Parish Council meetings are normally held on the third Tuesday of each month except for May. There is also an Annual Parish meeting in May which is preceded by the May Parish Council meeting.
The meetings are normally held at Tintwistle Parish Council offices, Sexton Street, Tintwistle at 7 p.m. Members of the public are welcome and invited to attend.
The agenda and minutes for each meeting are displayed on this website as well as the notice board outside the Parish Council offices on Sexton Street.
WHAT IS A PARISH COUNCIL?
Tintwistle Parish Council is a corporate body – a legal entity separate from that of its individual members. Its decisions are the responsibility of the whole body. In 1894 an Act of Parliament created the civil parish, separating it from the church after its long history of delivering local services such as care for the poor, maintenance of roads and collecting taxes. Parish Councils have been granted powers by Parliament including the important authority to raise money through taxation (the precept) and a range of powers to spend public money.
The Parish Council is an elected body in the first tier of local government. Other tiers, known as principal authorities, have many legal duties to deliver services such as education, housing, town and country planning, environmental health and social services. High Peak Borough Council (HPBC) is our second tier and Derbyshire County Council (DCC) is our third tier.
Roles and Responsibilities – The Parish Council has a duty to ensure that all the rules for the administration of the Council are followed. They must:
- appoint a Chair of the Council;
- appoint officers as appropriate for carrying out its functions;
- appoint a Responsible Financial Officer (RFO) to manage the Council’s financial affairs;
- appoint an independent and competent internal auditor;
- hold a minimum number of four meetings per year, one of which must be the Annual Meeting of the Council.
These rules are set out in law to guide the Council and together these rules make up the standing orders as formally agreed by the Council.
The Chair– A Parish Council Chair has the role of team leader for Council meetings. In all other respects the Chair is a member of the Council. The Chair is elected at the Annual Meeting of the Council to be in charge during council meetings for one year; this is an office created by legislation commanding respect. They have a duty to ensure that Council meetings run smoothly, that all business is properly considered and all Councillors who wish to speak can do so. They have few special powers. For instance, it is unlawful for Council to delegate decision making to any individual Councillor and the Chair is no different. However, when a vote is tied, the Chair may use a second, or casting vote. It is good practice for the Chair to refer to the Clerk for legislative advice.
The Councillors – No person can act as a Parish Councillor until they have signed a formal declaration of acceptance of their office. The declaration of acceptance of office includes an agreement to observe the current code of conduct adopted by the Council. In addition to the obligations arising from a Council’s Code of Conduct, members have a responsibility to:
- attend meetings when summoned to do so; the notice to attend a Council meeting is, in law, a summons;
- consider, in advance of the meeting, the agenda and any related documents;
- take part in meetings and consider all the relevant facts and issues on matters which require a decision;
- take part in voting, and respect decisions made by the majority of those present and voting;
- ensure, with other Councillors, that the Council is properly managed;
- represent the whole electorate.
The Parish Clerk – The Clerk is the proper officer of the Council in law. The Clerk provides advice and administrative support and takes action to implement Council decisions. The Clerk may have to act as a project manager, personnel director, public relations officer and the responsible finance officer. The Clerk is not a secretary and is answerable only to the Council as a whole. Legally Councils can delegate decisions to Clerks because they are trusted professional officers whose objectivity allows them to act for the Council.
Where Councillors, Clerk and Chair work together as a team they combine knowledge and skills to deliver real benefits to the community they serve. Good working relationships, mutual respect and an understanding of their different roles are vital.
TINTWISTLE PARISH COUNCIL – Governance, Administration and Transparency
The Tintwistle Parish Boundary – Tintwistle Parish is a local administrative division that encompasses the communities of Tintwistle and Woodhead. Located in the High Peak district of Derbyshire, England, the parish is known for its picturesque surroundings and includes residential areas, local organisations, and serves as a hub for community engagement.
The Parish Council area can be explored on the below map or via an ordnance survey map using this link:
https://maps.derbyshire.gov.uk/connect/analyst/mobile/#/main?mapcfg=Ordnance_Survey_Maps and typing “Tintwistle” into the search bar.
Elections – Tintwistle Parish Council consists of ten elected Parish Councillors with one Parish Councillor who represents the Woodhead Ward. The Councillors serve for a four-year term or until the next full Parish Council election. Your Councillors are elected by the Parish or co-opted by the Parish Council. All Parish Councillors and their work is voluntary.
Meetings – Council meetings are important; this is where Councillors play their part as decision makers. The Chair is in charge of the meeting, and the Clerk supports the Council as it discusses business. The meeting is the Council team in action and all Councillors are expected to attend.
Council meetings are formal events, not social occasions. They have a clear purpose – to make decisions – and are not just forums for debate. Furthermore, they are public events; the press and public have a right to observe how the Council operates.
