Parish Council
The Parish Council is a corporate body and is granted its powers by Parliament, including raising money through council tax (the Precept). It represents the first tier of local government and has spending powers which it exercises to improve the quality of life and local environment of Stoke and its residents. The Parish Council also seeks to influence other decision-making bodies (principally the District and County Councils) on issues such as planning and delivers services to meet local needs.
What does the Parish Council do?
The principal topics with which the Parish Council concerns itself include community safety, housing, street lighting, allotments, cemetery, community open spaces, litter, the War Memorial, seats and shelters, Rights of Way and footpaths plus some involvement in planning, transport and highways. The Parish Council also provides financial support to local groups and organisations through its Grant policy in order to support their activities within the community.
The Council has three Working Groups, Finance, Planning and HR which make recommendations to the full Council for approval. The Finance Working Group oversees the Budget, procurement and the Risk Register & Management Plan. The Planning Working Group examine each planning application in detail and keep up to date with the District Council’s Local Plan which sets out long term strategy for South Somerset in housing, employment etc.
Who are the Parish Council?
The Parish Council currently comprises 11 local volunteers who are elected for a 4-year term of office and who have a variety of responsibilities. The current term runs to May 2022. The Parish Clerk who is employed by the Parish Council attends meeting and records decisions taken and ensures that these are implemented.
Each year at the Annual Parish Council meeting, the Parish Council elects a Chairman and Vice-Chairman. Councillors Barbara Brooks and Hugh Donovan are the current Chairman and Vice-Chairman respectively.
Parish Councillors
| Name | Responsibility |
|---|---|
Barbara Brooks |
Chairman, Planning, Finance, Memorial Hall, Hamdon Youth Group, Hamdon Youth & Family Centre, HR, Transport Strategy Group |
Hugh Donovan |
Vice Chairman, Planning, Finance, Hamdon Youth & Family Centre, HR |
Lee Churchill |
Memorial Hall |
Andy Dawe |
Planning, Finance, Allotments - Furlands, HR, |
Lyn Foley |
Defibrillators, Stoke sub Hamdon Community Shop, |
Paul Jeffery |
Sports & Recreation Trust |
Rebecca Merrick |
Finance, Sports & Recreation Trust |
Graham Middleton |
Finance, Transport Strategy Group |
Suzanne Nelms |
Allotments - Stonehill, Friends of Ham Hill, Play Area - Stonehill |
Alex Schellenberg |
Play Area - Memorial Hall, Transport Strategy Group |
Bill Southcombe |
HCAP, Transport Strategy Group |