Bishop Middleham Parish Council

Bishop Middleham & Mainsforth

Parish Council

Chairman’s Report 2021

Well what a year...it would be so easy to say that with Covid nothing has happened because we’ve not been able to do anything...but that would be a total mis-representation, as this horrible virus has brought much of the very best of this community to the fore.

We were the first community (maybe in the Country) to have a support system up and running...loads of volunteers came forward and I was able to put that video out to help reassure and ease fears. The feedback on the videos has been good...I was even told I have a great face for Radio!

But being able to put out such a message that "support was available and no one would be on their own" can only be confidently shared when you live in a community.

Read the full report

About the Parish Council

Your Parish Council team is made up of volunteers from the community and we all care passionately about our community and each do what we can to help maintain and develop such a wonderful place to live, work and raise families.

Parish Council Meetings Update

See below for meeting details and how to get involved.

Parish Council Services

Who are we & what we do
for Bishop Middleham & Mainsforth

What is a Parish Council?

Parish councils were formed in England under the Local Government Act 1894 to take over local oversight of civic duties in rural towns and villages.

What we do

The parish council has the power to raise a local tax known as the “precept”. This gives our council an income of just under £50,000 per year which the team allocate to support our statutory duties, other responsibilities and community initiatives.

How to get involved

Meetings take place on the 2nd Wednesday each month in the village hall at Bishop Middleham. Agendas and minutes of meetings are published on the website and displayed on the village notice boards. There is a standing agenda item for public participation and Parishioners are welcome and encouraged to attend.

Agenda: July 2021
Minutes for Annual Assembly 12th May
Latest Minutes

Items to help you...

Go to our section with download forms for Standing orders, Meeting Agendas, Meeting Minutes, Finance, Complaints policy, Communications policy & Grant application forms.

Forms

Read all about it...

Christmas Newsletter 2019

Parish Council Vacancy

We've had a vacancy on our Parish Council team since Julie Maude stepped down after a number of years doing a superb job representing people in the Parish and particularly those in Mainsforth. We are really keen for someone from Mainsforth to join our team of volunteers to help us better represent the needs of this important part of our Parish.

We are all volunteers and passionate about the community in which we live and if you feel the same, particularly if you live in Mainsforth, why not find out more about joining the team? It’s incredibly rewarding and the minimum time commitment is a monthly 2hr meeting, although there is lots more to get involved with dependent on what time you are able to offer.

If you would like to know more, please contact me via this page, give me a ring or pop along to our next meeting (2nd Wed of each month, 7pm at the Village Hall) to meet the team and get a flavour for how it all works.
Regards, Harvey Neve
Chair: Bishop Middleham and Mainsforth Parish Council. Tel 651790

An introduction to

Your Parish Councillors

Your Parish Council team is made up of nine volunteers from the community and we all bring different skills and experience to the team and are a non-politicised group.

We all care passionately about our community and each do what we can to help maintain and develop such a wonderful place to live, work and raise families.

We are ably supported by our very experienced Parish Clerk.

Harvey Neve [Chair]

I joined the Parish Council in 2012 to help out with the Parish Plan and now find myself privileged to be Chair of our wonderful and talented team of volunteers who all commit spare time and energy to help maintain and develop our community.

More about Harvey

Learn more about living in...

Bishop Middleham & Mainsforth Community

We all care passionately about our community and each do what we can to help maintain and develop such a wonderful place to live, work and raise families.

Village Hall

A very important asset to the Parish, the Hall is used by a range of community groups, and is regularly hired for parties, meetings, presentations, and a variety of classes.

Castle Lake

Known locally as Castle Lake, this water body covers an area of 13 ha (33acres) and is a highly significant inland wetland supporting a wide range of flora and fauna, not only regionally, but also in the case of select species, nationally important numbers of birds.

Around the Village

The villages of Bishop Middleham & Mainsforth lie in a valley 9 miles South West of Durham and have a rich history dating back millennia. The area is dominated by beautiful open countryside and rich biodiversity with areas of outstanding beauty and historic sites of national importance.

About

We are here to represent and respond to the needs of the community and we do this by liaising with and listening to the views of local people, groups and businesses to help inform the decisions we make.

Helpful Links

Contact Us

Council Chair - Harvey Neve
Phone: 01740 651790
Email: Councillorneve@Outlook.com

Council Clerk - John Robinson
Email: Bishopmiddlehampc.clerk@gmail.com