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Rural Communities

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Working with rural communities

Bassetlaw covers 638 sq km out of 2085sq km for Nottinghamshire (30%). 116,839 mid - year population estimate 2018.  It has the lowest population density in Nottinghamshire at 182 people per sq km.

There are 73 villages, served by 45 Parish Councils and 10 Parish Meetings. Tuxford, Harworth & Bircotes and Langold have been identified as market towns.

The rural communities are very diverse ranging from small market towns and former mining communities, to very small hamlets. The District is classified as a ‘Largely Rural district'. The Wards with the largest number of rural households are Harworth, Carlton, Tuxford and Trent, Langold, Misterton and Blyth.

Parish Councils and other community groups are actively helping to implement policies, programmes and services that improve the quality of life for their communities.  To support this work, Bassetlaw District Council will:

  • Help develop the capacity of Parish Councils
  • Build effective partnerships with Parish Councils and rural community groups
  • Provide assistance in seeking funding
  • Encourage community involvement and promote local wellbeing

For information about the council's role if flooding occurs in the parishes and town centres, visit our flooding pages.

How do we achieve this?

Bassetlaw Rural Action Plan

The Bassetlaw Rural Action Plan identifies the commitment of Bassetlaw District Council and its partners in supporting the viability of the District’s rural areas. It assesses the upsides and challenges of living and working in the countryside, reviews the area’s economic wellbeing and looks at the land and environment that surrounds us. It goes on to set out a long-term vision for rural Bassetlaw, how we can get there and who can make it happen.

Parish Council Forum

The aim of the Forum is to bring together representatives of the Parish and Town Councils and Parish Meetings under the auspices of the Nottinghamshire Association of Local Councils (Notts ALC) in a partnership  with the District Council of Bassetlaw to develop and promote a thriving and effective group that will work to enhance the quality of life for the (rural) communities of Bassetlaw.

The Forum will provide a mechanism for regular communication with these representatives of the district. The Forum is not a decision-making body for the Parish/Town Councils and the District Council and has no delegated powers.

The Forum will create an environment for constructive discussion on National, County and District matters relevant to the rural Parishes and provide a platform to raise specific concerns or issues on matters of policy and strategy or items of common interest across the District.

Objectives

  1. To act as the representative body for Town and Parish Councils within Bassetlaw.
  2. To provide a forum for the consideration of local initiatives, to engage and respond to local, county and national initiatives and strategies.
  3. To ensure the effective, timely dissemination of information.
  4. To identify areas of mutual interest to Parish and Town Councils and co-ordinate collective action as appropriate.
  5. To ensure that Rural Parishes are represented at a strategic level in order to influence decision makers.
  6. To promote joint working between the Parish/Town, District and County Councils and their respective Councillors.
  7. To provide a link to the activities of the Notts ALC and the National Association of Local Councils

Membership

Representatives of Parish and Town Councils and Parish Meetings along with their respective District Councillors and officers of the District Councils as appropriate to the matters under discussion.

There will be a minimum of three meetings of the Forum. For more information contact your NALC Representative.

Area parish forums

There are two area forums of Parish Councils in Bassetlaw.

Role of the Forum

  • To encourage greater involvement from local communities in issues that affects them.
  • To identify specific issues and develop local responses.
  • To articulate the needs of the area.
  • To provide a forum for service providers to gain closer contact with residents and local organisations.

North East Bassetlaw Forum

The North East Bassetlaw Forum was established in 2004, initially as a three-year pilot.  This was reviewed, and all members agreed its ongoing support. The District council provides support in the form of a Senior Officer and administrative assistance.

Aim

To support collective working amongst Parish Councils and Community Groups in the area covered by the Parishes of Misterton, West Stockwith, Walkeringham, Beckingham, Gringley-on-the-Hill, Everton and Misson. Mattersey joined in 2007 and Ranskill in 2012.

Membership

Membership of the Forum is made up of all Parish Councils in the area, community groups, District and County Councillors for the area.  The Forum will consider applications from any group that can demonstrate they are supportive of the Forum objectives and are not restrictive on membership.

Meetings

The Forum meets four times a year and meeting venues alternate around its area.  Meetings are open to the public.  Meetings commence with a question time to allow public to raise issues.

For more information contact northeastforum@bassetlaw.gov.uk

Central Bassetlaw Forum

The Central Bassetlaw Forum was formed in 2015.  The District Council provides support in the form of a Senior Officer and administrative assistance.

Aim

To support collective work amongst the following Parishes - Sutton, Lound, Clarborough and Welham, Hayton, Barnby Moor, Torworth.

Membership

Two representatives from each Parish Council.

Meetings

The Forum meets four times a year.  Venues alternate.  Meetings are open to the public. Questions are allowed at the commencement of the meeting for a 10-minute period.

For more information contact: centralforum@bassetlaw.gov.uk

Rural Officer

Karen Tarburton is the Community Development and Funding Manager, Karen works for Harworth Town Council and delivers the community development and funding advice on behalf of Bassetlaw District Council within the district, although this is mainly within the Rural Areas.

Karen can be contacted by email on: ktarburton@harworthandbircotestowncouncil.org.uk

Neighbourhood Plans

Under the terms of the new Localism Act, communities can now choose to produce a neighbourhood plan, which will contain policies to help shape and deliver new development in their areas. Because this document will become a statutory (legal) document they have to produce it in a certain way.

Neighbourhood Plans can set out a vision for an area and should contain planning policies for the use and development of land. A Neighbourhood Plan should be developed to help guide development, rather than to prevent it. Policies should cover local issues rather than strategic issues.

Find out more about Neighbourhood Plans in Bassetlaw.

Access to services

Bassetlaw District Council recognises the importance of building capacity in local communities to help them to deliver local services and initiatives they respond to locally identified issues.  We provide this support in a number of ways.

Misterton Centre & Library

The Parish Council is based at The Misterton Centre & Library,  High Street, Misterton. The Centre is operated in partnership with Nottinghamshire County Council and Inspire. Bassetlaw District Council also provide some services at the Centre & Library.  Face to face enquiries about the Parish Council and Bassetlaw District Council can be undertaken.

Tuxford Mine Of Information

The Mine of Information, opened in 1996, is a resource and training centre and part of the UK online Centres.  It is based in a former redundant bank which was secured by a dedicated group of local people.  Since that time the building has been significantly developed and enhanced and is open five days a week.

A wide range of services are provided from the Centre, including ICT training, internet access, Welfare Rights information and Citizens Advice Bureau.  It is a base for the community car scheme, community newsletter, Parish Council Clerk, Police Contact Point, Rural Bassetlaw Befriending and a venue for MP’s and Councillor Surgeries.  It acts as a base for local information and assistance. 

Harworth and Bircotes

Joint work with the Town council on access to services through the Information Centre on Scrooby Road.

Last Updated on Thursday, January 9, 2025