Welcome to the first video in my A to Z of Parish Councils. I’m Stephanie Akerman, Chair of Checkley Parish Council, and I’m starting with the real foundations: Agendas.Not sure what a parish council is? You’re not alone. We’re the closest layer of local government, handling everything from green spaces and benches to planning comments and community events. It’s hands-on, it’s constant, and it affects the places you use every day.In this episode, I walk through what an agenda actually does. What’s on it, how things get added, and why no decision can be made if it’s not listed. It’s not just a bit of paper, it’s the legal basis for how we run our meetings and get things moving.

In this episode of Beyond the Noticeboard, I break down the latest stakeholder meeting with Severn Trent Water, from sewage on the High Street to statutory deadlines under WINEP.

I talk through the short, medium, and long-term plans, what it means for Tean and surrounding areas, and why these meetings matter.

As someone with over a decade of experience working across councils, charities, and community groups, I know how important it is to push for action that reflects what’s actually happening on the ground.

In this episode, I share what goes on behind the scenes, the reality of chasing repairs, struggling with clunky reporting apps, and working with the Parish Council to sort things that affect us every day. From dodgy repairs and endless follow-ups to small wins that make a big difference, this is the real work happening Beyond The Noticeboard.

In this episode of Beyond the Noticeboard, I explore how communities across the Staffordshire Moorlands are taking action to protect and restore green spaces through the Nature in Your Neighbourhood project.From sewage issues in the River Tean to local environmental monitoring, this episode covers the real, behind the noticeboard work involved, including what’s happening next, and how residents can take part through surveys and training.

Flooded roads, contaminated play parks, and misreported pollution, this episode goes beyond the noticeboard to talk about what’s really happening in our communities. I’m sharing what we’ve dealt with in the River Tean area, from collapsed drains to chasing answers from Severn Trent. If you’ve ever wondered who steps in when systems fail, this one’s for you.

This is your starting point.

In this short trailer episode, I introduce who I am, what this podcast is all about, and why it matters.

I’m Stephanie Akerman, parish councillor, charity chair, trustee, community volunteer, and founder of Savvy Business Management, and I created Beyond the Noticeboard to share the real stories behind community life.

From local councils and charities to community groups and volunteers, each episode gives you a look at what really goes on beyond the noticeboard, the work, the challenges, the wins, and everything in between.

Whether you’re part of a group or just want to understand more about how your community runs, this podcast is for you.

Subscribe and join me as we look Beyond the Noticeboard.