Members of the Parish Council at the Market Cross from left to right, George
Matheou, John Love, Laurence Marshall, Roger Hubbocks,
George Atkinson, Carsina Goodman, Stephen Thirlwell (Chairman), Debbie Bassett, Shelia Roy, Chris
Milsom and Kenneth Mitchell.
Sylivia Doyle was not able to be present.
The Beaudesert and Henley-in-Arden Joint Parish Council is
part of local government and works in accordance with a statutory framework laid down by law.
At the Beaudesert Parish Meeting held on 22nd February 1954, the Court
Leet suggested amalgamating the Parish of Beaudesert with the Henley-in-Arden Ward of the Parish of Wooton Wawen. However, the meeting resolved that
the parish of Beaudesert should preserve its own identity and should apply to the County Council to become a Parish Council. Beaudesert Parish Council
was formed and held its first meeting on 22nd June 1955.
Henley-in-Arden Parish finally separated from Wooton Wawen Parish in March 1957, following
a public meeting and the Henley-in-Arden Parish Council held its first meeting on 1st April 1957.
Grouping of the parishes was discussed in 1975 and at the Annual Assembly of Henley-in-Arden
on the 17th March 1975, it was agreed that a grouping order would be pursued. The Annual Assembly of Beaudesert of 25th April 1975 discussed the same
issue and came to the same conclusion. The grouping order was finally made on 10th May 1976, when the two parish councils became Beaudesert and Henley-in-Arden
Joint Parish Council.
Although the Parish Councils are Local Authorities they are very
different to County, District, Metropolitan or Unitary Authorities. They are small and locally accountable. They represent an identifiable community.
All their statutory powers, the things that they can do, are discretionary so the Council decides where it is important to act and use resources. They
also have legal duties to perform such as keeping minutes and accounts etc.
So What Can A Parish Council Do?
Parish Councils have two roles.
| 1 |
They are involved in the provision of facilities, either independently or with other
bodies. For example, the provision of benches, children's play equipment, village halls etc. (In Henley, the village hall and the playing fields
are owned and managed by the Town Improvement Committee, part of the Henley-in-Arden War Memorial Trust.) |
| 2 |
As a group for consultation. For example: |
| |
i. |
The Parish Council has a statutory right to be notified if all planning matters within
the community and a right to comment on them. |
| |
ii. |
Many bodies look towards parish councils for their views on a wide range of issues. |
| |
iii |
Parish Councils are entitled to appear at local or unitary development plan enquiries. |
All This Sounds Like More Bureaucracy. Is It Just Another Talking Shop?
Parish Councils do not have high overhead costs. They employ a Clerk to carry out the routine administration, often this is part-time. Even so, they
can take effective action within their own communities, and have the opportunity to comment on issues effecting them, their district or their county.
The Parish Councils will be able to use its unique local knowledge to promote and protect the community, which it is there to serve.
How Are Parish Councils Accountable?
1 |
The decision of the Parish Councils are made by elected Councillors.
To be eligible to be a Councillor you have to have a local connection. That means that the Parish Councillor must live in or work in the community.
Being a Parish Councillor is not necessarily time consuming and generally is less about party politics than other levels of local government.
That means any eligible member of the community may make a commitment to be a Councillor if they get local support. If members of the public
are unhappy about the actions of the council, they may stand themselves for election at the appropriate time. Elections occur every four years. |
2 |
Meetings by law need to be advertised and members if the public may well
wish to speak to Councillors on issues to be raised at meeting, of if there is a public forum, comment then on issues or bring other matters
to the attention of the council. |
3 |
There is a legal requirement for a Parish Meeting to be held once every
year and this is an opportunity for members of the public to have their say. The Parish Council is then obliged to consider requests from the
Parish Meeting. |
4 |
Parish Councils are publicly audited and high standards
of accounting are required by the 1996 Audit Regulations.
|
Name |
Address |
Curriculum vitae |
Committee Membership
& Representative on |
Atkinson, George (Beaudesert)
|
|
George was born in Newcastle upon Tyne. His employment background is
in Finance. He became a Stratford on Avon District Councillor in 1992 but relinquished this position in 2000. Since 1997 he has represented
the area as its Warwickshire County Councillor. George was first elected to the parish council in 1984 and has seen continuous service since
then. He is married with two daughters and came to live in Henley in 1981. |
Employment, Business and Security and Safety Committee.
