The Council
Arkengarthdale Parish Council is very much a hands-on entity, with councillors undertaking much of the work required to site memorial benches and plaques and install artefacts of historic interest in the dale. The Christmas lights on High Green, near Langthwaite, are also put up by the councillors.
Parish and Town Councils form the most local tier of government. They were established by the Local Government Act 1894, and they have had their roles and duties substantially revised by the Local Government Act 1972.
Funding is raised via a ‘precept’, which is a sum of money collected by a local authority on its behalf, through council tax. This is then invested back into the local area to improve services and facilities. There are also other ways in which money can be raised, such as grants and loans.
Town and Parish Councils do not have the power to approve or reject planning applications as they are not planning authorities. They do, however, have to be consulted by the Local Planning Authority as part of the process, and as part of this consultation, they can choose to comment on the planning application.