Ecton Village

Parish News

Green Hill Farm Statutory Consultation Letter and details of locations where documents, plans, maps etc are available for inspection from now until 19th December 2024.

Thursday, 21 November 2024

The Parish Council has received a Green Hill Farm Statutory Consultation Letter and details of locations where documents, plans, maps etc are available for inspection from now until 19th December 2024.

The Parish Council welcomes new Parish Councillor Mr Ash Sandhu to the PC

Wednesday, 25 September 2024

The Parish Council is pleased to announce the co-option of Mr Ash Sandhu onto the PC at our meeting held on the evening of Tuesday 24th September 2024. The PC is now running at full capacity of Parish Councillors and no longer has any current vacancies.

Proposed Green Hill Solar Farm Development

Wednesday, 7 August 2024

You may all be aware of the massive industrial solar utility proposal that will spread over rural Northamptonshire. This was announced in spring 204, the Green Hill Solar Farm covers 2,965 acres over multiple site locations covering farmland and greenfield spaces. Areas affected significantly are Mears Ashby, Grendon, Easton Maudit, Bozeat, Earls Barton, Holct, Old, Walgrave and beyond.

No actual planning application has been submitted to date but the Parish Council does have to respond to a Scoping Opinion Consultation by the 13th September 2024. 

The Parish Council will be holding an Extra Ordinary Meeting on Tuesday 3rd September 2024 at 7.30pm at Ecton Village Hall to discuss what our response to the consultation will be.

The PC is keen to hear parishioners views of the proposed development so we can respond in accordance to parishioners views.

If you have any comments please can you email them to the parish clerk at clerk@ectonparishcouncil.org.uk and not respond via Facebook as we do not monitor this page. Parishioners are welcome to attend the Extra Ordinary Meeting being held on Tuesday 3rd September in person if you prefere.

There is a website https://www.stopgreenhillsolar.co.uk/ which will give you a wealth of information on the proposal.

A copy of the EN010170 - Green Hill Solar Farm - EIA Scoping Notification and Consultation email

Dear Sir/Madam,

We are contacting you at this time in relation to the Green Hill Solar Farm which is a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP). NSIPs are defined in Part 3, Regulation 14 of the Planning Act 2008, and are projects of certain types, over a certain size, which are considered by the Government to be so big and nationally important that permission to build them needs to be given at a national level, by a responsible Secretary of State. A summary of the NSIP planning process can be found in the list of links at the bottom of this page. This project is currently in the pre-application stage.

To meet the requirements of the Infrastructure Planning Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Regulations (2017) (“the EIA Regulations”), NSIPs which are likely to have a significant effect on the environment are required to undertake an EIA and to provide an Environmental Statement (ES) to accompany the application. An ES will set out the potential impacts and likely significant effects of the Proposed Development on the environment. Schedule 4 of the EIA Regulations sets out the general information for inclusion within an ES. You can find out more detail on ES documents and the EIA process in the links at the bottom of this page.

To inform the scope and level of detail of the information to be provided within the ES, the Applicant has requested a Scoping Opinion from the Planning Inspectorate, on behalf of the Secretary of State under Regulation 10 of the EIA Regulations.     Click these links to see attached letter.    page 2 

Before adopting a Scoping Opinion, the Inspectorate must consult the relevant ‘consultation bodies’ defined in the Infrastructure Planning (Applications: Prescribed Forms and Procedure) Regulations 2009 (see link below). You have been identified as a consultation body for this project, please see attached correspondence. Both Local Planning Authorities and Parish/Town Councils play an important role in the planning process by providing area specific knowledge and representing local communities. The Applicant must have regard to comments made within the Scoping Opinion as the submitted ES must be based on the most recently adopted Scoping Opinion. Therefore, your comments at this stage are valuable at influencing the scope of the ES by reviewing the Applicant’s approach to EIA as set out within their Scoping Report. Please note this consultation relates solely to the EIA Scoping process. Please rest assured that there are further opportunities for you to engage with and provide views on the project more generally, including through the Applicant’s own consultation. Applicants have a duty to undertake statutory consultation and are required to have regard to all responses to their statutory consultation. 

Please note the deadline for consultation responses is 22 August 2024 and is a statutory deadline which cannot be extended. Responses submitted before the deadline will be considered, and published at the end of the Scoping Opinion, by the Planning Inspectorate.

