What We Do

What does the parish council do for the local communities?

The following are all under the remit of local councils. Some of these duties do not apply to Eskdale Parish Council, but where they do, the Parish Council takes its duties seriously:
  • Burial Grounds, Cemeteries, Churchyards and Crematoria where these are not maintained by the local Church.
  • Bus Shelters – the Parish Council can provide and maintain if permitted by the County Council. We currently do not have responsibility for any bus shelters within the parish.
  • Community Centres, Conference Centres, Halls, Public Buildings. The Parish Council currently does not have responsibility for any buildings within the Parish
  • Drainage – of ditches and ponds, Entertainment and the Arts, Footpaths. The Parish Council does not maintain footpaths currently these are the responsibility of Cumbria County Council and the Lake District National Park.
  • General Spending – parish councils can spend a limited amount of money on anything they deem of benefit to the community that is not covered by the other specific responsibilities described in this list
  • Gifts – parish councils may accept gifts or grants. Gifts can be physical eg a seat, or monetary eg a donation or grant towards a specific project. All gifts are held in Trust for the benefit of the Parish and will be recorded in Council Minutes as to their purpose.
  • Highways – lighting, parking places, right to enter into discussions about new roads and road widening, consent of parish council required for diversion or discontinuation of highway, traffic signs and other notices, tree planting and verge maintenance. The Parish Council currently pay for the cutting of the verges at the entrance to the Village as well as some hedge cutting. We are working closely with Cumbria Highways in trying to get a 30mph speed limit for the village.
  • Land – acquisition and sale of. The Parish Council currently do not own any land.
  • Legal proceedings – power to prosecute and defend any legal proceedings in the interests of the community, power to take part in any public enquiry
  • Litter – provision of litter-bins and support for any anti-litter campaigns. The emptying of bins is the responsibility of LDNP.
  • Planning – parish councils must be notified of, and display for residents, any planning applications for the area. Any comments submitted to the planning authority by the parish council must be taken into account. All applications can be found on the Agenda for the Council meetings and the minutes of the meeting, these are displayed publicly on the Notice Board and on the website www.eskdalyparishcouncil.co.uk. The Parish Council takes this duty seriously and considers all applications submitted. All applications and decisions are reported in the minutes of the meetings.
  • Public conveniences – provision and maintenance of public toilets. Currently the Parish council has no responsibility for public conveniences.
  • Recreation – provision of recreation grounds, public walkways, pleasure grounds, open spaces, village greens, gymnasiums, playing fields, holiday camps and boating ponds . The Parish Council currently has no responsibility for any of these, but should the community wish it would consider.
  • Rights of Way – footpath and bridleway maintenance. This is currently the responsibility of Cumbria County Council and LDNP.
  • Seats (public) – The benches by the war memorial are provided and maintained by the Parish Council.
  • Signs – danger signs, place names and bus stops signs.
  • Tourism – financial contributions to any local tourist organisations allowed.
  • Traffic Calming – The Parish Council are currently in negotiations with Cumbria Highways for the installation a 30mph limit through the village.
  • War Memorials –
  • Water Supply – power to utilise stream, well or spring water and to provide facilities for general use