Parish Council Meetings

Meetings are held four times a year in September, December, March and May. 

The meeting for the 2025-2026 term will be held on the second Monday of the month.  

• Monday 8th September 2025
• Monday 8th December 2025
• Monday 9th March 2026 

Meetings start at 6:45pm and will be held at St Margaret’s Church, Margaret Marsh, Shaftesbury, SP7 0AZ

Last Meeting

Tuesday 27th May 2025 at Manston Village Hall. Agenda and Minutes are available here

• 6pm: The Annual Parish Meetings
• 6:45pm: The Annual General Meeting and 177th meeting of the Parish Council.

The Orchards and Margaret Marsh Parish Council  - The voice of local people.

The Parish Council Group area comprises the three small rural parishes of East Orchard, Margaret Marsh and West Orchard.   The three adjoining parishes are located in a low-lying part of the Blackmore Vale, midway between Shaftesbury and Sturminster Newton. The Manston Brook, made up of the combined waters of the Key and Sturkell brooks, forms the parish boundary between East and West Orchard. You can read more in our 'Your Parish' section. 

The parish council is the level of government closest to the community and feeds into Dorset Council, the district authority. 

As the authority closest to the people, the parish council is often the first point of contact for individuals with concerns or ideas about the parish, and as a result, it plays a vital role in any community. 

Your Councillors

Cllr Cliff Christensen was voted in as Chair of the Council at the Annual Meeting of the Parish Council on May 27th 2025.  Cllr Gary Stokes was voted in as Deputy Chair of the Council.  The Parish Council also welcomed two new Members, Cllr Andy Tebbutt-Russell and Cllr James Elliott, bringing the total number of Councillors for the council to five:

Member for Margaret Marsh: Cllr Gary Stokes
Members for East Orchards and Hartgrove: Cllr Cliff Christensen, Cllr Daniel Woodruffe, and Cllr James Elliott
Member for West Orchards:  Andy Tebbutt-Russell

Would you like to be a Councillor?

We still have vacancies for councillors to represent West Orchard and Margaret Marsh. Please visit our Council Information page if you are interested in becoming a Parish Councillor, and use the 'Contact the Council' to get in touch. Don't worry if you haven't got any experience. DAPTC offer a comprehensive range of training activities to support all counsellors. DAPTC Star Award: Certificate

Latest News from Dorset Police & Crime Commissioner

Dorset Police and partners' ‘Good Safe Summer’ campaign is designed to encourage people living or visiting Dorset to come and enjoy all our county, whilst highlighting that Dorset Police will not tolerate crime. Patrols continue in tourist areas as part of Op Track, which has delivered more than 66% reduction in both ASB and violent crime in hotspot areas.

Their lates leaflet provides progress updates, contact details and reporting advice. You can download a copy here: Contact and Engagement Leaflet 2025 · Dorset Police & Crime Commissioner.

Dorset Council Local Plan Options Consultation 2025

The consultation runs from 18 August to 13 October 2025. It highlights opportunities to address the future development needs of the Dorset Council area and, once finished, will guide planning decisions across Dorset and shape the future of housing, employment, infrastructure, and environmental protection in our county.

You can view the consultation documents online at: https://www.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/w/dorset-council-local-plan-options-consultation-2025, in Dorset libraries and at County Hall, Dorchester.

How to submit your comments: Online via the consultation portal and survey, which will help Dorset Council analyse responses quickly. Or download a response form, complete it electronically or by hand, and send it to: email: planningpolicyconsult@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk (subject line: Dorset Local Plan Options 2025) or post it to Dorset Council (address on the consultation website). All comments must be submitted by 13 October 2025.

Local Plan drop-in session will take place at Shaftesbury Town Hall, Tuesday 16th September from 2-6pm where you can speak with officers, ask questions, and find out more about the proposals before submitting your response.

Read more here or online at https://www.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/w/dorset-council-local-plan-options-consultation-2025,

Contacting the Council

Contact us via our 'Contact Us' page.

Join us at our Parish Council meetings.

Every meeting starts with a 'Public Participation' session, where you can ask questions, make representations, or discuss agenda items.

You can raise a matter that's not on the agenda; however, the council may need to put that issue on hold until the next meeting, as it can only make legally binding decisions on items listed on the agenda.

Planning Applications

You can find current and past planning applications under the Planning section of this website and on the Dorset Council site.

As a statutory consultee, the Parish Council is part of the planning process and must be informed about all planning applications or changes that affect its parish area. Its views should be taken into consideration when making decisions. However, the Parish Council does not have the authority to grant or refuse planning permission.

Please let the council know if you have any comments or concerns about current applications.