Parish Council vs County Council

Who does what? 

Many residents aren't always sure which issues fall under the responsibility of Longhorsley Parish Council and which are dealt with by Northumberland County Council. While both councils work to support our community, they have very different roles.

In simple terms, the Parish Council focuses on local village matters, while Northumberland County Council is responsible for larger services and infrastructure across the county.

LONGHORSLEY PARISH COUNCIL

Looking After Local Community Assets

The Parish Council helps maintain and improve a range of local facilities and amenities that contribute to village life, including:

• Village greens and public open spaces
• Play areas and recreational facilities
• Allotments
• Bus shelters
• Parish noticeboards
• Benches and planters
• Community assets such as defibrillators
• Village footpaths and gateways

Representing Local Views

Your Parish Councillors represent the interests of Longhorsley residents. We:

• Comment on planning applications affecting the parish
• Help protect and enhance the character of the village
• Raise local concerns with other authorities
• Advocate for improvements that benefit our community

Supporting Community Life

We are committed to helping Longhorsley remain a vibrant place to live by:

• Supporting local events and initiatives
• Encouraging environmental projects and improvements
• Working with residents and volunteers on community matters

Managing Parish Finances

The Parish Council manages a modest budget funded through the parish precept, which forms part of Council Tax. This funding is used to maintain local assets and deliver improvements that directly benefit the village. Additionally to this, the Council has a Capital Reserve funded by the sale of village green land and is ring-fenced for capital projects only, such as the build of new playparks.

 

NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY COUNCIL (NCC)

Northumberland County Council is responsible for delivering the larger statutory services that residents rely on every day. These include:

Education and Social Care

• Schools and education services
• Children's services
• Adult social care
• Public health services
• Libraries

Roads and Transport

• Highway maintenance and resurfacing
• Street lighting
• Public rights of way
• Traffic management
• Public transport services

Environment and Public Services

• Household waste collection
• Recycling facilities
• Environmental health
• Trading standards
• Flood and drainage management

Planning and Development

• Determining planning applications
• Strategic planning policies
• Local Plan development
• Enforcement of planning regulations

Community Safety and County Services

• Fire and rescue services
• Community safety partnerships
• County-wide policies and budgets

 

Working Together for Longhorsley

Although the two councils have different responsibilities, they work closely together. The Parish Council regularly raises local issues with Northumberland County Council, such as road repairs, traffic concerns, footpath maintenance and planning matters.

By combining local knowledge with county-wide services, both councils play an important role in helping Longhorsley remain a great place to live.

Reporting Issues

Many day-to-day issues such as potholes, street lighting faults, drainage problems and highways concerns can be reported directly to Northumberland County Council through their online reporting system - Fix My Street.