Kelvedon Parish Council > Councillors >

What does Kelvedon Parish Council do?

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IT’S YOUR VILLAGE – YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE

Kelvedon Parish Council meets on the first Tuesday of each month at 7.45 pm at the Council Chamber, which is the ground floor of the Old Fire Station on the left-hand side of the Chase next to the Indian Restaurant. All meetings are open to the public. Members of the public are permitted to address the meeting, but are required to submit a brief written outline of their questions to the clerk in advance of the meeting. More about parish council meetings.

Parish councils are the first tier of local government, non-political, and in close contact with the community they serve. They provide a range of services and have the needs and desires of the community uppermost in their minds.

Kelvedon Parish Council facilities include:

allotments at Stoney Flint, Church Hill (just over the level crossing) - a very popular pastime, giving healthy exercise, country air and year-round fresh fruit and vegetables. There is water and car parking on site. Allotment plots on the site are currently available (April 2010) and a plot costs £17 a year.
play equipment at Kelvedon Playing Field - including a fully-fenced toddlers’ play area, renovated floodlit multi games area and an extensive range of challenging equipment for older children and teenagers. The council won three awards in the 2008 Essex Playing Fields Association competitions, including a cup for the newly installed play equipment.
the Playing Field – 3.5 acres providing a football pitch, floodlit training area as well as all the facilities listed above.
Brockwell Meadows Local Nature Reserve – 11.5 acres of water meadow managed to maintain a diversity of habitat, open to all throughout the year with fishing available in season to residents. The council is supported by the Brockwell Group, volunteers who arrange events on the Meadows.
summer flower troughs, seats, bus shelters, waste bins and dog bins – throughout the village.
car parks – a small permit-only car park at Bellingham Place and a larger Pay and Display car park in the High Street (opened September 2008).

Other parish council activities include:

Youth Forum – a group of young residents meets regularly to discuss matters of concern to young people in the village. The Forum has run very successful discos throughout the year.
emergency planning – the parish council liaises with Braintree District Council and other organisations on the subject of emergency planning, especially flooding which is a major concern in Kelvedon.

Partnerships

Kelvedon Parish Council works in partnership with volunteers and other bodies to:

carry out litter clearance and road sweeping – our Parish Amenity and Maintenance Warden helps keep the village as clean and tidy as possible.
provide Christmas Lights – a hard working team of volunteers installs and takes down the lights each year. The council is responsible for some power costs and all replacement bulbs. Extra volunteers are always welcome.

Grants

Kelvedon Parish Council gives grants to support:

church yards – mowing and other costs at the parish church and Kelvedon URC.
the War Memorial – erected by public subscription organised by the council immediately after WW1, the Memorial is looked after by volunteers but most costs, including major works such as adding more recent names, are usually met by the parish council.
the Local History Museum – the council is happy to help this unique local effort.
Kelvedon in Bloom – the committee, funded by volunteer effort and a grant from the council, has been successful in the Anglia in Bloom Competition for many years.
Kelvedon Free Music Festival – a very popular event held annually on the playing field and which draws music lovers from all over Essex.
activity day for young people – organised by Braintree District Council at the Institute in the summer holidays.
various sports clubs – junior and senior football clubs and also the cricket club.
the Village Hall – every year, monies are available for village hall uses and grants have been given to the Institute for specific works and to the Kelvedon Community Association.
Kelvedon and Feering Scouts – works to the Scout Hut.
Witham Citizens’ Advice Bureau
Feering and Kelvedon Good Companions Clubs
Packhorse Bridge Society
Two Villages Voluntary Association – Christmas vouchers.

In addition, the council makes representations on highways and traffic matters, flooding, mineral extraction, planning applications, all types of government (and other bodies) consultations.

More information about the role of a parish council

The National Association of Local Councils has published a useful booklet, ‘All about town and parish councils’ that provides details about what parish and town councils do, the role of parish and town councillors, answers frequently asked questions about candidacy, and provides information on qualifying to run as a councillor. It also provides case studies to illustrate how a local council can make a difference.

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