Below are the current members of Walton Parish Council.
Parish Council elections happen every four years, with Walton having spaces for 9 Councillors.
If councillors stand down [due to moving away or health reasons etc.] then the Parish Council can co-opt people to fill the spaces and make up the numbers to 9.
The parish council meets every month, usually but not always on the second Friday of the month at 7 pm in the village hall at Meadow Lane BA16 9LA
Parish surgeries can also be held at the village hall as required if you want to talk to one of your local councillors or raise any issues of concern or interest ~ you can make an individual appointment via the Parish Clerk.
Details of the Clerks role may also be found below.
The Parish Clerk is Helen Moore who may be contacted on: 07957 249066
or written to: Parish Council Clerk, Walton Village Hall, Meadow Lane Walton BA16 9LA
email: clerk@waltonsomerset-pc.gov.uk
or contacted directly from the website contact page.
**PLEASE NOTE THE CLERK IS PART-TIME AND WORKS WEEKDAY MORNINGS ONLY ALL ENQUIRIES WILL RECEIVE A REPLY BUT IT MAY NOT BE INSTANTANEOUS !!**
John Harvey
John Harvey has been elected as the Chairman of the parish council.
He is a member of both the finance and staffing sub-groups and council representative to the Bus Back Better group.
John is also the Council representative to the Local Community Network [LCN]
Bob Collins
Bob was elected in May 2022 and has been elected as Vice-Chairman
Bob is very involved with the practical day-to-day issues of Walton and is a parish council representative to the Walton Trust, he is also part of the working group for East Mead Field and a member of both the staffing and finance groups.
Bob has been a member of the council since January 2020
Rachel Ashman
Rachel was co-opted to the council on 14th April 2023 and is a Council representative to the Local Community Network [LCN]
Rachel is involved with setting up the new community book exchange at the Red telephone box.
Lewis Collins
Lewis was co-opted to the council on 14th April 2023, he is involved with setting up the new community book exchange at the Red telephone box, the East Mead field /Community area working group and the creation of a new village logo.
Richard Crossman
Elected at the May 2022 uncontested election, Cllr. Crossman is the parish council representative to the Walton Trust. He is also a member of the staffing group and finance group.
Richard has been a member of the Council since 2003
Lian Hardware
Lian was co-opted onto the parish council in January 2023.
Lian is a Council representative to the Walton Trust and involved with the the East Mead field /Community area working group
Simon Loader
Elected at the May 2022 uncontested election,
Simon Loader is a council representative on the Walton Allotment Society Committee and has responsibility for the parish footpaths. He is also a member of both the Eastmead field and finance working groups.
Simon has been a member of the council since 2015
Richard Vowles
Cllr. Richard Vowles was elected to the council in May 2022
Richard is the council representative to the allotment society and part of the working group for the East Mead Field. He is also involved with looking after the village footpaths.
Richard has been on the council since 2020.
Helen Moore
Helen has been the Clerk and RFO to the council since 2005.
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THE ROLE OF THE CLERK AND RESPONSIBLE FINANCIAL OFFICER:
The Parish Clerk is the Proper Officer of the Council and as such is under a statutory duty to carry out all the functions, and in particular to serve or issue all the notifications required by law of a local authority’s Proper Officer. The Parish Clerk is responsible for ensuring that the instructions of the Council in connection with its functions as a Local Authority are carried out.
The Parish Clerk is expected to advise the Council on, and assist in the formation of overall policies to be followed in respect of the Authority’s activities and in particular to produce all the information required for making effective decisions and to implement all decisions. The person appointed will be accountable to the Council for the effective management of all its resources and will report on issues as and when required.
In effect, the Parish Clerk’s role is equivalent to that of Chief Executive.
Specific Responsibilities
1. To ensure that statutory and other provisions governing or affecting the operation of the Council are observed.
2. Responsible Financial Officer – responsibility for monitoring and balancing
the Council’s accounts and preparation of records for audit purposes, VAT, PAYE and national insurance, pension scheme, grants.
3. To ensure that the Council’s obligations for Risk Assessment are properly met.
4. To prepare, in consultation with appropriate members, agendas for meetings of the Council, Committees and Working Groups. To attend such meetings and to either prepare or oversee the preparation of minutes/notes of those meetings for approval.
5. To attend all meetings of the Council, Committees and Working Groups,
6. To receive correspondence and documents on behalf of the Council and to deal with correspondence or documents or bring such items to the attention of the Council. To issue correspondence as a result of instructions of, or with reference to the known policy of the Council.
7. To develop the annual budget as the Responsible Financial Officer and to oversee the Council’s expenditure and income.
8. To study reports and other data on activities of the Council and on matters bearing on those activities. Where appropriate, to discuss such matters with administrators and specialists in particular fields and to produce reports for circulation and discussion by the Council, Committees or Working Groups.
9. To draw up both on her own initiative and as a result of suggestions by members, proposals for consideration by the Council and to advise on practicability and likely effects of specific courses of action.
10. To keep up to date with new legislation, ensuring the Council is fully informed of new opportunities and legal requirements of legislation.
11. To oversee the maintenance and safety of all existing sites owned or leased by the Council including Meadow lane play area and East Mead Field
12. To negotiate the purchase or lease of premises, acting on resolutions and on behalf of the Council.
13. To develop relationships with outside bodies and organisations to facilitate partnership working.
14. To monitor the implemented policies of the Council to ensure they are achieving the desired result and where appropriate, suggest modifications.
15. To respond to consultation documents from local and central government and other relevant bodies on behalf of and by resolution of Council.
16. To act as the representative of the Council as required.
17. To issue notices and prepare agendas and minutes for the annual meeting of the parish as required, and attend the annual parish meeting and implement proposals made at the meeting that are agreed by the Council.
18. To prepare in consultation with the Chairman, press releases about the activities of, or decisions of the Council.
19. To attend training courses or seminars on the work and role of the Clerk.
20. To manage and advise on new projects – current projects include the East Mead Community area and orchard.
21. To oversee and keep up to date the village website.
22. To produce the quarterly village newsletter.
Tel: 07957 249066
Email: clerk@waltonsomerset-pc.gov.uk
Address: Walton Village Hall Meadow Lane BA16 9LA
Recent new legislation requires that the register of interests form completed by all parish Councillors is now displayed on that parish councils website.
The full forms for any Parish Councillor and Unitary Councillors may be found on the Somerset Council website