The Role of Parish Councils
There are three tiers of Local Government in Hilldale - County Council, District (or Borough) Council, and Parish Council. Each tier has distinct responsibilities and works together to serve the needs of residents.
Parish Councils represent the first tier of local government - the level closest to the community.
Local Authorities - Who Does What? Parish Councils - Tier 1They provide valuable local insight and are increasingly taking on more community-focused responsibilities. These can include:
- Supporting local events and community groups
- Managing assets such as community centres, play areas, and noticeboards
- Reporting local issues like potholes, littering, and dog fouling
- Advocating for the needs and interests of residents to higher-tier authorities
They play an essential role in making their communities better places to live, work, and visit.
District Councils - Tier 2Hilldale Parish Council comes under West Lancashire Borough Council who has responsibility for:
- Collection of council tax and business rates
- Refuse, recycling, and litter collection
- Housing services and homelessness support
- Planning applications and local development
- Environmental health, including noise and animal nuisances
- Maintenance of parks, play areas, and open spaces
- Management of allotments
For information on District Council services:
Website: www.westlancs.gov.uk
Phone: 01695 577177
Hilldale Parish Council comes under Lancashire County Council who has responsibility for:
- Children, education, and families
- Health and social care
- Transport and travel
- Roads, potholes, repairs, and gritting
- Recycling centres
- Fire and public safety
- Flooding
- Libraries and archives
- Trading standards
- Births, marriages, and deaths
For more information on County Council services:
Website: www.lancashire.gov.uk
Phone: 0300 123 6701
Email: enquiries@lancashire.gov.uk
Hilldale Parish Council
The aims of Hilldale Parish Council are to represent the views of the residents, maintain, improve, and enhance facilities and amenities that provide a good quality of life in Hilldale.
The Parish Council owns the village hall which is available for private hire, and it is here that social events and private parties and council meetings take place. In addition to the hall there is a 4.5 acre playing field which achieved Jubilee Fields in Trust status in 2012. There is play equipment for younger children in a secure, dog free play area and we are currently sourcing grants to provide a new junior play area for children 8 years and over.
A footpath was constructed around the field to enable wheelchair users and young families with buggies to access the benches and picnic tables.
There are five local people who serve as Councillors on the Parish Council and give their time voluntarily. Elections to serve as a Parish Councillor are held every four years, unless there is a resignation when a casual vacancy will be advertised on the website.
The Councillors all subscribe to the Code of Conduct for members, the seven principles of which are: selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty, and leadership.