Rights of Way sub committee
Feasibility Study on Henley Railway station.
Other: Councils representative on Seymour Fieldhouse Homes.
|
Bassett, Debra (Henley)
|
|
Debbie first came to Henley in 1994 when she ran AYS Couriers Limited
on the High Street. The company then moved onto the back of the High Street at the old Abrasive Development site.
She moved to Henley to live in 2002 and joined the Parish Council earlier this year after selling AYS Couriers in 2001. She now runs a company
in Little Alne with her husband Jason. Debbie has two children Katie 15 and Lewis 9. |
Employment, Business and Security and Safety Committee
Public Transport, Education, Sports and Leisure Committee
|
Doyle, Sylvia (Henley)
|
Hurst House,
Stratford Road,
Henley-in-Arden.
B95 6AB
Tel: 01564 792960
Fax: 01564 795027
E-mail: None
|
Sylvia has lived in Henley for 20 years. She joined the Parish Council
in November 1998 and served as chairman for a year between June 2000 and June 2001. |
Planning the environment and the use of land Committee.
Finance, Administration and Communication Committee.
Rights of Way sub committee
|
Goodman, Carsina (Beaudesert)
|
1 Castle Close,
Henley-in-Arden
B95 5LR
Tel: 01564 793439
E-mail: None
|
Carsina was born, educated and has worked in Henley-in-Arden. She has
lived in the town all her life. She hopes to spend the rest of her life in the town and naturally she cares very much about it. She has served
on the Parish Council for fourteen years. |
Employment, Business and Security and Safety Committee
Christmas Lights sub committee
Other: Henley-in-Arden United Charities
|
Hubbocks, Roger (Beaudesert)
|
46 Arden Road,
Henley-in-Arden
B95 5LF
Tel: 01564 792235
Mobile: 07763138963
Email: None
|
Roger joined the Parish Council in November 2005. He moved to Henley
about five years ago so he could live closer to his sister. For some sixteen years he owned his own coach company in Luton, Bedfordshire. Roger
became disabled seven years ago. He is very interested in local issues and wanted to join the Parish Council in order to contribute to the
community. |
Employment, Business and Security and Safety Committee
Public Transport, Education, Sports and Leisure Committee
|
Love, John (Henley)
|
|
John has been a councillor since 1980. he is a qualified Radio amateur
GOEPL. He has also been a member of the Henley Court Leet since 1980. He was educated at Wrekin College, Wellington. He served his National
Service with the Royal Corps of Signals 1953-1955. He was employed by J Arthur Rank Organisation as Threatre Manager with Circuits Management
Association Ltd. He managed the Odeon and Gaumont Theatres from 1955 to 1957. He came to Henley in late 1957 to run, with his parents The Vanity
Box. He has now been here 48 years. John is chief photographer of Henley News On-line. |
Finance, Administration and Communication Committee |
Marshall, Laurence (Henley)
|
|
Laurence is newly elected to the Parish Council. He has lived at Nookery
Cottage, Beaudesert Park for five years is married with three daughters. His hobbies include walking, keep fit and racquet sports. He is a
member of Knowle Operatic Society and St Alphege Musical Theatre Company. He is currently employed as Chief Executive for a small Birmingham
based company that he formed some twenty five years ago. He sold the business six years ago and re joined the company on a freelance basis
the weekend after! |
Planning the environment and the use of land Committee.
Public Transport, Education, Sports and Leisure Committee.
|
Matheou, George (Henley)
|
114 High Street,
Henley-in-Arden
B95 5BS
Tel: 01564 794308
E-mail: gmatheou@msn.com |
George joined the Parish Council in June 2004. He has lived on Henley
High Street with his wife Ginny for eight years, moving from Solihull. Both of them began contributing to the community soon after arrival
by joining the Henley-in-Bloom team. He spent 27 years in the Electricity Generation Industry and after completing a number of projects involving
privatisation he left to take up a managerial position in London. George was born in Athens and by qualification is an economist and member
of the British Computer Society and Institute of Administrative Management. |
Finance, Administration and Communication Committee
Feasibility Study on Henley Railway station.
