Local Government Structure and Upper Saxondale
Background Document - Prepared by USRAcic*
Tier 1 - Nottinghamshire County Council
County councils cover the whole of the county and provide the majority of public services in their particular area.
They are responsible for: education, highways, transport planning, passenger transport, social care, libraries, waste disposal and strategic planning.
Tier 2 - Rushcliffe Borough Council
Each county is divided into several districts. District councils, which may also be called borough councils or city councils if the district has borough or city status, cover a much smaller area and provide more local services.
They are responsible for housing, leisure and recreation, environmental health, waste collection, planning applications and local taxation collections.
Borough councils are divided into electoral wards for the purpose of electing borough councillors.
Tier 3 - Town and Parish councils - Radcliffe on Trent Parish Council / Cropwell Butler Parish Council
Some parts of England have a third tier of local government. Town and parish councils are responsible for smaller local services such as parks, community centres, allotments and dog waste collection. Parish councils also have a say in planning applications although the final decision is made by the planning authority.
"Localism, localism, localism"
"The Government is overseeing a fundamental shift of power away from Westminster to councils, communities and homes across the nation. A radical localist vision is turning Whitehall on its head by decentralising central government and giving power to the people."
Department for Communities and Local Government – 2012
What is the current situation in Upper Saxondale?
Upper Saxondale comes under the jurisdiction of Nottinghamshire County Council and Rushcliffe Borough Council; then our situation becomes more complicated.
Upper Saxondale is divided between two electoral wards, Cropwell Ward and Radcliffe on Trent Ward, and is split between two parish councils, Cropwell Butler and Radcliffe on Trent. Of the 326 homes in Upper Saxondale, 259 homes are situated in the Radcliffe on Trent Parish and pay the Radcliffe on Trent Parish Council precept, whilst 67 homes are situated just over the boundary and fall into and pay the Cropwell Butler Parish Council precept. The parish you’re in and the cost of this precept is stated on all council tax bills.
Upper Saxondale Residents Association Community Interest Company (USRAcic)
As we own land and buildings at Upper Saxondale, residents decided back in 2012 that a registered community interest company would be a more appropriate way of protecting community assets than an informal residents association.
USRAcic is the organisational body by which residents manage and maintain the assets at Upper Saxondale. USRAcic is a voluntary organisation funded primarily by residents monthly membership subscriptions and by fundraising activities such as hiring out the village hall. Membership is open to all Upper Saxondale residents and the subscription is £5 per household per month.
USRAcic’s assets include:
The village hall, tennis courts, woodland walk and orchard
Play park area land (currently managed by Radcliffe on Trent Parish Council)
*Upper Saxondale Residents Association Community Interest Company