THE FOLLOWING PARISH COUNCIL FACE TO FACE PUBLIC MEETINGS ARE CANCELLED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE

Tuesday 14th April
Tuesday 12th May
Tuesday 9th June
Tuesday 14th July
No Meeting in August.
Tuesday 8th September
Tuesday 13th October
Tuesday 10th November
Tuesday 8th December

The Parish Council will continue to hold virtual meetings using Zoom technology until face to face meetings are permitted.

 

If you are self isolating and finding it difficult to get shopping, collect medication or you just need a question answered, here are some useful contacts

Parish Clerk – Marie Swann – 07815 550308 / Email  parishclerk@whittlesford.org 

Chairman – Arthur Greaves – (01223) 835186 / Email arthurgreaves@btinternet.com

District Councillor – Richard Williams –  07584 037016 / Email cllr.williamsr@scambs.gov.uk

County Councillor – Peter McDonald  07912 669092 / Email  cllr.mcdonald@scambs.gov.uk

Parish Church Vicar – Rev Olivia Coles – (01223) 833128 Email  revoliviacoles@gmail.com

 

 

Whittlesford Parish Council is just 1 of 106 individual parish councils within the district of South Cambridgeshire.

To find our more on what South Cambridgeshire District Council do in our community, please visit their website http://www.scambs.gov.uk

 

What day are my bins collected

The Usual day for bin collection in Whittlesford is a Monday (unless its a bank holiday) Other changes can occur at times such as Christmas & Easter.

You can keep up to date of any changes to your bin collections at: http://www.scambs.gov.uk/bins/

Every household in South Cambridgeshire is entitled to one green bin for food and garden waste, which we collect fortnightly from March to November and monthly from December to February.

You can pay to have up to a further three green bins, which we’ll empty along with your first green bin. The fees for extra green bins are:

  • £20 from 1 April 2019 to 30 September 2019 for each additional bin
  • £35 from 1 October 2019 for each additional bin

You may subscribe and pay for permits at any time but we will charge the full amount. There are no discounts or concessions.

You will receive a reminder in September asking if you wish to remain in the scheme and pay for the next year. If you renew in September, the charge for a full year is £35 per additional bin.

Further information on additional green bins and how to sign up can be found at: http://www.scambs.gov.uk/bins/paying-for-your-extra-green-bin/

 

 

 

Who is on the Parish Council and how do I contact them 

The Parish Clerk for Whittlesford Parish Council is Marie Swann and you can contact her by email: www.parishclerk@whittlesford.org

You can post a letter to : The Parish Clerk  7 Newton Road Whittlesford Cambridge CB22 4PF

Or by telephone – 07815 550308

Or alternatively you can contact the Chairman of the Parish Council Arthur Greaves : arthurgreaves@btinternet.com 

Or by telephone – (01223) 835186

You can find out more about ‘Your Parish Council’ here on the website under the header ‘Your Parish Council’

 

 

When and where does the Parish Council meet ?

The Parish Council meet at 7:30pm on every second Tuesday of the month in the Millennium Room of the Memorial Hall, the entrance to which is in Mill Lane.

 

 

Can I come to Parish Council meetings?

Absolutely! You are welcome to attend the public monthly meetings and annual general meeting. This is a great opportunity to find out what it going on in and around your village, to have your say and even to find out how you can get involved in helping to make your village a better place for all.

 

 

How do I present my ideas or concerns to the Parish Council?

If possible, you might consider discussing the matter first with either the Parish Clerk or one of your Parish Councillors. They may be able to give you valuable background and support you in putting your views to the Council. Or put your thoughts into writing as either a letter or an email to the Parish Clerk and attend next Parish Council meeting. Correspondence from residents is read out in the meeting for discussion.

 

 

Social Media Policy

WHITTLESFORD PARISH COUNCIL

Parish Council Social Media Policy

(Adopted 8th October 2019).

The aim of this policy is to set out a Code of Practice to provide guidance to parish councils, councillors, council staff and others who engage with the council using online communications, collectively referred to as social media.

Social media is a collective term used to describe methods of publishing on the internet.

This policy covers all forms of social media and social networking sites which include (but are not limited to):

  • Parish Council Website
  • Facebook
  • Twitter and other micro blogging sites
  • Youtube and other video clips and podcast sites
  • Bloggs and discussion forums
  • Email

 

The use of social media does not replace existing forms of communication and therefore cannot be accepted as a formal route of communication.