Public Transport, Education, Sports and Leisure Committee
|
Milsom, Christopher
(Henley)
|
2 Whitley Road,
Henley-in-Arden
B95
Tel: 01564 793533
Fax:
E-mail: None |
Christopher has lived in Henley-in-Arden for 18 years. For
14 years he and his wife were the proprietors of Ace Stores in Whitley Road. More recently he was caretaker of Henley-in-Arden Junior & Infant
School until his retirement in March 2006. Christopher wanted to joint the Parish Council to put something back into the community. |
Not on any committees at present. |
Mitchell, Kenneth
(Beaudesert)
|
1 Back Lane,
Henley-in-Arden
B95 5SS
Tel: 01564 793811
Fax: 01564 793811
E-mail: kmitch111@aol.com
|
Kenneth joined the Parish Council in February 2005. He has lived in Henley
for 22 years. He has a broad based, quite senior business background. He has current involvements with Age Concern, Warwickshire as a trustee,
is a governor of Henley High School and Riverhouse School and director of Warwickshire Care Services Ltd. |
Planning the environment and the use of land Committee
Employment, Business and Security and Safety Committee
|
Roy, Sheila
(Henley)
 |
|
|
Vice Chairman
Planning the environment and the use of land Committee
Employment, Business and Security and Safety Committee
Christmas Lights sub committee
|
Thirlwell, Stephen (Beaudesert)
|
|
Brought up in a yorkshire farming community, Stephen spent most of his
working life in the hospitality industry principally in hotels. His last major role being part of the project that brought Days Inns of America
into the UK market. He currently undertakes some part time work for the Office for National Statistics. Stephen has been a member of the Parish
Council since 2001 and has represented Henley at District Council level since 2004. |
Chairman
Employment, Business and Security and Safety Committee
Finance, Administration and Communication Committee
Other: Stratford on Avon District Councillor
|
List of organisations benefited by grants
In 2006/07 financial year the Joint Parish Council provided grants to support local organisations
which provide benefits to the Parish.
| Town Improvement Committee |
£4,500 |
| Henley Youth Club |
£500 |
| Evergreen Club |
£250 |
| Heritage & Visitors Centre |
£1,300 |
| Henley-in-Bloom |
£2,500 |
| Services Fund |
£200 |
| Henley High School - Art School Status |
£1,000 |
| Total Donations |
£10,250 |
If you wish to apply for a grant from Beaudesert & Henley-in-Arden Joint Parish Council please
see the criteria for donations to clubs and charities and grant application form which are both downloadable below
Download Grant
Application Form
Download
Criteria for Donations to Clubs & Charities
Grants need to be received by the council by the end of November of the year prior to the grant award
e.g. to apply for a grant for 2007/2008 grant forms need to be received by November 2006.
Key Issues for the Parish
The Joint Parish Council is facing a number of key issues that it is trying to resolve:
- Parking issues in the town. In particular the impact for the business community.
- The powers that Police Community Support Officers have and how the council can effectively make
recommendations to give them additional/some authority, so as to create greater public confidence.
- To monitor the councils own financial performance for the current year and ensure targets are
met.
- To monitor and look at the performance of the councils own website and consider future modifications.
Allotments
The Parish Council is responsible for 2 acres of allotment land located to the west of Station
Road in Henley-in-Arden, over the Railway footbridge.
Allotments are available in two sizes 5 rods and 10 rods, with charges for annual tenancy during
2006 being £5.00 and £10.00 respectively.
A rod is an ancient land measurement of approximately 5m in length, a square rod being 25 square
meters and a '5 rod allotment' therefore being 125 square meters.
If you are interested in renting an allotment please contact the Clerk:
Tel: 01564 795499
Fax: 01564 795499
Complaints Procedure
The Standards Board for England is responsible for promoting high ethical standards and investigating allegations that members' behaviour may
have fallen short of the required standards.
If you think a member has broken the JPC's Code of Conduct, you can report them to The
Standards Board for England.
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