For further information about the NSIP planning process, please click on the links below:  

The relevant legal framework and regulations include:

If you have any questions regarding any of this information, please do not hesitate to get in touch by way of return to this email address.

Kind regards,

Molly Harvey (She/Her)

EIA Advisor

The Planning Inspectorate

The Parish Council welcomes new Parish Councillor Mrs Chrystel Adams to the PC.

Tuesday, 21 May 2024

The Parish Council is pleased to announce the co-option of Mrs Chrystel Adams on to the PC at our Annual meeting of the Parish Council held on the evening of Tuesday 21st May 2024.  Parish Councillor Mr Joe Fernley has also been appointed as the Vice Chairman of the Parish Council. There is currently one vacancy for Parish Councillor on the PC. Please do get in touch if you are interested.

The Parish Council welcomes new Parish Councillor Mrs Stella Bell to the PC.

Tuesday, 28 March 2023

The Parish Council is pleased to announce the co-option of Mrs Stella Bell onto the PC at our meeting held on the evening of Tuesday 28th March 2023. There now remains one vacancy for Parish Councillor on the PC. Please do get in touch if you are interested.

Thinking of becoming a Parish Councillor but want more information, hopefully, the information below will answer your questions.

Tuesday, 28 March 2023

  • The Good Councillors Guide 2024 (PDF, 4.5 Mb)

    The Good Councillors Guide is a much needed resource. It is essential guidance primarily for new councillors but also for those thinking about becoming a local councillor.

Some background information on Parish Council’s, Parish Councillors and becoming a Parish Councillor

In this booklet, you will learn what a local council does on behalf of local communities and people. See how they make a difference in villages, towns and cities.

What is a Parish Council?

A parish council is a corporate body, a local authority in England that serves as the first level of local government. It's the level of government that's closest to the community, and is responsible for representing the community's interests and acting on their behalf.

It is a legal entity separate from its members. It is a collective decision-making body; its decisions are the responsibility of the whole of the council. All the councillors have equal rights and responsibilities, even the chair or councillors who also sit on a principal authority are no more important than any other member. This means that councillors do not have any authority as individuals. In short, no councillor can act alone or speak on behalf of the council without first being formally granted the authority to do so by that council. It is also important to understand that local councils are autonomous and not answerable to a higher authority. They have been granted their own powers by Parliament Parish Councils also called town councils, neighbourhood councils or community councils in some areas are responsible for delivering local services.

There are over 10, 000 parish councils (some of which are called town, community or neighbourhood councils) representing around 16 million people across England. They form the most local level of government and cover many rural and urban areas. As of April 2024, Northamptonshire has 218 parishes with councils, plus 51 parish meetings that don't hold elections. Together, they cover almost all of the county, except for unparished areas in Kettering and Corby.

Parish councils are a vital part of any community, as they're often the first-place people go with concerns or ideas.

What do Parish Councils do?

Your parish council has an overall responsibility for the well-being of your local neighbourhood. Their work falls into three main categories:

  • representing your local community
  • delivering services to meet local needs
  • striving to improve quality of life in the parish

Your parish council might provide, maintain or contribute to the following services:

  • bus shelters
  • local illuminations
  • community centres
  • parks and open spaces
  • community safety schemes
  • planning
  • crime reduction measures
  • street cleaning
  • festivals and celebrations
  • street lighting
  • leisure facilities
  • tourism activities
  • litter bins
  • traffic calming measures

They will often work with larger councils (district, borough or county) in your area called 'principal authorities' and cooperate to ensure the effective delivery of services to the local community.

What do Parish Councillors do?

Parish councillors represent the views of their parish's residents and contribute to the work of the parish council which includes making decisions about policies and services in the local area that they serve on behalf of their community and parishioners.

Councillors have three main areas of work:

  • Decision-making: through attending meetings and committees with other elected members, councillors decide which activities to support, where money should be spent, what services should be delivered and what policies should be implemented. Decisions can only be made at meetings whilst discussing the relevant agenda item relating to the said item.
  • Monitoring: councillors make sure that their decisions lead to efficient and effective services by keeping an eye on how well things are working.
  • Getting involved locally: as local representatives, councillors have responsibilities towards their constituents and local organisations. This often depends on what the councillor wants to achieve and how much time is available.

