What is a Parish Council?
In England, parish councils were formed in 1894 to take over local oversight of social welfare and civic duties in towns and villages. Before this date a variety of groups based around ecclesiastical (church) parishes had responsibility for these matters, in a system of local government that dated back to the feudal system of the 8th century.

Today, the promotion of Local Area Management has led to an increase in the number of parish councils within urban and rural communities. Not every civil parish has a parish council, smaller ones - typically with an electorate under 200 - only have parish meetings. Parish councils are often confused with the Church of England's Parochial Church Councils (PCCs), which are concerned with the welfare of a particular religious community. Whilst both Parish Councils and PCCs have common roots in the old vestry system, Parish Councils are a civil body and are not linked to the church.

Burringham Parish Council is made up of six members and holds its meetings in Burringham Village Hall. The Parish Council usually meet at 6.00 pm on the third or fourthThursday of each month.