The Role of Parish Councils
There are three tiers of Local Government in Goosnargh - County Council, District (or Borough) Council, and Parish Council. Each tier has distinct responsibilities and works together to serve the needs of residents.
Parish Councils represent the first tier of local government - the level closest to the community.
Local Authorities - Who Does What? Parish Councils - Tier 1They provide valuable local insight and are increasingly taking on more community-focused responsibilities. These can include:
- Supporting local events and community groups
- Managing assets such as community centres, play areas, and noticeboards
- Reporting local issues like potholes, littering, and dog fouling
- Advocating for the needs and interests of residents to higher-tier authorities
They play an essential role in making their communities better places to live, work, and visit.
District Councils - Tier 2Goosnargh Parish Council comes under Chorley Council who has responsibility for:
- Collection of council tax and business rates
- Refuse, recycling, and litter collection
- Housing services and homelessness support
- Planning applications and local development
- Environmental health, including noise and animal nuisances
- Maintenance of parks, play areas, and open spaces
- Management of allotments
For information on District Council services:
Website: www.chorley.gov.uk
Phone: 01257 515151
Email: contact@chorley.gov.uk
Goosnargh Parish Council comes under Lancashire County Council who has responsibility for:
- Children, education, and families
- Health and social care
- Transport and travel
- Roads, potholes, repairs, and gritting
- Recycling centres
- Fire and public safety
- Flooding
- Libraries and archives
- Trading standards
- Births, marriages, and deaths
For more information on County Council services:
Website: www.lancashire.gov.uk
Phone: 0300 123 6701
Email: enquiries@lancashire.gov.uk
Goosnargh Parish Council
Goosnargh Parish is the largest Parish in square miles in the UK. The Parish extends from Goosnargh Lane in the south, Langley Lane in the West, Chipping and Thornley in the East and Bleasdale to the North.
The Parish has 3 villages; Goosnargh, Whitechapel and Inglewhite.
There are 11 monthly meetings of the Council each year, these are held on usually the 4th Monday (except for Bank Holidays) of the month in Whitechapel Village Hall. There is no meeting in December.
The Annual Parish Meeting is held in the 4th week of May in Whitechapel Village Hall.
Local electors are welcome to attend the meetings and there is time allowed on the agenda for the elector to bring any parish matter to the Council's attention.
Goosnargh Parish Council has 7 Councillors, 3 for St Mary's Ward, Goosnargh and 4 for Whitechapel Ward.
Goosnargh Parish Council would like the community to email the clerk with suggestions of where the Community Infrastructure Levy could be spent, for example on the provision, improvement, replacement, operation or maintenance of infrastructure, or development of places on an area, ie a bench in a public space.