Purleigh Parish Council
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PURLEIGH PARISH COUNCIL COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT: STATEMENT OF INTENT AIMS AND OBJECTIVES The Parish Council aims to: Ensure that through the use of a wide range of approaches to public consultation and community engagement it actively encourages residents to inform its decision-making process and make an input into decisions which affect their day to day lives in the parish. The Parish Council is committed to creating and maintaining effective working relationships with all sectors of the community. The council recognises that there are different levels of engagement and will endeavour to involve the community in the following ways:
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THE COMMUNITY
The Parish Council seeks to engage with all sections of Purleigh’s community regardless of age, ability, gender, ethnicity, faith or sexual orientation i.e. parishioners (particularly hard to reach groups such as the young, disenfranchised, disaffected and the elderly), the local business community, the many clubs, organisations and societies which are active in the parish, its partners such as Maldon District Council, Essex County Council and the neighbourhood policing team, Purleigh Community Primary School and the church. The Parish Council is also committed to engaging with any persons who appear to it to have an interest in matters relating to the economic, social and environmental well being of its area.
PROVISION OF INFORMATION TO THE COMMUNITY AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
The Parish Council recognises that members of the community may wish to engage with it at different levels and in a variety of ways, from the occasional email or letter with a suggestion on how a service could be improved, to attendance at meetings etc.
Purleigh Parish Council will therefore use many ways to actively seek the views of its parishioners and involve them in its work:
Website: The Parish Council has established a website,
The Parish Council is committed to trying to improve the website and will actively encourage parishioners to use it to exchange information and as a means of improving communication.
OPPORTUNITIES FOR FORMAL REPRESENTATIONS TO THE COUNCIL
Representations to the Parish Council will normally be considered at its next ordinary meeting, unless they require the provision of information only, when the clerk will provide it accordingly. The Parish Council has a Code of Practice for handling complaints, which is available from the clerk, published on the website and reviewed annually. The publication of agendas on the Parish Council’s six notice boards gives parishioners the opportunity to make representation to the council before agenda items are discussed. All formal representations received are responded to in writing.
INVOLVEMENT IN PARTNERSHIPS
The Parish Council is committed to partnership working where it is clear that it will be of benefit to the parish or to fulfil its statutory requirements e.g. the Parish Council retains an appointee on the Governing Body of Purleigh Community Primary School and works with both Maldon District Council and Essex County Council to improve service delivery in the parish.
ROLE OF COUNCIL MEMBERS AND OFFICERS IN CONSULTATION AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
Elected members are powerful advocates for their community and their leadership role enables them to have a major input into the consultation and engagement process. The proposals set out in the 2006 Local Government White Paper, Strong and Prosperous Communities, and the subsequent Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007 strengthen the scope for councillors to act as community leaders and democratic champions and acknowledge the crucial link councillors make between the council, residents, community groups and organisations.
Purleigh Parish Councillors are very accessible:
 | Their contact details are published on the notice boards, on the website and in the annual and quarterly reports to parishioners. |
| They are available to talk to parishioners during the public session prior to each Parish Council meeting and at the Annual Parish Meeting |
| In a private capacity, they belong to many other local clubs, societies and organisations, where they may, if they so wish, promote the work of the Parish Council and be available to parishioners. |
The clerk can also be contacted in a variety of ways: In person, in writing, by telephone, or by email at 27 Anchor Reach, South Woodham Ferrers, Chelmsford, Essex. CM3 5GS. Tel 01245 320426, email
clerk@purleigh.com or jane.m.potter@btinternet.com.SPECIFIC AREAS FOR COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
The council will consult the community should it resolve to undertake, initiate or facilitate any major projects or undertakings in the parish such as the production of a Village Design Statement or Parish Plan or Appraisal.
OUTCOMES OF THE STRATEGY
Outcomes of this strategy will include:
| Improved communication through the establishment of new channels of engagement e.g. Quarterly and Annual reports |
| More parishioners understanding the role and work of the council and how it uses its role to benefit the parish |
| Improved engagement with the local community, with more people feeling that they are involved in decision making |
Monitoring and review of the strategy will be through the use of existing structures and resources.
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