Parish Council
Puddletown Area Parish Council (PAPC)
Tolpuddle is part of Puddletown Area Parish Council which also includes Athelhampton and Burleston.
What is a Parish Council?
A Parish Council is the first tier of Local Government and they were created by statute in 1894 under the Local Government Act. Parish Councils have their origins in the development of villages centuries ago. When villages were ruled by the Lord of the Manor, parish priests and often schoolmasters would join the Lord of the Manor to form a ruling clique. By the 17th century Church Vestry Meetings were given the responsibility of levying the “poor rate” (the first effective taxes).
The 1894 Local Government Act was seen through parliament by the then Prime Minister W. E. Gladstone. Whilst seeing a lot of opposition it nevertheless became law and Parish Councils were formed.
There are over 8,500 Parish Councils today acting as a focus for local opinion and providing a way to push policy in a way best suited to the local community.
Puddletown Area Parish Council
The Area Parish Council holds twelve meetings a year with an AGM held in May at Puddletown Village Hall. The meetings always start with a short democratic period for members of the public to raise any issues of concern.
Meetings are held alternately in Puddletown and Tolpuddle.
Tolpuddle’s Parish Councillors are currently:
Peter Walton (Vice Chair) and Jim Johnstone
Michelle Harrington is the Parish Council Clerk and can be emailed: puddletown@dorset-aptc.gov.uk
PAPC Meetings 2024:
All meetings held on Tuesdays at 7pm:
9 January, 2024 || Puddletown Village Hall
13 February, 2024 || Tolpuddle Village Hall
12 March, 2024 || Puddletown Village Hall
9 April, 2024 || Tolpuddle Village Hall
14 May, 2024 || Puddletown Village Hall
11 June, 2024 || Tolpuddle Village Hall
9 July, 2024 || Puddletown Village Hall
13 August, 2024 || Tolpuddle Village Hall
10 September, 2024 || Puddletown Village Hall
8 October, 2024 || Tolpuddle Village Hall
12 November, 2024 || Puddletown Village Hal
10 December, 2024 || Tolpuddle Village Hall
Tolpuddle Village Meetings
In addition, Tolpuddle hosts two Village Meetings a year, to provide a local forum to discuss any matters of concern and feedback to the area Parish Council. These meetings are chaired by Andy Turner and clerked by (vacancy). Contact: tolpuddlemeeting@yahoo.com
Click here for our next page: Tolpuddle Village Meetings for minutes of the local Tolpuddle meetings.
2020 Tolpuddle Survey
A comprehensive survey was carried out in Tolpuddle in 2020 in conjunction with the consultation period for the Puddletown Neighbourhood Plan (see News Item below) with questionaires submitted to all residents. The results can be downloaded below.
Download Tolpuddle Survey (document to be uploaded)
Download Tolpuddle Survey Database (document to be uploaded)
For much more information please visit the Parish Council website
Ref:
http://www.puddletownareaparishcouncil.co.uk/default.aspx
News from Puddletown Area Parish Council
June 2020
Puddletown Neighbourhood Plan
Dorset Council, as the local planning authority, is required to carry out a consultation on the submitted plan. The consultation is due to commence on 26th June until 7th August 2020. This will give individuals the opportunity to comment on the content of the plan or how it was produced.
The plan and supporting documents can be viewed online via the following links:
Puddletown Neighbourhood Plan Website
Link to: http://www.puddletownareaparishcouncil.co.uk/Puddletown_Neighbourhood_Plan_24839.aspx