The Role of Parish Councils
There are three tiers of Local Government in Whalley - County Council, District (or Borough) Council, and Parish Council. Each tier has distinct responsibilities and works together to serve the needs of residents.
Parish Councils represent the first tier of local government - the level closest to the community.
Local Authorities - Who Does What? Parish Councils - Tier 1They provide valuable local insight and are increasingly taking on more community-focused responsibilities. These can include:
- Supporting local events and community groups
- Managing assets such as community centres, play areas, and noticeboards
- Reporting local issues like potholes, littering, and dog fouling
- Advocating for the needs and interests of residents to higher-tier authorities
They play an essential role in making their communities better places to live, work, and visit.
District Councils - Tier 2Whalley Parish Council comes under Ribble Valley Council who has responsibility for:
- Collection of council tax and business rates
- Refuse, recycling, and litter collection
- Housing services and homelessness support
- Planning applications and local development
- Environmental health, including noise and animal nuisances
- Maintenance of parks, play areas, and open spaces
- Management of allotments
For information on District Council services:
Website: www.ribblevalley.gov.uk
Phone: 01200 425111
Email: webmaster@ribblevalley.gov.uk
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
For more information on County Council services:
Website: www.lancashire.gov.uk
Phone: 0300 123 6701
Email: enquiries@lancashire.gov.uk
Whalley Parish Council
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.
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.
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.
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.