A QUALITY COUNCIL

Barnoldswick Town Council is part of the three tiers of local Government which comprise parish and town council, district and county council.  There are 14 councillors elected every 4 years.  Councillors are unpaid but have the services of a part-time (30 hours per week) Clerk to the Council (Town Clerk).

The Council meets in public 8 times a year.  A period for public questions or suggestions is allowed at the start of each meeting.  There is also a Town Meeting in March which provides the local electorate with a summary of the year's activities.  Notice of meetings is displayed on the town notice boards, one week before the meeting and minutes of the meetings are displayed on the Council website and available for inspection in the Council Office.

The Council has the powers to raise income by means of the precept levied on households in the town.  This is collected together with the Council Tax by Pendle Borough Council.  The Council precept and expenditure is monitored annually by independent auditors.

In March 2007, the Town Council received Quality Council accreditation under the Government's Quality Parish and Town Council Scheme.  In order to achieve Quality Council status, the Town Council had to demonstrate that it reached the high standards required by passing a series of tests.  These tests exceed the statutory duties of parish and town councils and represent the standards that an efficient, well run parish or town council should achieve.