The next elections taking place on 4th May 2023 will be the full District/Borough and Town and Parish Council elections.

All current councillors will stand down and elections will be held to replace them.

Are you interested in becoming a Parish Councillor?

Join our local team and become a Parish Councillor

Are you passionate about your community? Do you want to help make a long-lasting change? Do you have innovative ideas for the council? Do you have concerns about a specific issue and want to do something about it? If this is you, then we need you. We need people from all backgrounds and experiences who reflect their community to put themselves forward to be elected to join the Parish Council.

Nomination Papers are available from 6 March

District/Borough Council – please email elections@southhams.gov.uk or telephone 01803 861234 giving your name, address and which area you would like nomination papers for (and email address if you wish to receive the papers electronically).

Town/Parish Councils – The Parish Clerk has been provided with some nomination papers which you may request. Electronic copies are also available. Contact the Parish Clerk if you would like to arrange to have papers sent to you. Otherwise you may also contact the District Council’s election team directly on the contact details above, or download nomination papers directly from the  Electoral Commission website.

Please click on the relevant election type i.e. Local elections in England or Parish council elections in England and nomination papers can be found under the ‘Resources’ section in Part 2a or 2b (depending on whether you are an independent candidate or standing for a political party).

Please also see links to the following: –

• Candidates Guide for District Council Elections
• Candidates Guide for Parish Council Elections
• Electoral Commission guidance for candidates and agents

Please note that nomination papers must be hand-delivered to the Returning Officer, Follaton House, Plymouth Road, Totnes, TQ9 5NE between the hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., on any day (excluding weekends and bank holidays) from Thursday, 23 March but no later than 4 p.m. on Tuesday, 04 April 2023.

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Candidates Guide

The guide includes information about the election timetable, nominations and withdrawals, Voter ID, Polling day and election expenses. The Electoral Commission’s Code of Conduct is also included, as well as a form to request a copy of the electoral register.

These guidance notes are only a brief outline of the main areas of interest to any candidate or election agent.

They are not intended to be taken as a full statement of electoral law. Candidates and their agents should refer to the Representation of the People Acts and related Regulations and The Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 and take their own legal advice. Please visit the Electoral Commission Local Elections website for further information and advice.

The key dates for the election are as follows:

Publication of notice of election	Thursday, 23 March 2023
Delivery of nomination papers to the Returning Officer	Between the hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. from Thursday, 23 March until the deadline of 4 p.m., Tuesday 4 April 2023
Publication of Statement of Persons Nominated	No later than 4 p.m., Wednesday 5 April 2023
Last date to register as an elector for the election	Monday 17 April 2023
Deadline for submission of a postal vote application form	5 p.m., Tuesday 18 April 2023
Deadline for submission of a proxy vote application form	5 p.m., Tuesday 25 April 2023
Deadline to apply for a Voter Authority Certificate, if required	5 p.m., Tuesday 25 April 2023
Polling Day	7 a.m. to 10 p.m., Thursday 4 May 2023
Day of the count	Commencing at 10 a.m., Friday 5 May 2023

Don’t forget, from 4 May 2023, electors voting at a polling station will be required to provide photo ID before being given their ballot papers. Please see Voter Authority Certificate for more information.

If you don’t have one of the acceptable forms of Voter ID, you may apply for a Voter Authority Certificate.

Harberton Parish Council Invitation to Tender

Title	Parish Lengthsman Services
Contractor	Harberton Parish Council
Contract period	December 2022 – March 2023 This initial contract will run for a period ending 31st March 2023.  It is possible that the contract be extended to the following year if the pilot is successful.
Deadline for submissions	5:00pm Thursday 1st December 2022
Contact details	Cat Radford, Harberton Parish Clerk clerk@harbertonparishcouncil.org 0845 557 8469

1. Background

Due the reduction in the number of Parish Lengthsman staff employed by Devon County Council and with it the reduction in the regularity of checks and associated maintenance throughout the year, Harberton Parish Council is inviting tenders for lengthsman work. 

