Council
The Council year runs from May
The year starts at the annual meeting when a Chair and Vice Chair are elected by the councillors. In all our meetings there has to be a quorum to pass resolutions (minimum of either three Councillors or one third of the Council).
Councillors are elected for a 4 year term. If a vacancy occurs during this term, it can be filled by either an election or by co-option.
Become a Backwell Parish Councillor! For more information, click here.
The last election (for the whole Parish Council) was held on 4 May 2023. Information and how to stand is available.
In Backwell we have one main Council Meeting per month and two weeks later we have a Planning Committee Meeting. The Council spends a significant amount of time considering development such as house building within the Parish of Backwell.
We post our Council policies, staff policies, accounts and papers relating to our meetings. We are developing a Diary / Calendar of Events (below) but it is work in progress:
Councillors and Staff
Vice Chair
Phil Harris
Councillor
Karen Barclay
Councillor
Mo Bowerman
Councillor
Barbara Harland
Councillor
Charles Hatcher
Councillor
Patrick Horner
Councillor
Bob Martin
Councillor
James Sharkey
Clerk to the Council
Clare Melton
Assistant Clerk
Hannah MacCallum-New
Office Assistant
Lisa Galpin
What We Do
A Council (a Parish Council in a rural area is the same as a Town Council in towns) must do what Parliament requires it to do and must only do what Parliament says it may do.
One of the most important things we do is to set a local precept (tax) for the year which is used to fund all expenditure by the Council. Once a year we give grants to local voluntary organisations who ask for help. This is not automatic and has to be approved by the Council.
Part of the regular work of our Parish council is informing and contributing to North Somerset Council’s planning system. In addition we respond to consultations relating to major proposals in and around our Parish. For example, we try to influence and inform the North Somerset Council Local Plan, Bus Services Improvement Plan and Bristol International Airport. We can influence other organisations such as North Somerset Council or local Members of Parliament.
Our Neighbourhood Plan was created almost 10 years ago and it is now time to review and update the Plan. Backwell Parish Council are undertaking this review with support from specialist consultants, Backwell Residents Association and other interested Backwell residents /and local groups. Follow our progress and share your ideas as we review and update our Neighbourhood Plan!
We are non political and all Parish Councillors are unpaid volunteers. Each member of the council makes a Declaration of Interests and our Code of Conduct is available.