- Meetings of the full Parish Council are normally held at 7pm on the third Tuesday of each month except for May.
- An Annual Parish meeting is held in May which is preceded by the May Parish Council meeting.
- Other committees meet regularly to oversee specific areas of work and are attended by a small number of councillors. Current active committees include the Tintwistle Community Centre committee.
- Additional working parties meet from time to time to deliver agreed priorities. Current active working parties include the Allotments Working Group.
All full Council and committee meetings are normally held at Tintwistle Parish Council offices, Sexton Street, Tintwistle. Members of the public are welcome and invited to attend. The agenda for each meeting is displayed on the notice board outside the Parish Council offices as well as on the Council website. For details of up-and-coming meetings, please see the ‘Events’ section.
Powers and Policies – The law gives local councils choice in activities to undertake. A full list of the legal powers and duties can be found in the ‘Good Councillors Guide’ which can be found online via many websites. The Council will ensure compliance with government codes and legislation and maintains essential council policies which are reviewed regularly. For copies of all current council policies, see the ‘Documents’ section of this website. Councillors stay up to date by attending relevant training and meetings.
The Code of Conduct – Briefly, the Code of Conduct adopted by a Parish Council includes provisions that are mandatory by regulations. So, a Parish Councillor must:
- treat others with respect;
- comply with equality legislation;
- not bully or intimidate anyone;
- not disclose confidential information;
- not bring the Council into disrepute by their conduct;
- not use their position or the Council’s resources for improper purposes.
A full copy of the code of conduct adopted by Tintwistle Parish Council can be found at ‘Policies’ within the ‘Documents’ section of this website.
Finances – Legislation allows the Council to raise a ‘precept’ on council taxpayers to cover the cost of local services and other running expenses. The Council will seek to ensure:
- compliance with government financial regulations
- the delivery of “best value” in all financial decisions
- transparency through the provision of publicly available financial information
For Financial Reports, please see the ‘Documents’ section. Additionally, details of monthly expenditure can be found in the minutes of the full Council meetings (see ‘Documents’).
Communications and Engagement – The Council ensures local residents are kept informed using a variety of methods including the Parish Council website, a quarterly council newsletter and Facebook. Community engagement is essential to help shape priorities and is achieved through the Annual Parish meeting, public meetings, events and face-to-face contact.
Parish Notices & Events – Relevant local information is displayed on the notice board outside the Parish Council offices. Anyone interested in displaying notices or informing the Parish Council of upcoming local events please contact the Parish Council Clerk. For details of up-and-coming events, please see ‘Events’.
Partnership Working and Stakeholder Engagement – The Council is committed to working in partnership with statutory and non-statutory partners, voluntary groups and key stakeholders. Some of the key service stakeholders include:
- United Utilities (UU): UU is involved in addressing water-related issues and collaborating on projects related to reservoirs and water management in the area.
- High Peak Borough Council (HPBC): HPBC is a critical partner for local governance and service delivery, including planning permissions, waste collection, and other municipal services.
- Derbyshire County Council (DCC): DCC plays a significant role in providing services such as highways management, education, social services, and more within the county, including the Tintwistle area.
- Peak District National Park (PDNP): As Tintwistle Parish is located within the Peak District National Park, PDNP authorities collaborate on issues related to conservation, outdoor access, and other activities within the national park.
- Highways England: Collaboration with Highways England is essential for addressing A628 road-related issues, maintenance, and infrastructure improvements in the Tintwistle area.
- Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs): Local PCSOs work closely with the Parish Council to address community safety issues, respond to theft, vandalism, and other law enforcement concerns.
- Derbyshire Wildlife Trust (DWT): The Parish Council collaborates with DWT on environmental and conservation projects, including rewilding initiatives and biodiversity preservation.
- Local Community Organisations: The Parish Council engages with various local community organisations, such as the Bowling Club, the Cricket Club, TAGA, the War Memorial Association, URC and Christchurch, alongside volunteers who contribute to community well-being and events.
- Derbyshire Association of Local Councils (DALC): DALC provides support and guidance to the Parish Council on matters related to local governance, policies, and compliance with regulations.
- National Association of Local Councils (NALC): NALC is a national organisation that supports and represents local councils, offering resources and advocacy for the Parish Council.
- Society of Local Council Clerks (SLCC): SLCC represents and supports local council clerks, providing professional development, training, and resources for the efficient functioning of the Parish Council.
Parish Council Business Plan – The Council constantly seeks to improve its efficiency and effectiveness as well as the range of services it provides to the local community. Details of current priorities can be found in the Council’s Business Plan which is reviewed annually. For a copy, see ‘Policies’ in the ‘Documents’ section.
For a comprehensive list of the main council services, see the ‘Tintwistle Parish Council Services’ section.