The Parish Council is a corporate body with a legal existence of its own quite separate from that of its members.  Its decisions are the responsibility of the whole body.  The council has been granted powers by Parliament including the important authority to raise money through taxation (the precept) and a range of powers to spend public money.

Your council is an elected tier of local government.  Other tiers, Essex County Council and Chelmsford Borough Council, have a legal duty to deliver services such as education, town and country planning, environmental health and social services.  Parish councils have the legal power to take action, but they have fewer duties and greater freedom to choose what action to take.  They can play a vital part in representing the interests of the communities they serve and improve the quality of life and the local environment. Furthermore they influence other decision makers and can, in many cases, deliver services to meet local needs. 

Great Waltham Parish Council is a 'Quality Parish Council' as defined by the National Association of Local Authorities.  For details go to http://www.nalc.gov.uk/quality/index.html