Parish Councils are the level of democratically elected local government closest to the local community.
The duties they have are to provide allotments if there is a demand and to receive the accounts of parochial charities.
They have many other powers which they may use and this will often depend upon the size of the parish (less than 100 to over 30,000) and upon how pro-active the council is.
In Burwell we :
- Provide allotment land.
- Provide and maintain a cemetery and chapel.
- Maintain a memorial clock on the cemetery chapel.
- Provide and maintain the Gardiner Memorial Hall, Jubilee Reading Room, Pavilion on the Recreation Ground and the Tan House Lane Site.
- Provide footway lighting (although most lights have now been handed over to the County Council for maintenance).
- Provide litter bins on our own land and liaise with the District Council about other provision.
- Provide and maintain open spaces such as Margaret Field, Spring Close and Priory Meadow.
- Comment upon planning applications and strategic plans.
- Provide and maintain playing fields at the Recreation Ground and play areas at Jubilee Green,
- Margaret Field and Westhorope.
- Maintain footpaths and bridleways in partnership with the County Council.
- Manage the cutting of grass verges within the parish in partnership with the County Council.
- Provide and maintain public seats.
- Provide and maintain bus shelters.
- Provide grants for other bodies e.g. youth issues, community transport.
The Parish also works with East Cambridgeshire District Council (ECDC) whose responsibilities include planning, environmental health, economic and community development, housing, licensing, tourism, strategic development, refuse collection and recycling. Cambridgeshire County Council also has considerable contact with the Parish and their responsibilities include education, highways, transport, refuse disposal, libraries, social services and trading standards.
For more information about Burwell click the link below