City of York council and the 31 local/parish councils in York have agreed to publish a charter that sets out how they will to work together. This charter is the result of discussions across York to refresh the original Parish Charter established to improve ways of working and confirm existing good practice.

This refreshed charter came into effect on 1 October 2011.

The charter:

• includes a commitment to the principles of democratic local government.
• acknowledges and recognises that parish and town councils are the grass roots level of local government. By working with local and parish councils City of York council aims to act in partnership with local communities, while balancing the needs of the wider locality.
• recognises that local councils offer a means of shaping the decisions that affect their communities and of revitalizing or sustaining local communities. In turn, local councils recognise the strategic role of the principal council and the equitable distribution of services which it has to achieve.

If your parish council believes that we are not operating to the standards laid out in the charter, or within the spirit of the charter, contact the neighbourhood manager, neighbourhood management unit.