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Welcome to the website for Dene Valley Parish Council

 

Dene Valley Parish lies within the Bishop Auckland area.  There are several sections within the Parish: Auckland Park; Gurney Valley; Close House; Eldon Lane; Bridge Place; Coronation, Coundon Grange and part of South Church.  The aim of the Parish Council is to help ensure Dene Valley and the immediate area remain a pleasant and safe place to live, work and visit. The Parish Council helps provide the facilities you want to see in the area; and where possible, deals with local problems as they arise in partnership with local community organisations, other public bodies,  and other neighbouring parish councils.

Town and Parish Councils are an essential part of the structure of local democracy and have a vital role in acting on behalf of the communities they represent. They:             

  • give views, on behalf of the community, on planning applications and other proposals that affect the parish
  • undertake projects and schemes that benefit local residents
  • work in partnership with other local organisations and public bodies to achieve benefits for the parish
  • alert relevant authorities to problems that arise or work that needs to be undertaken
  •  help the other tiers of local government keep in touch with their local communities.

Town and Parish Councils have a wide range of legal duties and powers, such as the maintenance of community buildings and land and much more. They have the power to raise money through the local council tax.

Dene Valley Parish Council also manages and maintains a number of local facilities including:

  • three play areas and a sports fields 
  • maintains the seats, footpaths and gardens of the Parish
  • oversees and manages four allotment sites

The work of the Parish Council is funded by a precept or charge on the council tax of residents in the parish.  In 2023/24 this equated to a charge of £20.23 for a band D house which raised a precept of £16,532. 

In the future it is possible that the Parish Council will have an even greater involvement in the provision of local services.

The Parish Council meets on the second Monday of every month (except January and August).  These meetings are held in the One Stop Shop, High Street, Eldon Lane, Bishop Auckland and commence at 6.30pm.  Members of the public are welcome to attend the meetings.   Agendas and minutes for meetings will be published on this website.  The website is maintained by the Parish Council and will seek to provide information on local social activities, essential services and other matters of interest to the community. This aspect will develop over time and the Parish Council welcomes any suggestions to make this site more useful to residents and visitors to the area.

Dene Valley Parish Council Home