What it is, what it isn’t, and what it can and cannot do...

What is it?

Your elected Council is the first tier of local government. It is a corporate body with a legal existence of its own quite separate from that of its members. Its decisions are the responsibility of the Council as a whole, and it has been granted powers by Parliament, including the authority to raise money through the precept (part of the Council Tax).

The Council has legally defined powers to take action, but in practice its primary responsibility is to represent the interests of residents and to make recommendations to decision-making bodies, particularly Vale Royal Borough and Cheshire County Councils, also many government departments and agencies who impact on our daily lives.

The Parish Council can and does influence decision makers.

What does it do?

Although we are a small parish with limited budget and facilities, the Parish Council is consulted upon or responsible for responding to a wide range of issues which concern you as a resident.

These include planning, highways and traffic, community safety, environmental proposals and developments, aircraft noise, footpaths, bridle ways and rights of way, trees, hedgerows, etc. . . and much else. It also assists or organises participation in events such as The Annual Parish Meeting, Parish Plan etc.

With your support, your Council can, and does, make a difference.

What is your councillor(s)?

Individual persons become members of the Council on election by residents on the electoral roll. Elections are normally called, by statute, every fourth year. Casual vacancies can be filled by co-option if there are no contesting candidates. The parish is required to bear the cost of by-elections.

Council meetings are summoned usually six times a year with occasional exceptional extra meetings, sub-committee and working party meetings. The date and agenda of meetings is posted on the Council Notice Board in the former school , now village hall. All residents are entitled and welcome to attend council meetings, and may speak if invited to do so by the Chairman, prior to the Council meeting.

A Chairman and Vice-Chairman are elected annually at the Annual Parish Meeting, and each councillor is elected by members to serve on sub-committees and/or take lead responsibility for one or more areas of interest.

Contact Us

If you wish to discuss anything please contact any councillor or the one designated to deal with the subject which interest you.

via e-mail :

Or through the Parish Clerk:
Ann Brazier
Woodlands
Hole House Lane
Little Leigh
Northwich
CW8 4RY

The council can only debate and make decisions during a ‘full’ council meeting. Any individual views of a councillor or its employees should not be considered to be the views of the Parish Council. However, any councillor should be able to provide clear information an updates regarding your query.

What You Parish Council is not!

Whilst the Parish Council may exercise influence, the Parish Council do not have the final say in some matters such as planning, for example, where the ultimate ruling can go right up to the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister!

Your Parish Council will represent you to the best of its ability on behalf of community interests - it is neither political, nor sectarian and supports equal opportunities for everyone.

It is not, as has been mistakenly thought on some occasion, the same as the ecclesiastical body elected by members of ‘St Michaels and All Saints’ Church which is properly known as the Parochial Church Council (PCC).

What more does the Parish Council hope to do?

The Parish Council endeavours to work in harmony with each of the bodies looking after village concerns. These include, amongst others, the Parochial Church Council, The Womens’ Institute, the Village Hall Committee and the Actions identified by the Community.

Under recent legislation, which extend parish council activities and opportunities, it is hoped to strengthen community links through the published and adopted Little Leigh Parish Plan, details of which it is intended to develop during 2006/07.