The principles of this policy apply to parish councillors and council staff and also applies to others communicating with the Parish Council.

The policy sits alongside relevant existing polices which need to be taken into consideration.

The current Code of Conduct applies to online activity in the same way it does to other written or verbal communication.

Individual parish councillors and council staff are responsible for what they post in a council and personal capacity.

In the main, councillors and council staff have the same legal duties online as anyone else, but failure to comply with the law may have more serious consequences.

Social media may be used to

  • Distribute agendas, post minutes and dates of meetings
  • Advertise events and activities
  • Good news stories linked website or press page
  • Vacancies
  • Re-tweet or share information from partner agencies such as Principal

Authorities, Police, Library, Health etc.

  • Announcing new information

 

 

  • Post or Share information from other parish related community groups such as schools, sports clubs, community groups and charities
  • Refer resident queries to the clerk and all other councillors

Code of Practice

When using social media (including email) parish councillors and council staff must be mindful of the information they post in both a personal and council capacity and keep the tone of any comments respectful and informative.

Online content should be accurate, objective, balanced and informative.

Parish councillors and council staff must not:

  • hide their identity
  • present personal opinions as that of the council
  • present themselves in a way that might cause embarrassment to the council
  • post content that is contrary to the democratic decisions of the council
  • post controversial or potentially inflammatory remarks
  • engage in personal attacks, online fights and hostile communications
  • use an individual’s name unless given written permission to do so
  • publish photographs or videos of minors without parental permission
  • post any information that infringes copyright of others
  • post any information that may be deemed libel
  • post online activity that constitutes bullying or harassment
  • bring the council into disrepute, including through content posted in a

personal capacity

  • post offensive language relating to race, sexuality, disability, gender, age,

religion or belief

  • conduct any online activity that violates laws, regulations or that constitutes

a criminal offence

Publishing untrue statements about a person which is damaging to their reputation is libel and can result in a court action and fine for damages.

This also applies if someone else publishes something libellous on your social media site. A successful libel claim will result in an award of damages against you.

Posting copyright images or text on social media sites is an offence. Breach of copyright will result in an award of damages against you.

Publishing personal data of individuals without permission is a breach of Data Protection legislation is an offence.

Publication of obscene material is a criminal offence and is subject to a custodial sentence.

Councillors views posted in any capacity in advance of matters to be debated by the council at a council or committee meeting may constitute Pre-disposition, Pre- determination or Bias and may require the individual to declare an interest at council meetings

Anyone with concerns regarding content placed on social media sites that denigrate parish councillors, council staff or residents should report them to the Clerk of the Council.

Misuse of social media content that is contrary to this and other policies could result in action being taken.

The Council will appoint a nominated person as moderator of parish council social media output and be responsible for posting and monitoring content to ensure it complies with the Social Media Policy.

The moderator will have authority to remove any posts made by third parties from council social media pages which are deemed to be of a defamatory or libelous nature or any posts of a self promoting businesses nature or have no relevance to the parish council.

The Parish Council is always happy to help promote village and charitable events but not to include any self promotion of any other business.

Whittlesford Parish Council hereby appoints the Parish Clerk – Marie Swann to act as the moderator of its social media.

This policy will be reviewed annually from the date of adoption.

 

 

How is the Parish Council elected ?

Parish Councillors are either elected members from a previous election or co-opted by its current elected members.  Whittlesford remained uncontested and will therefore not require a parish election until May 2022. However, should you wish to join the parish council, then please do get in touch, as vacancies often become available.

 

 

Parish Council – Code of Conduct

https://www.scambs.gov.uk/media/11540/parish-council-code-of-conduct-july-2012.pdf

 

 

Complaints Procedure

Should you have a complaint against your Parish Council that you have tried to resolve without satisfaction and you wish to make a formal complaint you may email or write to

The Monitoring Officer

South Cambridgeshire District Council

South Cambridgeshire Hall

Cambourne Business Park

Cambourne

Cambridge

CB23 6EA

Email: monitoring.officer@scambs.gov.uk

Alternativley you can download a Code of Conduct Complaints Form

https://www.scambs.gov.uk/your-council-and-democracy/feedback/complaints-about-councillor-conduct/