Parish Council

The Parish Council represents the community at local level. It is a team of elected volunteers, working together, making decisions, and producing plans for the benefit of the community. The Chair is its leader, who ensures that the team is focussed and works effectively. The Council Clerk is there to administer the Council’s business, and is the first point of contact for the Council.

Lindal & Marton Parish Council meetings normally take place in the Buccleuch Hall on the first Thursday of each month, and are open to the public. The Parish Council Clerk issues an Agenda a few days before each meeting, and issues Minutes a few days afterwards. Agendas and full Minutes are published on this website, and on the outdoor noticeboards at the Buccleuch Hall and Marton playground. Minutes are also published in the newsletter “Aspects of Lindal & Marton”, which is hand-delivered by volunteers to local households.

The Parish Council can “precept”, raising a council tax each year to improve facilities and services within the parish. Its powers and duties include the provision and maintenance of the two war memorials, outdoor noticeboards, benches, two red phone boxes (now used as small community libraries), a defibrillator at the Buccleuch Hall, and a defibrillator in the red phone box at Marton.

The Parish Council comments on planning applications, and can be represented at public inquiries. It advises Westmorland & Furness Council on the views of residents, such as priorities for local investment.

Parish Council elections generally occur every four years, and in-between there may be elections to fill casual vacancies. No formal qualifications are needed to become a Parish Councillor, but there are rules that you need to satisfy.