Parish Councils and Parish Meetings

The rural area of Darlington is made up of 12 Parish Councils and 14 Parish Meetings.  Each Parish Council comprises Councillors, who have been elected to represent their area and deal with the problems and issues raised by individual electors.  The Parish Meetings each have a Chairperson (elected by the parish at an Annual Meeting) to represent the Parishes' views.

The Parish Councils/Meetings are consulted on planning applications, local plans and other issues that may affect the electorate in their area.

The Local Government Code of Conduct has been introduced to help build and maintain public confidence in local government and also protect the Councillors concerned from accusations of unethical behaviour.  Parish Councillors are obliged to sign up to the Code of Conduct and, in doing so, pledge to observe the requirements contained within it.

Parish Councillors must also supply relevant information for a 'register of interests', a public document that lists their affiliation to, or membership of, other bodies and also any employment or business that they carry out.  It will also contain details of any land within the parish boundary in which they have a beneficial interest.