Local Council Award Scheme

The Capel St Mary Parish Council is delighted to report that we have achieved the initial Foundation Level in the Local Council Award Scheme, which replaced the Quality Parish Council Status. This is a much more rigerous process and the council is well underway on looking to move up to the next level. This award is in recognition for our outstanding contribution to the community and shows that we are operating correctly and well above the required standards. This was achieved by the council giving evidence of the work carried out.

The Capel St Mary Parish Council is made up of 14 volunteer Councillors who meet every month of the year except August to discuss a variety of issues that affect day to day life within the village from large scale development and planning applications to street lighting.

We meet on the second Monday of each month in the Library, located within the Village Hall complex at 7.30pm.

You will see agendas for these meetings posted on the notice boards located outside the Co-op and outside Drayton Insurance. They are also available on this website.

There is a Half Hour Open Forum at which residents are invited to speak and may raise questions or comment on planning applications. The Parish Council will do everything within its powers to assist residents needs and requests.

In addition to the monthly Parish Council meetings we also hold meetings for Allotments, Emergency Planning, Finance and Planning. There is a lot of work that takes place in the background to ensure we do our best for you, the resident.

We hold an Annual Parish Meeting in March at which reports are given by our representatives from Babergh District Council, Suffolk County Council and Parish Council. We have a guest speaker at these meetings and residents are invited to join council representatives afterwards informally, allowing the opportunity to discuss community topics whilst enjoying refreshments provided.

Our Annual General Meeting takes place in May at which Councillors decide their responsibilities, and every four years we hold our elections.

Should a Councillor step down from his or her position between elections the vacancy would then be advertised in the local magazine 'In Touch with Capel Capers' and also on our web-site and notice boards.

If you have any further questions or any issues you would like to raise with the Parish Council the clerk would be happy to speak with you during office hours which are:

• Tuesday 10am to 12noon
• Friday 1pm to 3pm

The office is situated to the rear of Mallwoods Building Society
27a The Street
Capel St Mary
Ipswich
IP9 2EE

Tel / Fax: 01473 314103

Email: capel.parishclerk@btinternet.com