The day-to-day work of a parish councillor may include:

  • Going to meetings of local organisations such as tenants' associations.
  • Going to meetings of bodies that affect the wider community, such as the police, the Highways Authority, schools and colleges.
  • Taking up issues on behalf of members of the public, such as making representations to the principal authorities.
  • Running a surgery for residents to bring up issues.
  • Meeting with individual residents in their own homes.

Why should I become a councillor?

As a councillor you can become a voice for your community and affect real change. Councillors are community leaders and represent the aspirations of the public that they serve. Parish, town, community and neighbourhood councillors are the most local part of our democratic system and are closest to the public. By standing for your parish council, you could make a real difference to your local neighbourhood.

Can I become a parish councillor?

Most people can stand for election if it's the election year otherwise can be co-opted at a council meeting, however there are a few rules. To be a councillor you need to be:

  • British or a citizen of the Commonwealth. You may also be eligible as a citizen of the European Union, however the criteria has changed now that the UK has left the European Union. Please check on the gov.uk website for advice about EU citizens' voting and candidacy rights in local elections.
  • At least 18 years old.
  • Registered to vote in the area or have lived, worked, or owned property there for at least 12 months before an election.

You can't be a councillor if you:

  • Work for the council you want to be a councillor for, you can work for another local authority as long as you are not in a political restricted post.
  • Are the subject of a bankruptcy restrictions order or interim order.
  • Have been sentenced to prison for three months or more (including suspended sentences) during the five years before election day.
  • Have been convicted of a corrupt or illegal practice by an election court.
  • Are subject to any relevant notification requirements, or a relevant order, in respect of a sexual offence.

How much time will I need to spend?

It is possible to spend a lot of time on council work - but most people have jobs, families and hobbies that also demand a lot of time. However, as with most things, the more you put in, the more you (and your community) will get out. Generally speaking, the larger your community the larger your workload will be. The times of the meetings vary, as do the venues. Parish councils normally meet in the evening. It is important to establish the pattern of meetings and venues to make sure they can accommodate your domestic and/or business arrangements. Most councils meet once a month and many also have committees, in which case you would probably be invited to sit on a committee. These usually meet in between the meetings of the full parish council.

Quite often councillors say that their duties occupy them for about two or three hours a week. Obviously, there are some councillors who spend more time than this – and some less, but in the main, being a local councillor is an enjoyable way of contributing to your community and helping to make it a better place to live and work. At Ecton Parish Council it is anticipated you would spend a couple of hours each week.

Frequently Asked Questions

Am I personally liable for anything as a councillor?

Generally speaking, no. The council is a corporate body, which means that in law it has an identity separate to that of its members. Anything that the council decides to do by resolution is the action of the corporate body and any land, property, leases and other contracts are in the name of the council. The exception would be in extreme cases of negligence where an individual councillor has acted contrary to council policy, which may lead to personal liability.

Will my employer support me if I need time off for council business in work time?

Yes. You are allowed reasonable time off to go to meetings or to carry out your duties. The time must be agreed with your employer beforehand and your employer can refuse your request if it is unreasonable. A specific amount of time off is not laid down in law. Your employer doesn't have to pay you while you take time off for public duties, although many do. Your employment contract will normally say whether you are paid for this time off.

Does it take up a lot of time?

It can, but it doesn't have to. You will be required to attend meetings of the full council (monthly or bi-monthly) which are normally 2 to 3 hours long. You should be well-prepared for meetings and preparation can sometimes take longer than the meeting itself! If you are really getting your teeth in to council business you may put yourself forward for any committees that the council has (e.g. finance or planning committees), which will involve further meetings and preparation. Quite often councillors say that their duties occupy them for about two or three hours a week.

Ecton Parish Council meetings are bi-monthly held on the 4th Tuesday of every other month from 7.30pm for approx. 2 hours at Ecton Village Hall. Meetings are held in the months of January, March, May, July, September and November.

How do I become a Parish Councillor?

Firstly, contact your Parish Clerk to register your interest and find out if you meet the criteria to apply.

What's in it for me and my community?

You should consider becoming a parish or town councillor if:

  • You Want To Do Something Positive for Your Community
  • You Want To Spend Your Time Productively
  • You Can Think, Listen and Act Locally
  • Then contact your Parish Clerk to register your interest and find out if you meet the criteria to apply.