Frequently Asked Questions

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Q. Does the Parish Council have to do all the work?

A. No. It is far better to involve a wide range of volunteers from across the community to prepare the plan. The Parish Council need to apply for the grant and should keep an overview of the plan while it is being prepared 

Q. Are the results of the Parish Plan binding on the Parish Council?

A. The Parish Council should endorse the final plan and use it as a statement of policy. They may be responsible for taking forward some of the actions, and they should be encouraged to do so. 

Q. Can we do a joint Parish Plan with a neighbouring parish?

A. Yes this can be a very positive step,indeed for smaller parishes in particular working together will improve capacity and hopefully strengthen the planning process. 

Q. How long will it take to prepare a Parish Plan?

A. Between twelve and eighteen months.  

Q. Is it ok to work with other bodies like the Police and Health authorities?

A. Yes. Many public bodies now have a statutory duty to consult the public on many issues and you may be able to make a positive contribution to planning and service delivery. It is a good idea to involve these and other service providers at the start of the exercise.  

Q. Do district and county councils fully support Parish Plans?

A. Some local authorities have positive policies towards community led action plans. Others are still developing an understanding of Parish Plans and how they may use them to inform policy and decision making. It will help if you consult your local councillor and try and involve them in the process.  

Q. How does the Parish Plan relate to the Community Strategy?

A. Parish Plans are having an increasingly important role in feeding into Community Strategies as they are reviewed and updated by local authorities.  

Q. We did a village appraisal/ design statement a couple of years ago. Where does this fit in?

A. Such documents are very useful starting points for a Parish Plan. You should review and see if they are relevant, which issues still need to be addressed and identify if new issues have arisen. The final parish plan may identify building development and design as an issue. One of the action points may then be to produce a village design statement.  

Q. Will producing a Parish Plan help us to get a new village hall/ youth club?

A. Yes. If you have consulted widely with the community and come up with clear evidence of need, a Parish Plan will certainly help you make the case to a range of funding bodies for cash for such projects.  

Q. We’ve done this before and nothing came of it – How could we be sure it will bring benefits to the village?

A. From the outset consult and involve people and organisations that might help you achieve what you want (e.g. local authorities, health, police). When you produce the final action plan make sure you have nominated individuals or small groups within the parish who will follow up action points and make things happen 

Q. Will we be penalised if we do not do a Parish Plan? 

A. Not at all. Preparation of a Parish Plan is entirely voluntary and there is no obligation on you to prepare one. But there are many benefits.  

Q. How do we convince people it is worth doing?

A. Preparing the plan will allow everyone in the community to have a say about what is important to them. It will help them to feel valued.  

Q. We are only a small village; we don’t think we have enough people to undertake such a massive task

A. Being a small village might be an advantage, since it might be easier to canvass everyone’s views and identify the people who can help. You ideally need 8 to 12 people to carry the work forward