Laneham Parish Council consists of residents of both villages who are 7 voluntary Councillors serving a four year term ending in 2023 and 1 part-time member of staff.

Council Meetings are usually held on the third Monday of every other month, bi-monthly 6 times per year, at Laneham Village Hall. Whilst meetings are open to the public, please understand that Council meetings are held in public, but they are not public meetings, the public are not allowed to comment, speak, take part in the meeting or disrupt it. There is a designated time for the public to speak, should they wish to do so, please see our Public Participation Policy for furt ther details. Please See the diary of meetings for more information.

Origins - Our Council was founded in December 1894 by the Local Govt Act. The Act split the non-religious elements of the former 'Vestry Meetings' into those of Parish Council's and Parochial Church Councils. At our formation, a local person was appointed Surveyor of Highways, Roads & Drains (a Parish Employee who looked after the repair of the roads) and two people acted as 'Overseers of the Precept' whose role was to collect the precept monies to run the Council. The Overseer roles were abolished in 1927 when Precept collection duties transferred to the District Council, the Surveyor role was abolished in 1952 when County Councils took over the maintenance of the roads.

The role of the Parish Council has changed over the years with ever changing legislation.

The first village hall was on Broadings Lane, a tin shed which lasted from the end of WW1 until the early 1970s when it was sold by the Laneham Memorial Hall Charity who bought the current Village Hall, the former village school building to make a new village hall.

Did you know?

The primary purpose of a parish council is to represent the concerns of parish residents and provide some services to meet local needs. Parish councils have a wide range of powers which may include looking after community buildings, play parks, street furniture and land.

The most common areas that Parish Councils get involved in include planning issues, managing open spaces and village halls. It is fair to say that on their own, Parish Councils have limited decision-making powers, but they do have the ability to negotiate with, and the power to influence, those organisations that do make final decisions, such as District and County Councils, health authorities etc. These authorities know that a Parish Council gives the best reflection of how a community feels about something and its views will be taken seriously.

Parish councils are a form of Local Government being the first tier of local and community consultation. They are democratically elected Local Authorities and exist in England, Wales and Scotland. Parish and Town Councils, often known simply as "local councils" exist in many English Parishes. They vary from councils based in small rural villages to ones serving large urban areas with thousands of electors. The "parish council" is a civil organisation and should not be confused with the term "parish church" or "parochial church councils" that administer parishes of the Church of England. Civil parish councils were formed in England under the Local Government Act 1894 which developed the civil structure from the previously ecclesiastical parishes.

A parish council makes decisions on behalf of the people in a defined and bounded locality deemed to be "the parish". As the parish council is the authority closest to the residents of that locality they usually operate as the first place people will go with concerns or ideas and for this reason are a vital part of any community.

Our councillors are elected or co-opted. They do not get paid, receive a salary or an expenses allowance, they volunteer their time for the community.

As a Parish Councillor you become somebody who residents will look to for help, guidance and support, a community leader with the power to influence decisions for the benefit of the people they serve. Seeing your community change for the better, because of decisions you have helped to make, is something that gives a sense of achievement and pride. The main role of Clerk is to ensure that the Council conducts its business properly and to provide independent, objective, and professional advice and support.

Below are the historic records of the Council, which have been sent to Nottinghamshire Archives:

• Laneham Annual Parish Meeting Rental book 1865 to 1932 showing rent of parish land and hebage on the roads
• Laneham Annual Parish Meeting Rental book 1936 to 1995 showing rent of parish land and hebage on the roads
• Laneham Overseers Receipt & Payment Book 1895 to 1933
• Laneham Precept Book 1928 to 1969
• 20^th Century Notes on Laneham Inclosure Award
• Photos of Laneham 2007 for Parish Plan
• Laneham Youth Club Accounts Book 1982/83
• Laneham Village Hall Accounts Book 1974/75 Pt1
• Laneham Village Hall Accounts Book 1974/75 Pt2
• 1900 Photo of John Smith Retford Grammar School
• Correspondence Folder of Parish Council Land which was sold in 2021, the land known as Over Trent Piece Land Registry Ref LL289037 Correspondence 1969 to 2007, Land NT437955 sold in 2021 known as the Parish Garden, 1969 to 2007.Correspondence year 2000 to 2010 of Hill Garden Laneham
• Laneham Parish Council accounts book 1895 – 1918
• Laneham Parish Council accounts book 1964 – 1983
• Laneham Parish Council accounts book 1984 – 1999
• Laneham Parish Council Declaration of Acceptance of Office Book 1901 to 2019
• Laneham Collections Monthly Statement Book for the East Retford Union 1908 to 1915
• Laneham Overseers Receipt and Payment Book 1894 – 1910
• Laneham Village Hall Accounts Book & Receipts 1920 – 1950
• Laneham Village Archive Project Folder Containing Historical newspaper articles, photos and documents of 19^th and 20^th Century Laneham.
• Laneham Public Toilets Correspondence folder 1969 to 2021
• Old Deeds – 12/08/1939 Deed Of Confirmation Ferry Boat Inn Laneham, 1897 Abstract of Title of an estate in Laneham, 1897 Abstract of wills of Thomas Smith and William Edward Smith, Grove Estate Map 1946
• Laneham Village Hall Correspondence 1992/94
• Laneham Collections Monthly Statement Book for the East Retford Union 1915 to 1923
• Laneham Rate book for Special Expenses 1879
• Laneham Parish Council Minute Book 1894 - 1934
• Laneham Parish Council Minute Book 1937 - 1974
• Laneham Parish Council Minute Book 1974 - 1986
• Laneham Parish Council Minute Book 1986 - 2000
• Laneham Parish Council Minute Book 2000 - 2004
• Laneham Parish Council Minute Book 2004 - 2010
• Laneham Parish Council Minute Book 2010 - 2020