A parish council is the first tier of local government and is established as a statutory body. They serve the local electorate, are independently elected, and raise their own funds through the precept, which is a form of council tax. There are approximately 10,000 local councils in England.

Parish councils work to improve community well-being and provide better services. Their activities can be categorized into three main areas: representing the local community, delivering services to meet local needs, and striving to enhance the quality of life and community well-being.

Through a wide range of discretionary powers, parish councils can provide and maintain various essential and visible local services. These include allotments, bridleways, burial grounds, bus shelters, car parks, commons and open spaces, community transport schemes, community safety and crime reduction measures, events and festivals, footpaths, leisure and sports facilities, litter bins, public toilets, planning services, street cleaning and lighting, tourism activities, traffic calming measures, village greens, and youth projects.

The number of parish councillors for a civil parish is determined by law. Baldersby & Baldersby St James Parish Council has five councillors. Each parish council is administered by a Clerk, who manages the council's affairs. Often, but not always, the Clerk also serves as the Responsible Financial Officer; this is the case with Baldersby & Baldersby St James Parish Council.

Baldersby & Baldersby St James Parish Council meets six times a year. Once a year, the council holds an Annual General Meeting in May. Additionally, there is an Annual Parish Meeting in March, which features reports from various village organizations, and all residents are welcome to attend.

A list of meeting dates can be found on the Meetings page.