Council Members | Wentworth Parish Council

There are currently eight Parish Councillors representing the parish on a voluntary basis they are:-

Wentworth:

Brendan J McNamara (Chair) – Declaration of Interests
Clair Hawley (Vice Chair) – Declaration of Interests
Johanna Annetts – Declaration of Interest
Dan Booth – Declaration of Interest

Harley:

Cynthia Shaw – Declaration of Interests
Valerie Sykes – Declaration of Interests
Bill Crawford – Declaration of Interests
Thomas Hill – Declaration of Interests

Parish Councillors Email Addresses.

Cllr Brendan McNamara – CllrMcNamaraWPC@gmail.com

Cllr Cynthia Shaw – CllrSykesWPC@gmail.com

Cllr Valerie Sykes – CllrSykesWPC@gmail.com

Cllr Thomas Hill – CllrHillWPC@gmail.com

Cllr Claire Hawley- Cllrhawleywpc@gmail.com

Cllr Johanna Annetts – Cllrannetts@gmail.com

Cllr Dan Booth- Cllrbooth@gmail.com

Cllr William Crawford- Cllrcrawford@gmail.com

What do Councillors do?

Councillors are all required to attend the main Parish Council meetings and participate in committees that deal with specific areas of council business. Councillors take collective decisions that form the policy of the council.

They understand local concerns, debate issues within council meetings and use their best judgement to make decisions. They are generally unpaid but some councils approve the payment of expenses incurred whilst on official business.

The role of a Councillor is not just confined to meetings – many are active in other community areas and bring that expertise and knowledge to the council meeting to benefit all. Councillors are known locally and are often asked for advice or help; it is their responsibility to seek an answer or solution through the council.

Councillors may also join lower-level committees which are part of the permanent governance of the council or working groups that are task focussed limited life bodies. Working Groups may also have members of the public sitting on them.

Roles and Responsibilities of Elected Parish Council Councillors.

Are of Responsibility	Lead Councillor	Deputy Councillor	Roles and Responsibilities
War memorial	Councillor Sykes	Councillor McNamara	Legal title of war memorial. Dealing with solicitors and investigating the Parish Council’s title to the memorial. Dealing with cleaning and upkeep of the memorial and ensuring site is ready for Remembrance Service.
Remembrance Service	Councillor Sykes	Councillor Shaw	Liaising with all stakeholders to ensure that the remembrance service is carried out satisfactorily. Implementing the publication of the service programme and that audio equipment and seating arrangements are in place.
Financial Matters	Councillor Crawford	Councillor McNamara	To carry out a review of procurement policies. Supervision of timely completion of Annual Return and Governance Statement. Completion of yearly councillor review of the financial documents ensuring the current processes are suitable. Ensuring that the correct provision of the exercise public rights has been made. Supervision of the annual budget process. Set out WPC’s standing orders for procurement.
Publicity	Councillors Shaw	Councillors Annetts, Hawley & McNamara	All publicity including the WEB site for the Parish Council to be driven and dealt with by the publicity team. Carrying out the planning and printing of the Parish Newsletter. Dealing with the various WhatsApp groups and local press.
Traffic & Visitor Strategy	Councillor Hawley	Councillor Crawford	Implementation of the Traffic and Visitor Survey Report. In conjunction with the publicity team ensure the report is published and distributed as required. Set up the TTG and organise the meetings and implementation of the strategy and also be available as the lead parish council’s representatives on the Traffic and Tourist Group. Act as deputy for the Parish Council WEB site.
Harley Pavilion	Councillor Sykes	Councillor Crawford	Councillor Sykes – To plan the hire of the pavilion and collect hire charges and instigate grants as appropriate. Councillor Crawford – Inspection of building and ensure that all facilities are available and usable.
Wentworth Pavilion	Councillors Booth	Councillor McNamara	Carry out a strategy and forward planning document for the pavilion. Ensure the building meets the current and legal requirements. Liaise with WCC on future planning.
Paths, Bridleways & Benches	Councillor Hill	Councillor Booth	Liaise with RMBC on paths and bridle ways in the parish. Ensure that they are up to the required standard. Produce a current map of them within the parish boundary. Ensure footpath signage is in place. Carry out a review of the Councils benches and prepare a current map and plan of action.
Harley Playground	Councillors Hill	Councillor Booth	Councillors McNamara & Booth – Carry out a strategy and long –term plan for the playground and ensure that it meets current legislation. Councillors Hill & Booth – Carry out monthly inspection of the play equipment. Councillor McNamara to deal with the health and safety aspects of the equipment.

Area of Responsibility	Lead Councillor	Deputy Councillor	Roles and Responsibilities
Williston Gift	Councillor McNamara	Councillors Annetts & Hawley	Carry out regular inspection of premises. Ensure that repairs are carried out to an acceptable standard. Prepare a forward plan for the improvement of the properties. Employ approved repair and construction companies in accordance with the council’s standing orders.
Grounds Maintenance	Councillors McNamara	Councillor Booth	Prepare specification documents for the grounds’ maintenance contract. Invite approved contractors to submit tenders for the work and report to the parish council on the selection of the winning bid for approval. Carry out regular Inspections of the work carried and deal with any problems.
Parish Council Website	Councillor McNamara	Councillors Annetts & Hawley	To carry out a review of the parish council’s website and upgrade, as necessary. Liaise with appropriate IT consultants or persons with IT skills to achieve and implement the new website. Report back to the council on the proposals
WPC’s list of approved contractors	Councillor Hawley	Councillor Annetts	Carry out a review of the WPC’s standing orders and amend as required and seek council approval for amendments. Produce a list of approved contractors to carry out work on behalf of Williston Gift and WPC. Update the list as appropriate. Liaise with Councillor McNamara in conjunction with H&S legislation. Vet all new contractors and provide a yearly report to WPC on the contractors performance.

Note:

1. Chairman is to have an overview role of all areas of responsibilities.

2. Councillors are to report on their areas of responsibility at the Parish Council Meeting.

3. Where a lead Councillor is not available at the parish council meeting then the deputy Councillor is to report to the meeting.

4. The Chairman and Vice-Chair are to carry out regular one to one meetings with lead Councillors and deputies.

Elections.

The last elections took place in May 2021. Elections take place every 5 years. The Parish Council has 11 meetings per year, there is no meeting in August. Meetings take place in the Wentworth Mechanic’s Institute in Wentworth on the third Monday of each month generally at 6.30pm. Parishioners are entitled to raise matters of concern at the meetings but the Chairman has the discretion to decide when the matter is discussed.

An Annual General Meeting takes place in May when the positions of the Chairman, Vice-Chairman and representation on the Sub-Committees are decided. The main sub-committees being finance and buildings.

In March the Parish Council facilitate an Annual Assembly of the parish which is open to members of the community and enables residents to raise local issues.

The Parish Council currently has leases from the Fitzwilliam (Wentworth) Estates (the landowner) on the Wentworth and Harley Recreation Grounds.
The management of these sites has been transferred to the active village associations in Wentworth and Harley. In addition the Parish Council manages two properties in Barrowfield Gate which form part of the Willistons Gift one of the charities managed by the Parish Council. The Parish Council also manages a charity called the Constables Charity although little is known of the history of this body.

The Parish Council is allowed by statute to levy a small precept per year which is collected by the Borough Council along with the Council Tax. The Parish Council use this money to improve the amenities of the Parish.