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		Welcome to the Web Site for East Ilsley Parish Council
		Photograph courtesy of Karen Denham
		East Ilsley is a member of the West Berkshire Council Downlands Ward which includes the parishes of Beedon, Brightwalton, Catmore, Chaddleworth, East Ilsley, Farnborough, Fawley, Leckhampstead, Peasemore, West Ilsley. The Downlands Ward page will give you more detail including copies of agendas and minutes from the very important Downland Forum. Tel 01635 42400
		The councillors for East Ilsley are very active within the community and should be contacted via the Clerk to the Council. Their individual details can be found on the Parish Councillor page of this web site.
		PARISH CLERK Mrs Sandi Ackrill Brookside Wantage Road Great Shefford Hungerford Berkshire RG17 7DB Tel: (01488) 648605 email eastilsley-pc@btconnect.com	<table width='219' height='156' align='center' cellpadding='0' cellspacing='0'><tr><td> <ilayer width='219' height='156' src="http://www.qwikcast.com/cgi-bin/sticker/qcmagnet.cgi?cust=13960&unit=C"> <p>See <a href="http://www.qwikcast.com/cgi-bin/sticker/qcmagnet.cgi?cust=13960&unit=C"> Qwikcast.com forecast for Oxford, GB </a>.</p> </ilayer> </td></tr> </table>
		Your council is a corporate body with a legal existence of its own quite separate from that of its members. Its decisions are the responsibility of the whole body. The council has been granted powers by Parliament including the important authority to raise money through taxation (the precept) and a range of powers to spend public money (more later). Your council is an elected tier of local government. Other tiers, known as principal authorities, have a legal duty to deliver services such as education, town and country planning, environmental health and social services. Parish Councils have the legal power to take action, but they have fewer duties and greater freedom to choose what action to take. They can play a vital part in representing the interests of the communities they serve and improve the quality of life and the local environment. Furthermore they influence other decision makers and can, in many cases, deliver services to meet local needs. In other words, your parish council can make a difference. The Government is encouraging parish councils to deliver more services and play a greater part in their communities. So what are the responsibilities of your parish council? Planning, highways, traffic, community safety, housing, street lighting, allotments, cemeteries, playing fields, community centres, litter, war memorials, seats and shelters, rights of way - these are the issues that concern parish government.
		The Parish Council have set up and keep under review a number of Working Groups to monitor, report and recommend actions on a number of issues. Environment Working Group which is looking into what to do about the pond. The Group also looks at Footpaths and Rights of Way including, keeping them clear and the issue of doggy poo. - see The Latest News Recreation Ground Working Group which is responsible for the upkeep and development of the Recreation Ground. Allotments Working Group which is responsible for the upkeep and development of the Allotments Traffic Working Group which is the focal point for all issues relating to traffic, pavements and the courtesy lights There is also now a Planning Committee which has been set up to provide an improved service for planning applications for you. See the policies and procedures page for the Planning Committees Terms of Reference.