Jackie Weaver: Councils should have more ‘authority’

Parish councils could play a bigger role in local democracy, the unlikely internet star of a viral meeting has told BBC Politics East.

Jackie Weaver racked up millions of views online in February 2021 when she “ejected” a parish chairman who challenged her authority in an online Zoom meeting.

She spoke to the BBC after a Norfolk parish councillor said “more services” are likely to come down to the third tier of local government.

Weaver said parish councils should “absolutely” play a greater role as the government plans a reorganisation with more elected mayors.

However, she added that they may not need new powers as “they do have wide-ranging powers, but don’t always use them”.

The government has said it valued parish councils and encouraged them to work with other tiers of local government.

Weaver, who is now the chief officer for the Cheshire Association of Local Councils, said: “I think perhaps there is some work to be done in supporting and helping our councils to understand what powers they do have.

“And how they might use them going forward in this new world – where we are beginning to look quite seriously at proper devolution down to parish council level.”

She said there was a “place for everyone in the parish council sector”.

After her moment of fame in the media spotlight, she said people still recognise her.

“I definitely look back on it fondly. Do I get recognised? Yes I do in the oddest of places but they never ask me,” she said.

“They always ask somebody else if that’s Jackie Weaver.”

On the outskirts of Norwich, Hellesdon Parish Council has been discussing how much it wants to set for its share of this year’s council tax.

Lacey Douglas, Hellesdon parish councillor, said: “I think more services will come down to town and parish level.

“We don’t know what they will be yet. Town and parish councils are not part of this reorganisation, so we don’t know how this will affect us…There’s lots of unknowns, there’s lots of opportunities as well,” she said.

“If more responsibilities are coming down to town and parish councils – we have to look at (and ask) are we doing that on our existing budgets or are we doing that with more money from the new reorganised councillors?

“There are so many unknowns.”

Jonathan Hall, Hellesdon Parish Council clerk, said on local government reorganisation: “Your town and parish council will become your local council.

“With the unitary authorities, they may feel a little more distant in terms of how you interact with your local council.

“There will be more responsibilities as well – perhaps those unitary authorities don’t wish to take on and town and parish councils could fill that void.”

A Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government spokesman said: “We value the important role that parish councils play in serving their communities.

“We encourage local authorities and parish councils to work together effectively so local people are represented and proud to live in their neighbourhood.”

Parish and town councils have sometimes been the butt of jokes, featuring prominently in the sitcom The Vicar of Dibley or may be known for Weaver’s row that went viral with millions of views.

Across the East of England there are about 2,000 parish and town councils and in Norfolk there are about 500.

The members do not get paid, but they employ a parish clerk to run the council.

They are currently the third tier of local government and, depending on size, they can be responsible for services like community events and festivals, allotments, sporting facilities and local parks.

Jonathan Hall, Hellesdon Parish Council clerk, said: “It’s a big job. We have 11,000 residents and that growing with new developments as well.

“We’ve got about 14 staff and assets to manage a budget of nearly £1m, so it’s a pretty big job.”