What is a Parish Council?
Parish and Town Councils form the most local tier of government in England. They are independent statutory bodies, elected by local residents, and work below the level of district and county councils.
A Parish Council can act on a wide range of local matters — from commenting on planning applications to running community halls, sports grounds, and open spaces. It also carries legal responsibilities as an employer and, in many cases, as the owner or manager of public land and buildings.
Every Parish Council operates under specific Acts of Parliament, such as the Local Government Act 1972 and the Public Health Act 1936. Each Council chooses how it uses its available powers to meet the needs of its community: some use only a few, while others use many.
How the Council is funded
Most of the Council’s income comes from the annual precept, which is set each January after budget discussions in November. The precept forms part of the Council Tax collected by the Vale of White Horse District Council on behalf of Harwell Parish Council.
The Council may also receive grants and project funding from other organisations to support local improvements.
For an overview of how local government works in England, visit: www.gov.uk/understand-how-your-council-works.
Powers and Duties of the Parish Council
Everything a Parish Council does must be authorised by law — either because legislation gives it a power (something it may do) or a duty (something it must do).
The list below summarises the main powers and duties available to Harwell Parish Council and the Acts that grant them. It helps councillors, staff, and residents understand:
- what the Council can act on directly,
- what it can only do in partnership with other authorities, and
- what falls outside its legal remit.
By publishing this information, the Council aims to be open and transparent about its responsibilities and limits — helping everyone understand not only why the Council takes action on some matters, but also why it sometimes cannot.
📄 You can read or download the full Powers & Duties document.
Keeping this information accurate
We will always try to keep the information on this website up to date and correct.
If you notice any errors, or think something important is missing, please contact us at clerk@harwellparish.gov.uk so we can review and update it.