www.holmevalleyparishcouncil.gov.uk

Holme Valley Parish Council launched its own dynamic website, which is set to boost links with the local community as part of its preparations for applying for Quality Council status, which the Council achieved earlier this year, the 250th Council nationally to do so.

Featuring online voting, council minutes, agendas and reports, as well as a photo directory of members, news and archived copies of its community newsletter, the website can be found at www.holmevalleyparishcouncil.gov.uk

Developed by Holmfirth’s print and web team, Area5, the site’s main aims are to improve public access to the council, as well as opening up new information channels between residents and local councilors.

Said Parish Council Chairman Cllr. Andrew Otterburn: “We want it to become a means of sharing information and helping us to shape the plans and activities of the council.

”The government has recognised the need to modernize and reinvigorate local democracy and our parish council has the opportunity to play its part in full.”

He said the national Quality Parish Council Scheme encouraged councils to gain Quality Status by meeting a number of challenging requirements, such as demonstrating that it engages and represents all parts of the local community.

”The website will not only enable us to boost our levels of contact across the Valley, but will provide an accessible platform for us to report our achievements. If we can do this, the main beneficiary of Quality Parish Council Status will be the community, which is just as it should be.”

Patrick Brooke, of Area5, said: “We are proud to have played a key part developing the parish council’s first website, and are also delighted that the contract went to a locally-based enterprise, demonstrating a commitment to supporting local services.

”Area5 was established in 1997 and we have a strong community focus, running and maintaining two important locally-based websites: community website www.holmfirthweb.com and TVs Last of the Summer Wine – www.summer-wine.com

“Building, designing and managing the site for our local parish council continues our important local profile, representing the many positive achievements of the Holme Valley.”

The website meets national and international Accessibility standards for users with disabilities, and features a powerful search system, allowing people to pinpoint archived documents, reports and agendas in seconds.


For More Information:

Cllr. Andrew Otterburn, tel 685437
or e-mail andrew.otterburn@otterburn.co.uk

Marjory A. Bewick
Clerk, Holme Valley Parish Council,
Council Offices, HOLMFIRTH, HD9 3JP
External: 01484 222462
clerk@holmevalleyparishcouncil.gov.uk

Patrick Brooke
Area5 News and PR, Holmfirth 07941 472621