The Parish Council
The parish council in Michaelstow has five members who are elected every four years. Empty seats are filled by 'adoption' and members of the community are invited or put themselves forward for this position.
At the moment the members are:
Jem Marshall: Chairman
I grew up in Michaelstow before leaving for college in 1981.
I subsequently lived in Wadebridge for 20 years & returned to the family home following my mother’s passing in 2007.
I can’t get excited about politics at any level, but joined the council as a true local to do my bit to maintain Michaelstow as a great place to live.
I have worked for Mole Valley Farmers since 1987.
Anthony O’B ffrench Blake
I am a co-opted Councillor. I am a former diplomat who was raised in Cornwall to the age of 17 and returned here 16 years ago. My concern is to protect and promote the integrity and values of a rural community in the face of a population of which 89% are now urban dwellers.
Richard Whitby
I am an an accountant and entrepreneur who moved to Michaelstow in 2012 with my family after many years holidaying in the area and deciding to move here permanently. The strong community spirit here is one of the reasons we chose the village, and by getting involved I hope to help keep that spirit alive for many more years.
Robin East
Has been a commercial horticulturalist all of his working life, running Michaelstow Nurseries for the last 25 years. He has very little spare time as a result but chooses to give some of it to the community of Michaelstow through his voluntary membership of the parish council.
Pete Jago
[content to come]
Simon Mitchell Dipl. HE, BA(Hons), Cert.Ed.FE. (Parish Clerk)
Simon Mitchell is paid as clerk for the parish of Michaelstow (4 hours a week). He lives in Fentonadle and also writes and publishes books. He is a keen gardener and permaculturalist who likes making things. He has a background in voluntary community activity, mostly in Lostwithiel and Bodmin over the last 35 years.
Cllr. Dominic Fairman
Cllr Fairman is Cornwall Ward Cllr. for St Teath and St Breward and Delabole wards.
What does your Parish Council do?
Parish councils have a variety of powers and duties, all of which impact directly on the community.
· Allotments
· Burial Grounds, Cemeteries, Churchyards and Crematoria
· Bus Shelters
· Bye-laws – the power to make bye-laws concerning: baths and washhouses (swimming pools), cycle parks, mortuaries and pleasure grounds
· Clocks – public clocks can be provided and must be maintained
· Community Centres, Conference Centres, Halls, Public Buildings
· Drainage – of ditches and ponds
· Entertainment and the Arts
· Footpaths
· General Spending – parish councils can spend a limited amount of money on anything they deem of benefit to the community that is not covered by the other specific responsibilities described in this list
· Gifts – parish councils may accept gifts
· Highways – lighting, parking places, right to enter into discussions about new roads and road widening, consent of parish council required for diversion or discontinuation of highway, traffic signs and other notices, tree planting and verge maintenance
· Land – acquisition and sale of
· Legal proceedings – power to prosecute and defend any legal proceedings in the interests of the community, power to take part in any public enquiry
· Litter – provision of litter-bins and support for any anti-litter campaigns
· Planning – parish councils must be notified of, and display for residents, any planning applications for the area. Any comments submitted to the planning authority by the parish council must be taken into account
· Postal and Telecommunication Facilities – power to pay a public telecommunications operator any loss sustained in providing services in that area
· Public conveniences – provision and maintenance of public toilets
· Recreation – provision of recreation grounds, public walkways, pleasure grounds, open spaces, village greens, gymnasiums, playing fields, holiday camps and boating ponds
· Rights of Way – footpath and bridleway maintenance
· Seats (public)
· Signs – danger signs, place names and bus stops signs
· Tourism – financial contributions to any local tourist organisations allowed
· Traffic Calming
· War Memorials
· Water Supply – power to utilise stream, well or spring water and to provide facilities for general use
Parish Council Governance
Strong governance is at the heart of local democracy and Michaelstow Parish Council in internally and externally audited every year to ensure the public money of about 3% of your council tax is properly and responsibly handled. Core documents governing your parish council are listed and linked below:
Financial Regulations: published 2019 - no upgrades
Standing Orders: published 2018, updated April 2022 - current
Internal Control Documentation: updated Sept 2023
Code of Conduct: published October 2012 - current version
The Good Councillors Guide: 4th Edition 2013
Governance and Accountability: March 2014 current edition
