We are currently looking to co-opt new councillors & recruit a new clerk
It is not unusual for a Parish Council to struggle with the recruitment of new councillors and Black Bourton Parish Council is no different.
Unfortunately Black Bourton Parish Council is currently moving in a direction where it will no longer be able to function due to insufficient councillors and no parish clerk.
We desperately need more support from village residents that are willing to take on the role as parish councillor.
Councillors are elected to represent the local community, so you must live or work in the parish or town council area. Becoming a councillor is a rewarding experience as you can make a change in your community to help improve residents’ lives. A councillor’s role can include developing strategies and plans for the area, helping with problems and ideas, representing the community, working with other local community groups, making decisions, and talking to the community about their needs and what the council is doing.
A councillor’s role has three main areas:
Decision-making — Councillors decide which activities to support, where money should be spent, what services should be delivered, and what policies should be implemented by attending meetings and committees.
Monitoring — Councillors ensure that their decisions lead to efficient and effective services by monitoring how well things work.
Getting involved locally — As local representatives, councillors have responsibilities towards their constituents and local organisations. These responsibilities often depend on what a given councillor wants to achieve and how much time is available.
If we do not have any willing volunteers for existing councillor positions we will need to look at alternative ways in which the village affairs can be managed.
This could possibly include a merger with one of our close neighbours such as Bampton or Alvescot, or the village being administered by WODC.
We would prefer not to have to go down that route, but if we do not get some willing volunteers we may have no choice.
Our incumbent parish clerk will also be leaving us at the end of May. The parish clerk plays a vital role in the running of the parish council, without a clerk the council would struggle to continue to be effective.
This position is a paid position, so if anyone is interested in talking about the role please feel free to make contact so we can discuss this further.
If you are interested in joining your local council and would like to know more about what a councillor is responsible for please click the link What is a Councillor?
If you would like to be considered to become a councillor please fill in the form Councillor Document For Co Option. and return it to clerk@blackbourton.org.uk.