Cardinham Parish Council

Cardinham Parish Council demonstrates how parish governance works in practice. Cardinham’s Council consists of ten elected members. Council meetings are held on the third Tuesday of each month in Cardinham Parish Hall. Members of the public are encouraged to attend and also contact Councillors if they have any queries.

Clerk:

Mrs Susan Warburton

Email: cardinhamclerk@cardinhamparishcouncil.gov.uk

Chair:

Councillor Dr Peter Claridge

Email: cardinhamchair@cardinhamparishcouncil.gov.uk

Email: cllr.p.claridge@cardinhamparishcouncil.gov.uk

Vice Chair:

Councillor Mr Greg Tucker

Email: cllr g.tucker@cardinhamparishcouncil.gov.uk

Parish Councillors (10 seats)

Councillor Mr Archie Bonker

Email: cllr.a.bonker@cardinhamparishcouncil.gov.uk

Councillor Dr Peter Claridge

Email: cllr.p.claridge@cardinhamparishcouncil.gov.uk

Councillor Mrs Rachael Farley

Email: cllr.r.farley@cardinhamparishcouncil.gov.uk

Councillor Mrs Theresa Irwin

Email: cllr.t.irwin@cardinhamparishcouncil.gov.uk

Councillor Mrs Kathryn Rowe

Email: cllr.k.rowe@cardinhamparishcouncil.gov.uk

Councillor Mr Gary Rogers

Email: cllr.g.rogers@cardinhamparishcouncil.gov.uk

Councillor Mr David Saunter

Email: cllr.d.saunter@cardinhamparishcouncil.gov.uk

Councillor Mrs Loveday Sutton

Email: cllr.l.sutton@cardinhamparishcouncil.gov.uk

Councillor Mr Greg Tucker

Email: cllr.g.tucker@cardinhamparishcouncil.gov.uk

Councillor Mr Robert Tyers

Email: cllr.r.tyers@cardinhamparishcouncil.gov.uk

Sub-Committees

Personnel: Councillors P Claridge, R Farley, G Tucker, L Sutton

Finance: Councillors P Claridge, T Irwin, G Tucker, R Tyers

Planning: Councillors A Bonker, P Claridge, G Rogers, G Tucker, R Tyers

Footpaths: Councillors P Claridge, A Bonker, R Farley, T Irwin, G Tucker

Highways: Councillors P Claridge, R Farley, G Rogers, K Rowe

Cemetery/Burial: Councillors P Claridge, A Bonker, G Rogers, D Saunter, G Tucker

Health & Safety: Councillors K Rowe, G Tucker, R Tyers

Emergency Planning: Councillors P Claridge, L Sutton, D Saunter, G Tucker

Website: Councillors P Claridge, D Saunter, R Tyers

Parish Hall Representative: Councillor G Tucker

School Representative : Councillor R Farley

How parish elections work in the UK

At the most local level of government in England, you have Parish Councils (sometimes “town councils,” depending on the area). These councils are the first and most local tier of elected government, closest to the people who live in the parish.

Election cycle and who votes

Parish councillors are elected by the residents of the parish.
Elections generally occur every four years, normally on the first Thursday in May.
To stand for election, a person must meet certain eligibility criteria: they must be 18 or older and either live or work (or have lived or worked) in or near the parish, or have owned/tenanted property there for a given period before nomination
The electoral system used is typically a “block vote” (or first-past-the-post when fewer councillors are elected at once): voters may have as many votes as there are seats to fill, and the candidates with the highest vote totals fill those seats.
If fewer candidates stand than there are seats, those candidates are elected automatically (i.e. without a vote). This often happens in smaller or rural parishes.

Filling vacancies between regular elections

If a seat becomes vacant between ordinary elections — for example if a councillor resigns, passes away, or becomes disqualified — the parish may hold a by-election to fill that seat, often triggered if a certain number of electors request one.
If the vacancy arises close to the next scheduled election (e.g. within six months), the parish might instead co-opt (appoint) someone rather than hold a by-election.

What parish councils do — their main functions

Parish councils play a modest but meaningful role in the UK’s system of local democracy. Their main functions typically include:

Representing the local community: Councillors act as local representatives, listening to residents’ concerns, reflecting views at council meetings, and giving a voice to the community.
Delivering and supporting local services: This can include managing or maintaining community assets such as open spaces, allotments, footpaths or bridleways, play areas, street lighting, community halls, burial grounds, and other amenities.
Improving quality of life and the local environment: Councils can work on environmental improvement, community projects, grants or funding for local initiatives, liaison with other authorities, and generally helping shape the character and well-being of the parish.
Financial responsibility: Parish councils raise money for their activities through a small local tax called the “precept,” which is collected as part of council tax. This funds their services and administrative costs.
Local democracy and accountability: As the tier of government closest to residents, parish councils provide a direct, accessible democratic forum for local decision-making. Their meetings and decisions tend to be open to the public, helping keep democratic accountability at a grassroots level.

Although councillors are elected to represent and govern the parish, the council also depends on a clerk — a paid professional — for advice on legal and procedural matters, to manage administration, ensure decisions are properly recorded, and handle financial responsibilities. This reflects the broader norm for parish councils in England: while councillors are typically unpaid and serve voluntarily, the clerk is the council’s only regular, paid employee and ensures that the council operates lawfully and efficiently.

In this way, Cardinham Parish Council — like many parish councils across England — combines local democratic representation (through elected councillors) with professional administrative support (through the clerk), allowing it to function as a legitimate, accountable corporate body serving the needs of residents.

Meet the Council