Bray Parish Council is a corporate body whose actions are subject to legislation, including the Local Government Act 1972. The Local Government rules on what the Parish Council must do by law, and what it may only do if it has powers in law.
Work of the Parish Council and Role of Councillors
The Parish Council is required to meet at least four times a year to take decisions affecting its residents, establishing policies required under various legislation such as GDPR (General Data Protections Regulations), Employment Law, Allotments Act, Health and Safety etc. and ensuring that these are properly implemented.
There is a statutory requirement for all councils to prepare an annual budget. Most policy decisions of the council have financial implications which must be considered as part of this process.
The Clerk is the proper officer of Council with responsibility for drawing up the agenda of Council and ensuring that Council’s decisions are implemented.
The role of Councillors involves seeking and representing the views of local residents, community groups and local businesses on a variety of matters affecting the local community; identifying the needs of the Parish and finding ways of resolving these; setting the Annual Precept to meet these needs and managing the Parish Council’s assets and finances effectively.
Councillors also have a role in representing the views of the Council for example at RBWM Planning Development Control Panels and Appeal Hearings.
The current Chairman of Bray Parish Council is Cllr Ken Elvin, the Vice Chairman Cllr Derek Wilson.
Bray Parish Council has a number of committees and working groups which meet regularly during the year. Reports from the committees are made at the next Main Council meeting.
Details of the Committees and their memberships are:
Finance Committee/IT Working Group Chairman Cllr J Glover – Committee members: Cllr S Cross, Cllr K Elvin, Cllr N Pellew, Cllr D Wilson.
HR Committee Chairman Cllr J Glover – Committee members: Cllr K Elvin, Cllr M Pierce, Cllr D Wilson.
Land Management Committee Chairman Cllr C Graham – Committee members: Cllr K Elvin, Cllr L Kneen, Cllr N Pellew, Cllr J Phillips, Cllr L Walters, Cllr D Wilson.
Newsletter Working Group Cllr K Elvin, Cllr J Phillips, Cllr M Pierce, Cllr D Wilson.
Planning Committee Chairman Cllr L Kneen – ALL Councillors are members of the planning committee.
Strategy Committee Chairman Cllr K Elvin – Committee members: Cllr S Cross, Cllr J Glover, Cllr L Kneen, Cllr D Wilson.
Traffic and Highways Committee Chairman Cllr S Cross – Committee members: Cllr K Elvin, Cllr N Pellew, Cllr L Kneen, Cllr R Tavinor, Cllr L Walters.
Representatives from residents groups: Mrs Barbara Frame, Mr Martin Hall, Mrs Fiona Allen, Mr Mike Watson.