Parish Council

Parish Councils have a long history and may have originated in field side meetings to agree strip farming and crop rotation. Our records do not go back that far but our older records can be found in the Essex County Records Office in Chelmsford. More recent records are with the Parish Clerk, parishclerkhempstead@gmail.com, and on this website.

One of the main roles of the Parish Council is to make sure the infrastructure of the village is kept in good order. Some of this the Parish Council manages directly such as village greens, benches, signs and the war memorial. In close liaison with other local groups such as the Village Hall Management Committee they ensure the facilities of the Village are enhanced and social events supported. The footpath network, churchyard, village greens are monitored and cut by the council. Maps and booklets of walks are also produced.

Where the infrastructure is maintained by external bodies, such as Essex County Council and Uttlesford District Council, the Council’s task is to ensure that these agencies do their job. Examples include road maintenance, water leaks, drainage and some rights of way. In recent years the Parish Council successfully campaigned for the construction of the pedestrian footway through the eastern side of the village. Liaison with the police is maintained to ensure road safety and law and order issues are not neglected.

The Council scrutinises all planning applications that are submitted, and whilst there is no power of veto they do make strong representations where appropriate to maintain the character of the Village. They also respond to consultations from many agencies and levels of government. Communication is another aspect of Council work, funding the website, supporting the email newsletter, providing a Newcomers pack to new arrivals to the village and maintaining notice boards. All contact in the first instance should be via the clerk at parishclerkhempstead@gmail.com.

The Council meets monthly and residents are encouraged to attend. They will listen to any issues or representations before the meeting. However, only Councillors can speak at the meeting, but residents are welcome to stay as observers. There is an Annual Parish Meeting in May at which the council briefly reports to the village on the years’ activities, finance (inc. precept) and achievements. This is an opportunity for new topics to be raised and challenges made.

The Council is funded by precept from the District Council and every villager pays a contribution via the council tax. The Council produces an annual budget and expenditure report, which is audited internally. Details are published on the website and accounts always open to scrutiny.

Want to know more? – then please check out the rest of the website or contact the Clerk for more information. If you would like to join the Council this can be done either at the elections held every four years, the next ones are due in 2023, or by secondment if there is an interim casual vacancy. Please contact the Clerk if you are interested. The current Council comprises:”