About the Parish Council

Parish councils are statutory bodies and have a variety of powers and duties, all of which impact directly on the community. The parish of Branston and Mere is governed by the typical three-tiered structure of local government provided by Lincolnshire County Council, North Kesteven District Council and Branston and Mere Parish Council.

With the exception of August, the parish council meet every month and the public and press are welcome to attend.  Meetings begin with a Public Forum to allow residents to raise issues with their Council.

Meetings are at 7:15pm on the first Monday of every month at The Pavilion, Moor Lane, Branston.  When the first Monday falls on a bank holiday the meeting moves to the second Monday.  There is no meeting in August and the July meeting is held at Branston Booths Village Hall.

Branston & Mere Parish Council is funded principally by an annual precept, income and expenditure for the next financial year is calculated in the form of estimates.  The net amount becomes the precept and is added to council tax and collected by NKDC who then pay it to the parish council in two six-monthly instalments.  Parish and town councils can apply for other funding such as grant and funding awards, but we do not receive funds directly from central government, as principal authorities do.

Branston & Mere Parish Council is keen to support local organisations that provide a benefit to the parish or its residents. A grant, in the form of a payment or gift is made by the Parish Council to an organisation for a specific purpose.  All grants given must directly benefit some or all of the parish or its inhabitants and the benefit must be commensurate with expenditure. Grants are awarded at the Parish Council’s discretion to organisations which can demonstrate a clear need and meet our criteria. See policy for full details.