Lengthsman work includes monitoring and clearing as required the infrastructure which drains water off the roads in the Parish, and the emergency clearance of blockages.

The purpose of contracting additional lengthsman services to supplement Devon County Highways’ maintenance of drainage features in the Parish is to reduce the risk of flooding of properties in the villages of Harberton and Harbertonford and in the Parish’s outlying hamlets.

In 2019 the Parish Council conducted a survey of the buddle holes in the Harberton Parish.  A map was drafted numbering the buddle holes and drainage features, with a report of the condition of those features.  A number of higher priority buddle holes were identified for regular maintenance due to the impact that build up of dead leaves and vegetable matter would have on properties downstream.

Applicants are invited to provide a quote to undertake the key tasks outlined below.

2. Key Tasks

The successful Parish Lengthsman will be required to:                      

• Use the map and Parish Council’s 2019 report detailing 45 parish buddle holes
• Focus first on the 10 buddle holes identified as being ‘high priority’ before working through the remaining mapped list in geographical groups
• Undertake any simple maintenance (i.e. removal of leaves and debris) with hand tools.  Noting works undertaken through simple reporting and taking photographs of work done.
• Making a note of any issues, or works that would require specialist equipment, such as hiring a jet wash so that those works could be co-ordinated over one visit. 
• Clearing leaves and other debris from gully grid tops and drainage grips
• Clearing vegetation from the entrances and exits of highway culverts

It is expected that the key tasks will be undertaken:

• Once during the summer months, to review the condition of the drainage features since the last survey in 2019. 
• In December 2022 to clear drainage features of leaves and vegetation after the majority of trees have shed their leaves.
• To undertake additional visits as agreed with the Parish Council in circumstances where there has been heavy rainfall and run-off may prevent effectiveness buddle holes and other drainage features.   Discussion on the need for services will either be triggered by Parish Councillors and the Clerk noting impacts of heavy rainfall, or on observations by the contracted lengthsman. 

3. Hours and reimbursement

• All key tasks will be specified, and the price agreed in writing between the Parish Council and the Lengthsman and approved by the Parish Council before any work is carried out.  This must include costs associated for use of tools, machines and materials.
• Time required will vary depending on the season and the weather.  The Parish Council expects the Lengthsman to require up to 20 hours per year. 
• If it is the Lengthsman’s view that more hours are required it will be necessary to consult a meeting of the Parish Council prior to proceeding with the work.
• The Lengthsman will be paid 3 monthly, or as agreed, on submission of an invoice.

4. Contractor Responsibilities

The Contractor will wholly be responsible for the following:

• Any subcontracted workers or staff employed for the purposes of the delivering the contract
• Risk assessments appropriate to delivery of the contract
• Provision of necessary training (i.e. Chapter 8 training)
• All equipment and vehicles used in delivery of the contract
• All insurances including public liability insurance.

 5. Submitting a quotation

If interested in the contract for services, please submit the following by email to clerk@harbertonparishcouncil.org:

• Name and whether applying as sole trader, limited company, partnership, etc. If appropriate, include company name, company address, company registration number.
• A quotation detailing:
  • your experience, qualifications and how you would manage the key tasks
  • A proposed hourly rate and your assessment of the hours required to undertake the key tasks described
  • Arrangements for reporting work done back to the Parish Council
• Proof of insurances held
• Proof of Chapter 8 certification
• At least 2 testimonials/references

Deadline 5pm Thursday 1^st December 2022. 

Quotations will be considered by the Parish Council on 15^th December 2022. 

Click here for a downloadable PDF of this invitation to tender.

