Elections
for councillors are held every four years. The last election was held in
May 2011 but was not contested.
Click on
Parish Map to see a copy that
shows the modern and old parish boundaries that changed in 1982.
The
Parish Council undertakes a number of functions, including the
maintenance of open spaces and grants for local organisations. The
Council pays a grant to the Church to help maintain the churchyard; it
owns and maintains the Lawns and the play equipment; it leases and
maintains the playing field in Combe Wood Lane: and owns and maintains
the Green in front of the post office. Recent grants have helped pay for
the new railings on the Lawns and the church clock.
In order
to obtain income to meet its expenses a parish precept is charged on the
council tax bill collected by the District Council. The precept is
currently £9,000 per year. The Council’s accounts are audited and certified annually.
One
of the Council’s main functions is to consider planning applications.
The District Council, who has the responsibility for determining
planning applications, always seeks the views of the Parish Council.
Details of past and current planning applications, including plans, may
be seen on South Somerset District Council’s website www.southsomerset.gov.uk
Click on planning application search on the top right hand side of the
home page and show Combe St.
Nicholas for parish search.
South
Somerset District Council has defined the development and conservation
areas of Combe (see map and
key) and the
conservation area in Wadeford (see map). The latter is outside the Combe
development area. With rare exceptions, housing development cannot take
place outside the development area.
Since
1894 the council has owned an ancient piece of woodland of approximately
an acre situated at Ham and a nominal rent is received. Click
on Parish Walks,
and then refer to walk number 13, for further details.
