Local authority responsibilities

There are normally three tiers of local government, each with different responsibilities (sometimes called powers and duties in Council-speak).  As Rogate Parish lies within the South Downs National Park (SDNP) the SDNP Authority (SDNPA) forms a fourth tier.  The information below sets out who does what in our area of West Sussex.

Local authority responsibilities:

West Sussex County Council – WSCC
 – Births, deaths and marriages
 – Education and schools
 – Fire service
 – Highways, including potholes, tourism signs, gritting
 – Libraries, recreation, arts and museums
 – Public rights of way
 – Public transport – bus subsidies and concessions
 – Social care and health
 – Strategic planning – mineral extraction and waste disposal
 – Trading Standards
 – Waste Recycling Centres

Chichester District Council – CDC
 – Building regulations and control
 – Cemeteries and burial services
 – Car parks – owned by the District Council
 – Community advice and support
 – Council tax and government benefits
 – Electoral services
 – Environmental services – dog wardens, noise, pests
 – Housing services
 – Planning applications and enforcement – delegated from SDNPA
 – Recycling, food waste and residual waste collections
 – Food safety – Restaurant and takeaway inspections
 – Sports and leisure – parks and open spaces
 – Street cleaning and dealing with fly tipping
 – Tourist information

South Downs National Park Authority – SDNPA
 – Local planning authority
 – Neighbourhood plans
 – Planning applications and enforcement – most delegated to CDC
 – Strategic planning – local plans

Rogate Parish Council – RPC
 – Bus shelters and street furniture including litter bins and finger signposts
 – Children’s playgrounds at Hugo Platt and in Rogate Recreation Ground
 – Footpaths and verges maintenance if agreed with WSCC
 – Grants to local groups and organisations
 – Neighbourhood plan
 – Parish-owned recreation areas: Fyning recreation ground, Rake recreation ground, Oliver’s Piece and Terwick Woodland
 – Planning application consultations and comments
 – SDNPA, WSCC and CDC consultations
 – War memorials