budget of the parish council. They have a very small (if any) staffing establishment but do have some functions. I live in an area with county, district and parish councils and the responsibilities are listed on the county council website.

Another guess is that the clerk would arrange meetings of the council, publish the agenda, minutes and ensure that decisions made by the council are carried out.

I can't get the Vicar of Dibley out of my head

They discuss the use of poop a scoops, get involved in campaigning on local issues (eg round here airport expansion), and drink tea and eat biscuits. Many years ago I audited about 40 parish councils - reading the minutes of the meetings was a rollercoaster of excitement .

snap PABLOP

In charge of setting upo and agfreeing Parish Plans - what you want to happen in your Parish.

Approving/disapproving planning applications, they do have a sway with local council.

And budget.

Among otehr things

embody nimby-ism?

One of my postnatal thread PillockOfTheCommunity is a parish councillor (and she's not middle aged, just 26, not sure what newspaper she reads) - you could ask her what they discuss. I used to know someone online who worked as Clerk to her parish council - sounded like quite a responsible and skilled job but she could do it from home - but I haven't exchanged posts or comments with her in years.