The 1894 Local Government Act passed through Parliament on 5th March 1894 and established the third tier of Local Government known as either Parish or Town Councils depending on the number of residents. Originally two separate councils, Nether Broughton & Old Dalby were merged in 1936 and have held monthly meetings since 1974.

Broughton & Dalby Parish Council comprises 6 members (3 from each village), acting rather like the Board of a company. All Councillors work on a voluntary basis. No Councillor has the right to act individually, the authority of the Council comes from the body as a whole. The Clerk, as a Responsible Officer of the Council in Law, has a number of specific duties and responsibilities in executing the resolutions of the Council and advising on points of Law and procedure. Councillors are elected by the residents of the Parish for a 4 year term and the next elections are due in May 2007. The Chairman of the Council is elected by the Councillors and normally alternates between the two villages every year.

Our duties and obligations are well defined in Law, we may provide or maintain bus shelters, playing fields and playgrounds to name but a few. Councils have special duties concerning public footpaths and obstruction to rights of way and must be consulted on the making of certain byelaws. Parish Councils must be notified of all planning applications and are required to pass their opinion on each application back to the Borough Planning Authority. In addition the Council also owns land in the Parish on behalf of the ratepayers, for example the Old Dalby village green.

During December of each year the Parish Council must firm up its financial plans for the year which starts in April and the Council is then funded by a ‘precept’ which is levied on every adult in the Parish as part of the Council Tax paid to Melton Borough Council, for the current year the total Parish Council spending was £9,500.

The Council normally meets on the first Monday of each month, the location changes each meeting between Nether Broughton village hall, Queensway scout hut and Old Dalby village hall. A notice of every meeting is displayed on the village notice boards and the minutes are available for inspection soon after the meeting has taken place. Most Parish Council meetings are open to the public although they do not have a right to speak unless invited to do so. If an elector wishes the Council to discuss a subject the Clerk must be informed in advance.

Contact us on: broughtondalbypc@aol.com