Harberton Parish Council

Covid-19 Risk Assessment for the resumption of indoor face to face meetings

 

Area or people at Risk	Risk identified	Control Measures	Actions to take/taken	Responsible person/s	Review Date
Attending face to face meetings in a public place   Staff   Parish Councillors   Members of the Public	Risk of contact transmission of COVID-19 through touching	Consider need for meetings Only hold a meeting if necessary   Consider continue to hold meetings online if legislation permits   Reduce the length of meetings and/or consider holding shorter meetings outside if appropriate.	·        Keep consideration of calling meetings on regular review (atleast monthly) ·        Consider alternative options such as a scheme of delegation	Parish Councillors
		Handwashing Ensure all council staff and members regularly washing hands in line with government recommendations.   Provide hand sanitiser on entry to Parish Council meetings and throughout with signs to encourage use	·         Provide information to Councillors on the Government’s handwashing campaign: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/public-information-campaign-focuses-on-handwashing   ·     Purchase 70% alcohol hand sanitiser conforming to BS:EN 14476 (the standard that confirms the product to be effective against viruses such as Covid-19) ·     Purchase pump bottle ·     Print and laminate signs with pictures of effective hand cleaning ·     Encourage compliance from meeting attendees	Clerk
		Cleaning Clean high touch areas (tables, chairs, light switches and door handles) and toilets with hot soapy water and bleach prior to meeting taking place with disposal gloves and aprons.  Cleaning must be carried out using disposable cloths. Cloths, gloves and aprons must be double bagged and stored securely for 72 hours before being thrown away in the regular rubbish.  Hands must be washed with soap and water for 20 seconds after removing gloves, aprons or other protective clothing after cleaning.   Do not use upholstered chairs that cannot be cleaned	·    Purchase cleaning products, including gloves ·    Liaise with venues on risk assessment and requirements in place for external hire ·    Consider restrict use of toilets to one stall in the men’s and one stall in the ladies so that this can be cleaned between uses.	Clerk   Parish Councillors
		Reduce number of contact points   Reduce shared papers  – do not circulate shared hand outs or pens/pencils   Reduce shared furniture, either removing tables that are not required or providing individual tables/seating areas	·        Provide digital copies for councillors to print their own ·        Remind councillors to bring own pens/paper ·        Set up the room in advance of meeting taking place
	Risk of airborne/contact transmission through lack of social distancing in:   Small rooms Pinch points or waiting areas	Hire larger rooms for meetings that allow sufficient space for social distancing   Follow ‘Safer Workplace’ guidelines as provided by Government   Follow venue protocol on arrival and departure times to avoid contact with other hall users   Follow venue guidelines on numbers of people who can use the hall, using a ‘first come first served’ approach should members of the public who wish to observe the meeting exceed the allowed cap   Consider allowing members of the public to view the meeting from outside through open windows   Consider means to enable access via digital streaming	·        Arrange meeting venues that meet criteria, liaise with them about protocol and share information with councillors and the public ·        Download ‘Safer Workplace’ guidelines and check against risk assessments and planning ·        Research public access through digital streaming from meeting venue location	Clerk   Parish Councillors
	Risk of airborne/contact transmission through lack of social distancing in:   Meeting set up	Ensure all those present can be seated with 2m distance from one another and from walkways and are seated side by side instead of face to face   Ensure sufficient circulation space to enable participants to access their seats without close contact with others   Open all windows and doors for increased air flow	·        Plan meeting set up in advance ·        Early arrival of staff to set up meeting following guidelines and measuring distances ·        Encourage shared responsibility for compliance	Clerk     Parish Councillors
	Risk of contracting COVID-19 from an infected person	Following social distancing guidelines to not attend Parish Council meetings if you have symptoms   All Parish Councillors and Staff to take a lateral flow test within 24 hours of attending the meeting, and following government guidance to socially isolate if they have a positive test   Request all meeting attendees to wear a face mask during meetings (unless they are medically exempt)   Encourage response to invitation to vaccine   Encourage participation in ‘Test and Trace’ – following venue requirements	·        Ensure that staff and councillors are CLEAR on the rules regarding the symptoms of COVID 19 and self-isolation if required to etc. ·         Print, laminate and install a ‘do not enter if you have symptoms’ sign on the outside of the meeting venue ·        Provide information on how to access lateral flow tests (requested online or by phone and delivered by post) ·        Update information on the Parish Council website and on the Parish Council agenda to encourage a culture of ‘protect one another’  compliance	Clerk Parish Councillors

 

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