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Bickerstaffe
Parish
Council
About the Council
What do we do?
 | We provide and maintain the children’s play area, parish field, bus shelters, seats and notice boards |
| We make representations to Councils, Police and other public bodies on residents’ concerns and ideas |
| We monitor the appearance and cleanliness of the parish and take action to maintain standards |
| We communicate with residents about local issues, giving information and asking for views |
| We liaise with District and County Councils to make sure we get good service on street cleaning, footpath and grounds maintenance and highways |
| We offer comments on planning applications to the District Council and publish their decisions |
| We work with other parish organisations such as Bickerstaffe Football Club and Holy Trinity Church Bickerstaffe and Bickerstaffe Music Festival to support and publicise their activities. |
How are we funded?
The Council raises a precept - an amount collected from Council Tax. In 2008/2009 the precept is an average of £13.25 per household, a total of £7,250 for the year. This is supplemented by a sum from West Lancashire District Council totalling £1897 which is allocated to the play area and parish field maintenance. Occasionally we obtain special grants to help fund capital projects e.g. drainage of parish field, refurbishment of the war memorial.
How is the money spent?
The Council depends on the support of its Parish Clerk to operate efficiently and a salary is paid. Councillors are not paid but can claim for travelling expenses.
Most of the money from the annual precept goes on maintaining the parish field, the playground and maintaining the bus shelters and street furniture. Other expenses are administration costs (such as IT, auditing); and a small number of donations.
How are we organised?
The Council meets every other month on the second Monday at 7.45pm in The Four Lane Ends Mission on Skelmersdale Road, Bickerstaffe and holds an annual parish meeting in May. An agenda and minutes are published. The Council appoints a chairman and vice-chairman.
