Collingbourne Kingston falls within the area of authority of the Wiltshire County Council, based at Trowbridge, and then within the area covered by the Kennet District Council, with their headquarters at Devizes. In the 1980's central government demanded a review of local government arrangements hoping to rationalise their often overlapping responsibilities and perhaps condensing the county and district councils into single unitary bodies. Many and various were the proposals put forward by those potentially fighting for their survival and after a democratic preference gathering exercise the votes were cast to maintain the status quo for most of the county with just Swindon and its environs going their own way as a new separate authority. At the County level, we are represented by the elected councilor for the Collingbournes Ward and at District level by the elected councilor for the Collingbournes and Everleigh Ward. Closest to home is our own Parish Council consisting of 7 members and their clerk. The latter receives a stipulated rate of pay for performing their considerable duties whilst the members are all unpaid volunteers. Unlike the two layers above it, the Parish Council is not a manifestation of party politics. All bands of government are elected for 5 year terms. If, in the case of the Parish Council, insufficient candidates stand to hold a contested election, those that do are automatically elected to form the council. They may then choose to co-opt willing persons on to the council to make up the full number if necessary. Likewise, should a mid term vacancy occur and insufficient candidates come forward to necessitate an election, the council may again choose to co-opt someone. Recently, and perhaps as a sad reflection of today's increasing reluctance to participate in community affairs, contested elections for Parish Council seats have become the exception rather than the rule.
Parish Councils take responsibilities unto themselves rather than having them thrust upon them. There is encouragement, but no compulsion, for villages to have a council. Some never organise one at all or, if they do, it might seldom meet and do very little. We have always been lucky in having neighbours amongst us who feel that living in our community entails responsibilities and have been prepared to form and maintain business- like councils to do what they can to safeguard, conserve and represent the interests of our community. It attempts this in a variety of ways. Being, as we are, a small entity on the fringes of both the County and District administrative areas we can often feel far away from any decision making and, indeed it can often seems like out of sight, out of mind, so that one of the most important roles for the Parish Council is to keep us in the minds of the higher authorities, act as a go-between for them and when needed, fight our corner for us. Parish Councils are obviously the best and most valuable source of local knowledge and requirements yet, as an information resource their full potential is seldom drawn upon by the higher authorities until minds have already been made up.
These are many aspects of village life in which the Parish Council plays a significant role, often concerned with providing or improving the public amenities.
It owns property in the form of such things as the Village Cross,the War Memorial, the bus shelter, roadside seats and benches, playground equipment, notice boards etc. It must insure and maintain these assets. At the time of writing the benches are being gradually replaced.
It negotiates leases, terms and conditions etc. for the such things as the land upon which the Village Hall stands and the recreation ground occupies.
It provides considerable monetary help towards the upkeep of the Village Hall when it is faced with major works, or the unpredictable emergency. It installed
the flagstaff in the hall's grounds to mark the Queen's recent jubilee.
It is concerned with ways to enhance our surroundings and has undertaken some tree planting and is responsible for the show of flowers along the waysides in the spring.
It acts in a liaison role between us and our generally good, but sometimes noisy neighbours the Ministry of Defence.
It sends representatives to keep abreast with the activities of other bodies such as the Parochial Church Council, ( with whom it is, at present, agreeing to fund the set-up cost of floodlighting the church), the School Governors, the Village Hall Committee, the Community Area Forum and the Local Transport Group. It is also concerned in Emergency Planning provisions.
It is informed of, and given details of, all planning applications. It is invited to express opinions about them, but all planning decisions are ultimately decided by the District Council, and if contrary to their thoughts, any influence Parish Councils may have appears to be generally slight. However, the Village Design Statement, which forms the conclusion of this document, must, by law, be implemented and applied in future planning decisions affecting the village.
It monitors and passes on to the higher authorities complaints about things for which that higher authority is responsible, such as rights of way and street lighting.
It now undertakes things, such as some grass cutting and other services, for which the County County is no longer prepared to pay.
As it is obliged to do by law, it arranges for an annual Village Meeting open to all where it reports upon its activities, answers questions, invites comment and often encourages representatives from other bodies or higher councils to address matters of the moment.
Over recent decades the responsibilities put upon Parish Councils have increased and the expenditure entailed can represent a very considerable percentage of the council's expenditures. They must, therefore, demand that increased monies are made to them. This is done by means of their precept, which is the amount of tax money they forecast they will need for the coming year and which they demand from the district council. The precept amount demanded by each parish is advertised and appears as an identifiable item in the District Council's budget publicity and is part of the house related Council tax we now pay that replaced the old rates. Parish councilors have always been obliged to declare any interest they might have in any decision making and excuse themselves from the proceedings. This year, under the provisions they have been further obliged to declare assets considered private previously. Despite the trauma, affront and consequent resignations suffered by some other councils ours survived intact . It comes, perhaps,as a timely reminder of the inconveniences, bother and fortitude that some still consider worth the while for the functioning and benefit of our community.
