Welcome to the Bolton by Bowland, Gisburn Forest & Sawley Parish Council Website

This Parish Council is responsible for the administration of this Parish on behalf of its parishioners. The Parish Council comes under the next level of Government, which is Ribble Valley Borough Council, based in Clitheroe and is within the county of Lancashire, administered in turn by Lancashire County Council. As well as these government institutions the Parish Council liaises with many other local organisations, including the Forest of Bowland Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, The National Trust and other adjoining parishes and town councils.

Members of a Parish Council normally stand for election every four years, when eleven members are elected. The Council currently consists of seven councillors from Bolton by Bowland and two from each of Gisburn Forest and Sawley. Vacancies occurring between elections may be filled by a process of co-option under procedures prescribed by Ribble Valley Borough Council. Borough Councillors of the wards covering the Parishes are attendees of Council meetings and members of the public may also attend and speak. There is a period set aside at the start of each meeting for the Public to speak.

The Council employs a Parish Clerk, who is responsible for the proper administration of all matters pertaining to the Council’s proceedings and is also the Responsible Financial Officer. The Parish Council also contracts a Lengthsman to carry out jobs on behalf of the Parish Council, including maintenance of common areas, invasive weed control, fencing and other similar work

The Parish Council responsibilities include:

• Supervising the expenditure of the Parish Council funds and determining the annual precept.
• Commenting to Ribble Valley Borough Council’s Planning Department on all Planning Applications proposed for execution within Parish boundaries.
• Reviewing central and local government consultation documents for their potential impact on the Parish
• Monitoring bridleways, footpaths and pavements within the Parish.
• Acting as a conduit to the Borough and County Councils on matters which may affect or be of concern to the Parishioners.

Parishioners may report faults to the highways such as potholes, flooding, overhanging vegetation or other hazards directly via Lancashire Highways Report It website (link below). Any resident can access the website.

In order to report a matter you will need to know the name of the road where the issue has arisen or the postcode. The reported issue will be allocated a number, which you should retain and the number can then be used to look up on the same website, after a suitable time has elapsed, to see what progress has been made with the issue.