Your Council
The Parish of Downend & Bromley Heath is divided into five wards - Downend East, Downend West, Bromley Heath East, Bromley Heath West and Leap Brook. Each ward elects Members to serve on the Parish Council for a period of four years. The next election will be held in May 2011 at the same time as the elections to South Gloucestershire District Council take place.
The Council meets on the third Thursday of each month at Downend Baptist Church, 7pm. The 12 Members of 'D&BH PC' are governed by a Code of Conduct, which ensures that high standards are maintained.
Much of the business is initially discussed at committee meetings and their recommendations are brought to full Council. The present committees are Finance, Planning, Open Spaces, Traffic, Youth and Events.
The Parish Council welcomes comments and feedback from members of the public. There is an opportunity at each full Parish Council meeting for members of the public to raise any issues or concerns they may have - please contact the Parish Clerk before 12 noon on the Wednesday prior to the meeting on Thursday. However, you can contact your local Councillor directly or the Parish Clerk at any time - full details are contained in the 'Contact Us' section of this website.
Each year, usually in April, the Annual Assembly of D&BH PC is held. The Annual Assembly is a public meeting and offers an opportunity for local residents to chat to the Parish Councillors, view the accounts and debate current issues in the community. Each committee provides a report reflecting on the past year's achievements. Displays are provided by local groups and organisations, and a certificate is awarded to our 'Parish Champion'. This award is given annually by the Parish Council to recognise and applaud the valuable work carried out by an individual or organisation within the community. Local parishioners can present their views and ideas to the Parish Council, which helps us look to the future and plan for years to come. Look out on our notice boards and in our newsletters for further details nearer the time - please come along and have your say.
ANNUAL ASSEMBLY FOR 2010 WILL BE HELD ON 29TH APRIL, 7PM AT THE ASSEMBLY HALL, SALISBURY ROAD, DOWNEND (full details under Council Activities, Events).
Downend and Bromley Heath Parish Council go to a Royal Garden Party
Avon Local Councils Association was invited to nominate representatives from two Parish Councils for a Royal Garden Party this summer and Downend & Bromley Heath Parish Council came out of the hat! Councillors Elizabeth Shepherd (Chairman) and Mary Lewis represented the Parish Council at Buckingham Palace on Tuesday 7 July and here is an account of their afternoon.
Sorry but we have no photos taken in Buckingham Palace or of the Queen (cameras not permitted) or the hail storm or the floods......but we do look pleased with ourselves as we set off from our hotel and we had a really lovely afternoon.
We met such a lot of interesting people from all over the country and from all walks of life and everyone was very friendly and keen to find out how others got their invitation. There was lots of time for people watching and admiring of hats, drinking tea and eating cucumber sandwiches and we did get to see the Queen (dressed in turquoise like Mary!) and Prince Philip.
The sun shone as the Queen chatted to people for an hour and a quarter and then just as she arrived at the Royal Tea Tent the heavens opened. The noise of the rain on the tea tent and of the thunder and lightening as we sheltered from the first storm, was amazing. That was followed by paddling through huge puddles and squelching across the very soggy lawn, with hailstones between our toes, to see the gardens. We took shelter in Her Majesty's small Rose Garden Pavilion as the lawns turned white with hailstones a for second time.
The Downend and Bromley Heath Parish Council Chain of Office was much admired but an umbrella was the most essential item for the day!