In law, the Town Council is a parish council, responsible for the area within the Easingwold parish boundary. We raise money for the services we provide through a 'precept', which is collected from town residents by Hambleton District Council (HDC) as part of the Council Tax payments. You will see the parish council precept on your annual Council Tax statement.

As a parish council there are very few facilities or services that we must provide by law, although we can choose to become involved in a wide range of activities. One of the responsibilities of the Chairman is to make sure that the Council does not attempt to do things that are outside its powers. We are permitted to provide, for example: allotments, public baths and wash houses, burial grounds, cemeteries and crematoria, bus shelters, markets, public conveniences, buildings to be used for offices, public meetings, conferences or social activities.

Legally, we can support the arts, encourage tourism, comment on planning applications within the town boundary, and plant trees. Our powers over roads and pavements are limited, but we can provide lighting and traffic signs and maintain public footpaths and bridleways.

The Town Council is NOT responsible for the following items:

Highways (all adopted roads), gritting and some street lighting - these are the responsibility of North Yorkshire County Council (NYCC)

Public toilets, refuse and recycling collection, and some street lighting - these are the responsibility of Hambleton District Council (HDC)