Parish councils exist in all parts of Dacorum outside Hemel Hempstead. Parishes may run some local services such as allotments, playing fields and village halls. Parish councils are asked for their opinion on planning applications or on any issue which might have an impact on the parish.
All parishes employ a clerk and some have a parish or town council office. To pay for this and any other expenses, a sum called a parish precept or parish tax is added to the Council Tax of people who live in the relevant area.
Parish councillors are elected by their parish and must comply with the council’s Code of Conduct. This states how a member conducts the business of the authority, conducts the business of the office to which the person has been elected/appointed or acts as a representative of the authority.
Councillors must register financial and other interests within 28 days of election and declare relevant interests at all parish council meetings.
You can view a list of Parish Councillors and see the register of interests for each HERE
Tim Parsons
Tim has lived in Flamstead for over twenty years, with his wife Sarah and their three daughters.
Tim and his family have great affection for the village and he believes that whilst the Parish Council must never be resistant to embracing the modern world, it must work hard to preserve the rich and much loved heritage of the village.
Working to ensure this balance is maintained is why Tim volunteered to sit on the Parish Council and why he continues to be involved in a wide range of village issues, in particular with improving the egress at Chequers Hill. Tim brings a wealth of commercial expertise to the Council which is of huge value in ensuring it is run effectively and in good financial health.
Natalie Crowie
Natalie Crowie joined the council in November 2022. She has lived in the village for nearly 20 years and so is very passionate about keeping the village as a great place in which to live. She works in IT so brings valuable skills to the council. Furthermore being so familiar with many people, clubs and societies in the village she has invaluable local knowledge which is so helpful when discussing village matters.
James Crawley
James joined the Parish Council in 2025, having moved into the parish a year earlier with his wife and two cats! With a strong interest in community life, James enjoys playing cricket, pickleball, bellringing, and spending time in the garden. A Hertfordshire boy, he has worked for his family firm of Chartered Building Surveyors for nearly 20 years. James has a keen interest in the well-being and development of the parish.
Dave Humphreys
Dave has lived in Flamstead for over 25 years and has been on the Council for almost all of that time. There can be few people in the village who do not know Dave unless they either live in a cave or have only just moved to the village. He was a fireman for all his working life and he has many interesting tales of exploits on a fire appliance including being the first on the scene at the Buncefield explosion. Since giving up sliding down greasy poles he has turned his attention and skills to the plumbing world and there are not many houses in Flamstead where he has not cured a pesky leak, unblocked a U bend or stemmed an unexpected flood. He gives much of his free time to help village groups, not only the Parish Council, but he is on the Village Hall and Almshouses committee, where his practical advice and unflappable demeanour are invaluable. When not helping others, he can be seen out and about on his large motorbike or further afield enjoying the sunshine of Mallorca.
Jonathan Humbert
I have a successful international career in auctioneering, mainly high-end classic cars- and have enjoyed being M.D of my own auction house for the past two decades. I am a keen organist and bellringer and am Steeplekeeper at St Albans Cathedral.
I live in the parish, in a beautiful listed 18thC property on our smallholding with my wife Harriet, a GP and our 4 young children, together with our flock of Black Welsh Mountain sheep, a small suckler herd of Hereford cattle, alpaca, Kune Kune pigs, donkeys and miniature goats.
I am particularly interested in matters pertaining to agriculture, the environment, rural sustainability and how the countryside is managed. My late Grandfather was a County Councillor for three decades and I’m proud to be a seventh-generation resident of this fabulous county.
I look forward to the robust debates, discussions and challenges ahead!
David Boothman
David joined the Parish Council during Covid so it was a while until we all met him in the flesh! He has lived in the village for some years and aside from his busy professional life from which he has just retired he is now undertaking a specialist course in garden design at Kew Gardens. He is a passionate advocate of all things Flamstead and he brings great insight to the council especially with all matters relating to planning applications in which he has become something of an expert. He is also very skilled at the BBQ as proved by his sterling efforts at cooking burgers and sausages for 5 hours during the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations.
Nancy Wild
I have been involved with Flamstead village for over 25 years, firstly riding with the Aldenham Harriers, then because of the love of this unique community I decided to move here with my husband, 3 children and horses in 2010.
I became a Trustee to the Pre school which is based in the Village Hall for 3 years , then moved onto becoming a committee member of the Friends of Flamstead school ( FoFS). I currently support the Flamstead Gardens Association (FGA) helping out during the village shows when possible.
I joined the Parish Council in December 2019 as I enjoy being involved in village affairs and I am keen to promote sport for children and make positive contributions to the general environment of Flamstead and climate change initiatives.
Stephen Behr
Stephen joined the Parish Council in January 2024. Stephen owns a local farm and so he is able to bring considerable agricultural and practical knowledge of matters concerning the management of the countryside. He has a young family; his daughter attends preschool, so he is able to represent the preschool, which the Parish Council is keen to support.
Billy Pither
I am relative newcomer to the village, having moved here in June 2021, but I grew up in and have lived a lot of my life in St Albans. I also attended Beechwood Park School when it first opened in 1966. We used to do Scottish dancing lessons with girls from Flamstead and often attended St Leonard’s.
My wife, Kath, and I have relatives in the village and so knew it quite well before we moved here. We feel very privileged to live in such a lovely community and being on the council is a nice way for me to give something back. I work in bar design and my office is in Studham so I have a short and very pleasant commute to work.
John Williams
I moved to Flamstead village 48 years ago after marrying my wife Melanie. I am a carpenter and joiner and have run my own building company for many years. I have very recently retired from the building business and now I am looking for new challenges. I will be able to use my construction and practical knowledge to assist the council in any new projects and with reference to the pavilion. I was on the committee of the Flamstead sports and social club for 14 years.
Clerk
Claire Smith
I have been the Clerk since September 2024! So I am brand new to this role and, having never ‘clerked’ before, I am looking forward to the challenge ahead! I have lived in Flamstead for 9 years and in that time have been Chair at Flamstead Preschool, Chair of Friends of Flamstead School (FoFS) and, my most recent role, saw me head up many village events as Community Engagement Manager for The Heritage Project. I love Flamstead village and feel very lucky to call it home; I look forward to getting to know more people of Flamstead in my new role and serving this wonderful community effectively and positively.
My role is very different to that of the councillors; I am responsible for the financial welfare of the Parish, all the meeting related administration, the compliance status of the council, plus assisting with various projects such as the pavilion, the playground and sourcing funding for new ventures.
Email: clerk@flamsteadparishcouncil.gov.uk