What does the Council do?

 Parish Councils are Statutory Bodies, having powers under a number of different Acts (the Local Government Act 1972, the Public Health Act 1936, etc.).  Very few Councils use all their available powers.  It is up to each Council to choose what is appropriate for the community they serve. The Council is made of up Hartwell residents who are elected to serve the community. The Council has chosen not to pay any Councilor for their time. The Clerk is paid as an officer of the Council, and cannot vote. The Clerk is also the Responsible Financial officer (RFO).

 The Council raises funds by the annual Precept (which is added to the rates bill and collected by SNC on behalf of the Council) which is set in December.  The amount required is guided by the setting of the annual budget in the November preceding.  The Council also raises funds through grants from other organisations.

 The Council pays for the street lighting and the grass cutting within the village, maintains the cemetery, provides litter picking, improvement projects such as Pocket Park, doggy bins, and notice boards.  It makes grants to organizations that the community uses.

The Council is consulted on Planning & Licensing Applications that will be decided at the District Council.  It has the right (separate from supporters & objectors) to speak at the planning meetings.

The Council works with the Police & Neighbourhood watch through the 'Community Safety Panels', Speed reduction programes to improve road safety.

The Councilors and Clerk attend various workshops and consultation meetings with other authorities in order to be aware of proposals & legislation that may affect the community.  The Council hosts the Annual Parish Meeting every May to encourage the Parishioners to make their views known and pays for the village newsletter (Hartbeat) which is delivered free to every household. 

The Council owns and runs the Cemetery and owns the Pocket park land.  The Community Center and the playing field is owned and operated by the Community Center charity.

 Powers currently used include -

Grants and assistance to other bodies, maintenance of public clocks, grass cutting, lighting of footways & public places, planning consultation, provision of doggy bins, benches, website, Hartbeat newsletters, repairs to war memorials.