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Parish Council

ROLE OF THE PARISH COUNCIL

The role of the Parish Council is to represent the interests of the whole community. It is a part of Local Government supporting the democratic process. The Parish Council provides a focus for the community to identify concerns and projects, and endeavour to solve them locally themselves.

The Parish Council is a corporate body, and a legal entity, separate from that of its Members, and is accountable to the local community. Its decisions are the responsibility of the whole body and are made collectively and by majority. The Parish Council has been granted powers by Parliament including the authority to raise money through taxation - the precept, and a range of powers to spend public money.

A Parish Council is an elected body in the first tier of Local Government. Elections take place every four years. Other tiers, known as principal councils or authorities, have many legal duties to deliver services such as education, housing, town and country planning, transport, environmental health and social services. Parish Councils have the legal power to take action, but they have very few duties and greater freedom to choose what action to take. They can play a vital part in representing the interests of the communities they serve and improving the quality of life and the local environment.

Newington Parish Council is responsible for:

  • The Recreation Ground and play area
  • The Pavilion -which is available for hire
  • The Community Woodland
  • The Cemetery and closed church yard
  • The street lights on the sides roads in the village- the lights on the A2 and Playstool Road are the responsibility of KCC
  • The defibrillator

The Parish Council is a statutory consultee on planning matters and can make representations to Swale Borough Council which is the Planning Authority.  Newington Parish Council always comments on planning applications in the Parish and on those which may affect the Parish.  Swale Borough Council decides whether or not to approve an application.


The Parish Council is an employer. The Parish Clerk works for and with the Council to action its decisions.