About Englishcombe Parish
Englishcombe is a village and civil parish in Bath and North East Somerset just south-west of Bath, England. The parish, which also serves the Hamlets of Barrow, Englishcombe, Haycombe, Inglesbatch, Kilkenny & Nailwell. The Parish had a population of 318 at the 2011 census. Englishcombe Parish Council is made up seven individuals who serve their residents through providing and protecting local services.
The parish council has responsibility for local issues, including setting an annual precept (local rate) to cover the council's operating costs and producing annual accounts for public scrutiny. The parish council evaluates local planning applications and works with the local police, district council officers, and neighbourhood watch groups on matters of crime, security, and traffic. The parish council's role also includes initiating projects for the maintenance and repair of parish facilities, such as the village hall or community centre, playing fields and playgrounds, as well as consulting with the district council on the maintenance, repair, and improvement of highways, drainage, footpaths, public transport, and street cleaning. Conservation matters (including trees and listed buildings) and environmental issues are also of interest to the council.
The parish falls within the unitary authority of Bath and North East Somerset, which was created in 1996, as established by the Local Government Act 1992. Between 1 April 1974 and 1 April 1996, it was the Wansdyke district and the City of Bath of the county of Avon. Before 1974 that the parish was part of the Bathavon Rural District.
The parish is represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom as part of Frome and East Somerset, which elects one Member of Parliament (MP) by the first past the post system of election.
Englishcombe Parish Council has a neighbourhood plan and you can read the document here!
About Parish Councils
Parish councils are the lowest tier of local government in England. They are composed of unpaid councillors, elected by residents to serve four-year terms.
Parish councils are funded through a precept—a portion of the council tax collected from local residents, which is allocated back to the parish to support its operations and responsibilities.
In larger parishes, the council may be responsible for managing public facilities such as parks, community centres, and cemeteries. In smaller parishes, responsibilities are usually more limited. However, all parish councils must consist of at least five members and typically employ a clerk to oversee administrative and financial duties.
Englishcombe Parish Council
Englishcombe Parish Council currently comprises five Councillors and one parish Clerk. The serving councillors are:
All seven councillors reside within the parish—two in Inglesbatch and five in Englishcombe. The council is supported by Jack Turner, who serves as the Parish Clerk.
Parish Council Meetings
Parish councils are required to hold a minimum of four meetings per year, one of which must be the Annual Meeting.
Parishioners are welcome to attend council meetings, though public participation is generally restricted to a designated period at the beginning of each session.
In addition, a Parish Assembly must be held annually. Further assemblies may be scheduled if necessary. This current meeting is a follow-up to the Parish Assembly held in May.
The Duchy of Cornwall and Englishcombe Parish
The Duchy of Cornwall is one of the major landowners within the parish, leasing land and property to various tenants. In Englishcombe village, the Duchy owns:
The Parish Council currently leases the Millstream, the Orchard, and the Wheelwright’s Workshop from the Duchy for community use.
The Old Schoolhouse has been leased to a private individual for an extended term; the Parish Council is not involved in this arrangement.
The Acorn Barn is leased by the Life Project, which has customised the facility to meet the needs of its service users. It is not available for public use.