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Parish Plan

The current Parish Plan is under review.

UNDERSTANDING THE ROLE OF YOUR PARISH COUNCIL

As members of Kirkby Ireleth Parish Council, we believe it’s important to share a bit about what we do and how we serve our community. Our role as your local Parish Council is crucial, yet often misunderstood, so we want to clarify our responsibilities and manage expectations about what we can and cannot do.

What Does the Parish Council Do?

The Parish Council is the most local tier of government in the UK. Our main focus is to represent and address the needs of our village. Here’s a quick look at some of our key responsibilities:

  • Village Maintenance: This includes upkeep of public amenities like benches, streetlights, and notice boards.
  • Planning Input: While we provide feedback on planning applications, the final decisions are made by Westmorland and Furness Council.
  • Assess Applications and Issue Financial Grants: We allocate funds received from CGP and the Community Infrastructure Levy to various projects aimed at enhancing our village. These grants support initiatives that bring tangible improvements to our community.

Managing Expectations

It’s common for residents to assume the Parish Council has broader powers than we do. However, our authority is limited by both law and budget. Here are a few areas where our influence is often overestimated:

  • Planning Decisions: Although we offer recommendations on planning matters, we do not have the authority to approve or reject applications. This power resides with Westmorland and Furness Council.
  • Roads and Traffic: Issues such as road repairs, traffic management, and public transport services are under the jurisdiction of Westmorland and Furness Council.
  • Law Enforcement: We are not responsible for law enforcement, which is handled by the police. 

Working Together

We value your input and encourage you to share your concerns with us. While we may not have direct control over certain issues, we are dedicated to working with the relevant authorities to advocate for our community’s needs.  Our meetings are always open to the public, and your participation is welcome.