Councils - Who Does What?

There are 3 tiers of Local Government - County Council, District Council and Parish Council. Councils are made up of individual Councillors, who are elected to serve the needs of their locality. Parish Councils represents the first tier of Local Government - the tier closest to local residents.

Parish Councils

Parish Councils are set up and controlled by law and can only act if there is a legal power to do so. Parish Councils are often consulted on County and District issues such as planning applications, road improvements and changes to public transport. Parish Councils can provide vital local knowledge such as flooding concerns and transport and access problems.

The village of Whalley is represented at Parish level by nine Parish Councillors who represent the four wards of Whalley being Whalley Abbey, Whalley Nethertown, Whalley East and Lamb Roe. There are two Borough Councillors representing Whalley Abbey & Painterwood Wards and one Borough Councillor representing Whalley Nethertown Ward. These wards form part of the rural area of North-East Lancashire represented by one County Councillor.

Contact details for all the elected Councillors can be found on the Councillors tab page of this website.

The Parish Council meets on the 3rd Thursday of each month (except December) in the Old Grammar School, King Street, Whalley, Clitheroe, Lancashire, BB7 9RH at 7.30pm. Members of the public are encouraged to attend meetings and have the opportunity to speak and inform councillors of their views. Whalley Parish Council prides itself on its accessibility to the public, and the members wish to represent all views of the residents of Whalley. Notices of the Meetings are displayed on the Parish Council Notice Board at Vale Gardens, King Street.

Whalley Parish Council owns and maintains the area of Vale Gardens and looks after the maintenance of the closed churchyard at the Parish Church of Saint Mary and All Saints. The QEII playing fields are leased by the Parish Council to a management committee. The Council has a number of benches located both in the centre of the village and in the surrounding countryside which it maintains. The Parish Council is also responsible for the maintenance of the village War Memorial.

Each year, the Council predicts its budget precept for the following financial year. This sum is then collected as a part of the Council Tax, along with payments for the work of the Borough Council, County Council, Police and emergency services. The Parish Council then meets its expenses for the services it provides.

Parish Councillors are not paid for their time or their work. The Council employs a part-time Clerk who administers the work and meetings of the Council and ensures that actions are carried out legally and properly. An important part of the Clerk's role is to maintain financial records.

The Parish Council contracts the services of a lengthsman, to carry out maintenance around the village, keeping it clean and tidy.

The Parish Council provides grants to support local groups and organisations that benefit the community. Grants are normally awarded in January, although exceptional projects which arise during the other parts of the year may also be considered.

Whalley Parish Council owns and maintains the area of Vale Gardens and looks after the maintenance of the closed churchyard at the Parish Church of Saint Mary and All Saints.

The QEII playing fields are leased by the Parish Council to a management committee.

The Council has a number of benches located around the village which it maintains to be enjoyed by both residents and visitors to the village. The Council also offers a memorial bench policy where benches can be purchased through the Council in memory of loved ones.

The Parish Council is also responsible for the maintenance of the village War Memorial.

District Councils

Whalley Parish Council comes under Ribble Valley Borough Council who has responsibility for:

• Collection of council tax
• Bins, litter, and recycling collection
• Housing
• Planning applications
• Environmental health including noise and dog nuisances
• Leisure centres and play areas

County Councils

Whalley Parish Council comes under Lancashire County Council who has responsibility for:

• Children, education, and families
• Health and social care
• Transport and travel
• Roads, potholes, repairs, and gritting
• Recycling centres
• Fire and public safety
• Flooding
• Libraries and archives
• Trading standards
• Births, marriages, and deaths

Useful Contact details for Ribble Valley Borough Council And Lancashire County Council can be found here.