About the Council Contact Us
The Parish Council is the first tier of local government followed by the District Council and County Council. It is responsible for representing the interests of the local community. It is funded mainly by the precept, which is a small percentage of the Council Tax. Parish Councillors are unpaid. Councillors are elected every four years and the next election will be in May 2011. Any vacancies that arise in the meantime are filled either through a by-election or by co-option.
In Ashurst Wood, the Parish Council was formed in 2000 and consists of nine Councillors. The Council employs a part-time Clerk, part time assistant, Pavilion caretaker and part-time village handyman. Despite being a relatively young Council, the Coluncil was delighted to have been granted Quality Council status by the National Association of Local Councils in 2007. The Quality Town and Parish Council scheme was introduced in 2003 and was designed to provide benchmark minimum standards for councils to enable them to better represent their communities. In order to reach Quality status, the Council had to pass several tests regarded as representing the standards that an efficient well-run council should achieve. These include having a qualified clerk, an electoral mandate, communications (website and newsletters), regular meetings and publication of an Annual Report.
Following the Election on 5th May 2011, your Parish Councillors are:
Chairperson: Cllr Jenny Forbes
Vice Chairperson: Cllr Brian Phillips
Councillors:
Cllr Ian Arnott
Cllr Margaret Bussell
Cllr Karen Lindsay
Cllr David Loveday
Cllr Brian Phillips
Cllr Jonathan Samways
Cllr Don Sinclair
Cllr Derek Wailes
Meetings are open to the public and begin with public questions.
The full Parish Council meets ten times a year.
The Planning Committee meets regularly to discuss and make recommendations on all planning issues affecting the village, although the final decision is made by Mid-Sussex District Council. Current Planning applications will be available for viewing at the Parish Council office and are also now available online.
Click here for the weekly list of Planning Applications
Click here for Planning information
Anyone planning building work should check whether Planning Permission is needed. Click here for contact details for Development Control.
The Public Services Committee is responsible for maintaining the village environment.
The Finance and Administration Committee is responsible for the in depth monitoring of financial matters, including the preparation of a draft budget, internal audit reports, financial checks and staffing issues. The overall financial control is the responsibility of all members of the Parish Council and the Clerk is the Responsible Finance Officer.