Barnard Castle Town Council is a statutory body funded principally by an annual Precept. Income and Expenditure is estimated for the next financial year and the net amount (The Precept) is added to Council Tax which is collected at County level. Town Councils do not receive funding direct from central government but they can apply for other means of funding such as grants. There are 12 Councillors with a Town Mayor and Deputy Mayor. Details of current Membership can be found on the Mayor and Councillors section of our website. Town Councillors, unlike County Councillors and the former Teesdale District Councillors, are unpaid and receive no allowances – they work on an entirely voluntary basis. Parish and town councils in England are the first-tier of local Government with Durham County Council being the second in a two-tier system. The town council is the voice of the community, representing its needs and working to deliver the services it requires. Parish and town councils have a large range of powers with the activities and services they are involved in covering a wide and varied range.
