When Members of the Parish Council say they are Parish Councillors; or the Clerk says that she is the Parish Clerk, many people think that we are connected to the Church.

To clarify who we are and what we do, we thought it would be helpful to briefly explain the difference between the Parish Council and the Church.

The Parish & The Parish Council

The Parish is an area with a defined boundary, both in civil (administrative) and ecclesiastical (religious and spiritual) terms.

Plaistow and Ifold Parish Council is the civil Parish. Originally, Plaistow was in the civil Parish of Kirdford and the boundary of the Parish was coterminus with the Church or ecclesiastical Parish (hence the two Parish Churches) as was common at the time.

On 1st April 1951, a new civil Parish of Plaistow was formed, which covers the present Parish boundary. The name of the civil Parish was changed to that of Plaistow and Ifold Parish Council on 1st April 2003.

The Church

The two Parish Churches are within the ecclesiastical Parish of Kirdford and Plaistow, which in turn is within the Diocese of Chichester. The Churches are administered by the Parochial Church Council (aka The PCC), which has no role in the management of the civil administration of the Parish.

About the council

Councillors elected by the Parish Residents

The Parish Council is a body of 11 people who are elected every four years to represent the residents of the Parish.

All Councillors live and work in the Parish and are committed to the delivery of high quality services in an open and democratic manner; and the provision of excellent amenities.

Quality Status Awarded

On 4th May 2006, the Parish Council were awarded Quality Status

Policy Documents & Information

• Contacting the Parish Council
• Meeting Diary
• Policies & Procedures

The Council's Activities

Amenities and Service Provision

• The management and maintenance of The Green at Plaistow
• The provision and maintenance of the Play Area on The Green at Plaistow
• The maintenance of Coxes Pond, Plaistow
• The provision of street furniture throughout the Parish in the form of Bus Shelters and seats
• The provision of litter bins throughout the Parish, where these are not provided by other authorities
• The provision of Village name signs at the gateways to the Parish
• The provision of financial support and encouragement to local Community Groups and organisations
• The provision of support and encouragement to local businesses

Communication and Consultation

• The provision of noticeboards throughout the Parish, displaying up-to-date information
• The production of the Parish Council’s quarterly Newsletter, ‘Parish Up-Date and expansion of the delivery network to every home in the Parish
• The provision and regular maintenance of the Parish Council’s Web Site
• The production of ‘Plaistow and Ifold – a Community Directory’
• The production of a New Resident’s Pack
• To host the Annual Meeting of the Electors of the Parish to enable residents to raise any issues relating to the Parish
• To publish the Chairman of Council’s Annual Report to inform residents of the Council’s activities
• To arrange for the Parish Clerk to be available by appointment; or by telephone or email
• To provide an interval during each Parish Council meeting to encourage public participation
• To continue with the development of the Parish Action Plan
• To consult with local groups and organisations whenever appropriate and relevant
• To consult with West Sussex County Council, Chichester District Council and other bodies and organisations
• To respond to Consultation Documents received from Government departments, local authorities and other bodies and organisations