A Parish Council such as Eye Town Council is the first tier in the local government structure in England; the second is the District Council (Mid Suffolk) and the third, the County Council (Suffolk).

The Town Council consists of fifteen councillors elected every four years inclusive of the Mayor and Deputy Mayor. The next election will be held in May 2007.

Eye Town Councillors do not represent specific areas or wards of the parish but serve on the various working parties of the Council.

The Mayor and Deputy Mayor are elected by the Councillors annually with a mayor-making ceremony taking place in May. These appointments are usually held for one year but it is not unusual for long-serving councillors to be mayor on a number of occasions.

Being a Parish Councillor is a voluntary position and unlike their counterparts in the District and County Councils they receive no payment. The Council employs a part time Clerk who has responsibility for the day to day business of the council, taking and publishing the minutes of meetings, dealing with correspondence and overseeing any contracts, purchasing or payments.

A Parish Council has a wide range of powers at its disposal including giving grants to local organisations, promoting tourism, cleaning public places and providing allotments. The most important role is as a statutory consultee on planning matters. The Local Planning Authority has to consult the PC on all Planning Applications within the Parish boundary.

Planning Applications are discussed at the monthly council meetings and are later published in the full meeting minutes.

Eye Town Council owns and manages the Victorian Eye Town Hall and employs a part-time caretaker. The Council also employs a part-time road cleaner and has responsibility for street lighting, Eye Cemetery and the Eye Allotments.

To go to the Suffolk Association of Local Councils (SALC) website click here.