Aims and Duties

The parish council aims to deliver services to meet local needs, give East Bergholt a voice and representation, and work to improve the quality of life and wellbeing for everyone in the village.

We have a number of legal duties. We are consulted on planning applications and other proposals that affect the parish; we alert relevant authorities to work that needs doing, or any other problems; and we help Babergh District Council and Suffolk County Council keep in touch with East Bergholt residents.

Parish Council Powers:

1. We can raise money through the annual precept, which is the parish council’s share of council tax.
2. We can invest Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) money in infrastructure projects and provide grants to local organisations for such purposes.
3. We can acquire land for recreation grounds, public walkways, pleasure parks and open space and control such assets.
4. We hold a “general power of competence” under the 2011 Localism Act, which means we can do “ anything an individual might do” with, for example, freedom to set up a trading company to operate commercial services, to borrow and invest funds.
5. We are a statutory consultee on all planning applications in the parish. At each monthly full council meeting, based on development plan policies, we make recommendations to Babergh District Council to approve or refuse each application.