Community Council/Cyngor Cymuned

What is a Community Council?

Community (and town) councils in Wales are the first tier of local government. They deliver a vast range of services at community level. These first-tier councils can respond to the needs of the community – delivering the services or representation it most needs.

At present, but not in all locations in England and Wales, there is a three-tiered structure of local government;-

Community Council
Parish Council (England)
Community Council (Both England and Wales)
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District/Borough Council
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County Council

As there are no District, or Borough, councils in Pembrokeshire, Community Councils deal directly with the County Council

St Dogmaels Community Council.

St Dogmaels community consists for 12 Councillors, all working on a voluntary basis, a clerk is employed to carry out administration duties.  A Chairperson is elected from amongst the Councillors.  Meetings are held every fourth Thursday of the month with an AGM held every May. All meetings are, by law, public and anyone who wishes can attend.  St Dogmaels Community Council holds 15 minutes free at the start of each meeting for members of the community who wish to address the council.

How Community councils work

Community councils are statutory bodies. Members are elected for a term of four years and councils are funded principally by an annual precept. Income and expenditure for the next financial year are calculated in the form of estimates. The net amount (the precept) is added to council tax, collected by the county, borough or district council (principal authorities) and paid to communities in two or three instalments during the year. Community councils can apply for other funding such as grant aid and funding awards, but they do not receive funds direct from central government, as principal authorities do.

Powers and duties

Community Councils have a large range of powers, and the activities they are involved in are immensely varied. Many community councils are involved in planning, promoting tourism, licensing, community halls, representation, management of town and village centers and burial grounds

The Job of a Councillor

Councillors have three main components to their voluntary work.

• Decision making – Through meetings and attending committees with other elected members, Councillors decide which activities to support, where money should be spent, what services should be delivered and what policies should be implemented.
• Monitoring – Councillors make sure that their decisions lead to efficient and effective services by keeping an eye on how well things are working.
• Getting involved locally – As local representatives, Councillors have responsibilities towards their constituents and local organizations. These responsibilities and duties often depend on what the Councillor wants to achieve and how much time is available, and may include:
  Going to meetings of local organisations such as tenants’ associations.
  Going to meetings of bodies affecting the wider community.
  Taking up issues on behalf of members of the public.
  Running a surgery for residents to bring up issues.
  Meeting with individual residents in their own homes.

Time commitment

On average, councillors say that their duties occupy them for about three hours a week. Obviously there are some councillors who spend more time than this -and some less. In the main all agree that being a community councillor is an enjoyable way of contributing to your community, and hopefully helps to make it a better place in which to live and work.