About Charvil Parish Council

Charvil Heroes Award 2025

Any parish in England and Wales with an electorate of more than 200 people can have a Parish Council. This is a statutory body whose members are elected by the residents in the Parish under the Local Government Acts of 1972 and 2000. Parliament has given various powers to Parish Councils with regard to planning, provision and maintenance of recreational facilities, halls, crime prevention, community transport, public lavatories, tourism, allotments, footpaths, street lighting, commons etc. Within Charvil, the Parish Council represents almost 3,000 residents.

Within its remit, Charvil Parish Council is responsible for the provision and maintenance of certain facilities within the parish, including playing fields, leisure facilities, the village hall, rights of way, bus shelters, public seats, notice boards and some street lighting.

The Council also contributes to joint local projects with other authorities and plays a vital part in obtaining and representing local views on various issues that will impact the community. As a statutory body, Charvil Parish Council is consulted by other public authorities such as borough, district and county councils, health authorities and Government departments on specific issues affecting the parish of Charvil. Of particular relevance, the council has a legal right to be consulted on planning applications and is also consulted on schools and highway matters relevant to the area. To achieve its goals and meet community obligations, Charvil Parish Council works primarily with Wokingham Borough Council, Thames Valley Police and other local authoritative organisations to represent and protect the interests of the Charvil community.

Charvil Parish Council has 10 councillors, each with specific areas of community responsibility, such as planning, highways, finance and village hall management. This unpaid team of elected Councillors is supported by a Clerk and Assistant and also by our three Borough Councillors. Charvil Parish Council holds monthly meetings in the Village Hall and residents are encouraged to attend to find out more about current local issues under discussion, present their views and ideas, and most importantly to highlight new issues that may be of concern to the community.

Charvil Parish Council was formed in April 1970 and now controls that part of Community Charge allocated for parish responsibilities. Parish councillors represent the views and concerns of parishioners to Wokingham Borough Council, Thames Valley Police and other statutory bodies. They work in cooperation with the Borough Council on many important matters, and are consulted about major planning matters and comment on planning applications. They are unpaid and sometimes unappreciated yet they put in a huge amount of effort on our behalf.

The Parish Council started with seven councillors in 1970, eventually increasing to 10 because of the burgeoning population. Over the years, there have been a number of Council Chairmen and more than 50 councillors.

The Parish Council has consistently supported attempts to control the extent and pace of development. When it has been inevitable, they have helped secure the best possible benefits for the community: The Hicks housing developer’s contribution of two acres of land and £80,000 towards the Parish Council’s fund for the village hall, and a large play area. The Bryant development on the Charvil Farm site eventually brought into public ownership 21 acres of open space adjacent to the River Loddon, now known as Charvil Meadows.

The development plan system, as it evolved over recent years based on Structure Plans and Local Plans prepared by the Borough Council, now means the infrastructure contributions can be required when significant development takes place. This can provide for highway improvement, open space provision, public buildings and a wide variety of other benefits.