Nicky Mears (Chair)
Mark Watson (Vice-Chair)
Gillian Blyth
Giles Blatchford
Linda Rose
Parish Clerk – Jo Boxall – White House, Pettywell, Reepham, NR10 4RN Tel – 01603 879480 Email- clerk@foxleyparishcouncil.norfolkparishes.gov.uk
Councillor Register of Members Interest Forms are available to view on the Breckland District Council website.
https://democracy.breckland.gov.uk/mgParishCouncilDetails.aspx?ID=243&LS=3
District Councillor – Gordon Bambridge C/o Elizabeth House, Walpole Loke, Dereham, Norfolk, NR19 1EE
Email gordon.bambridge@breckland.gov.uk Telephone: 01603 881364 / 077880381761
County Councillor – Bill Borrett Manor Farm, Hoe, Dereham, Norfolk, NR20 4FP
Email:bill.borrett.cllr@norfolk.gov.uk Telephone: 01362 860200
George Freeman MP – 8 Damgate Street, Wymondham. Norfolk, NR18 0BQ Tel: 01953 600617, Email; george.freeman.mp@parliment.uk
Westminister Office – George Freeman MP, House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA, Tel: 020 7219 6502
Disclosable Pecuniary Interest
In order to comply with the Regulations a Member or Co-opted Member must register their disclosable pecuniary interests (DPI’s) and interests other than pecuniary interests with the District Council’s Monitoring Officer within 28 days of the date of their election, re-election or co-option and also once a member becomes aware that they have an interest. Register of Interest submissions can be viewed by selecting the individual Councillor.
Failure to declare a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest is an offence. A member who is found guilty of an offence under Part 1, Chapter 7, Section 34 of the Localism Act 2011 is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale and a court may by order disqualify a member for a period not exceeding five years from being or becoming (by election or otherwise) a member or co-opted member of any authority.
Councillors must agree to abide by the Code of Conduct which can be viewed below. The Parish Council are required to adopt a code of conduct, which sets out rules governing the behaviour of their Members and satisfies the requirements of the Localism Act 2011.
Casual Vacancies
A casual vacancy on the Parish Council may arise for a number of reasons for example, a Councillor has resigned, passed away, or they have failed to attend any meetings for 6 months.
All resignations must be made in writing to the Chairperson of the Parish Council. Once received that resignation cannot be withdrawn.
When a vacancy occurs, the Parish Clerk must notify Electoral Services at Breckland District Council as soon as possible with the details of which Councillor has caused the vacancy.
The vacancy must then be advertised in the Parish, on the parish noticeboard and on the website, for a period of 14 working days excluding bank holidays and weekends.
During this time, an election can be requested by 10 electors from the electoral area in writing to Electoral Services at Breckland District Council. The request must be received by the last date on the notice of vacancy for an election to be held. If requested an election will be held to fill the vacancy. Remaining Councillors will retain their seats.
If the 14 days have passed and an election has not been requested by ten electors, the Parish Council will be informed that they can co-opt a suitable person onto the council to fill the vacancy.
Can a Parish Council be removed between elections?
Simply, they can’t, the Councillors are elected by the electors of the parish to serve a four year term, and unless they die, resign or are disqualified from being a Councillor then they cannot be removed from office.
Dispensation
Councillors may be granted a dispensation which enables them to take part in Council business where this would otherwise be prohibited because they have a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest.
Provided Councillors act within the terms of their dispensation there is deemed to be no breach of the Code of Conduct or the law.
2.2 Section 31(4) of the Localism Act states that dispensations may allow the Councillor:
(a) to participate, or participate further, in any discussion of the matter at the meeting(s); and/or
(b) to participate in any vote, or further vote, taken on the matter at the meeting(s).