Your Council
Duties and Powers
There are a some things a Parish Council must do and some things a Parish Council may choose to do. These are known as Duties and Powers.
The Parish Council adopted the ‘General Power of Competence’ in 2019. This can be adopted if the Council meets the qualifying criteria – a qualified Clerk and at least two thirds of members elected. The power stays in place until the next election at which point the Parish Council must demonstrate it still meets the criteria.
Often residents are not clear whether they should contact Bracknell Forest Council or the Parish Council about a topic – the lists below summarise the key topics that each of the authorities focus on.
Binfield Parish Council
- Allotments
- Bus shelters, bins and benches
- Community grants – section 137 and community halls
- Play areas and open spaces
- Statutory Consultee on all planning applications and policies
- Community events
Bracknell Forest Council
- Adult and family learning
- Business rates
- Council tax
- Environmental health
- Highways (Roads)
- Housing
- Leisure facilities
- Libraries and museums
- Licensing
- Planning permission and disputes
- Public health
- Refuse and waste disposal
- Schools (Education)
- Social services and benefits
- Strategic planning matters
- Street cleaning
- Town planning and regeneration
Transparency
The following data is published in line with the Local Government Transparency Code 2015:
- Contracts over £5,000
- Payments over £500
- Local Authority Land
- Grants
- Organisation Chart
- Parking spaces
- Constitution – Standing Orders, Code of Conduct, Financial Regulations
- Pay multiple
- Counter fraud work