of local government with responsibility for almost all local government functions within its area including local planning and building control, local roads, council housing, environmental health, markets and fairs, refuse collection, recycling, cemeteries, crematoria, leisure services, parks, and tourism. It is also responsible for education, social services, libraries, main roads, public transport, trading standards, waste disposal and strategic planning, although fire, police and ambulance services are provided jointly with other authorities through the Avon Fire and Rescue Service, Avon and Somerset Constabulary and the South Western Ambulance Service. North Somerset's area covers part of the ceremonial county of Somerset but it is administered independently of the non-metropolitan county. Its administrative headquarters are in the town hall in Weston-super-Mare. Between 1 April 1974 and 1 April 1996, it was the Woodspring district of the county of Avon. Before 1974 that the parish was part of the Long Ashton Rural District. The village falls in 'Gordano' electoral ward. The ward stretches from the east side of Portishead through Clapton in Gordano to Tickenham. The total ward population taken at the 2011 census was 4,315. The parish is represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom as part of the North Somerset constituency. It elects one Member of Parliament (MP) by the first past the post system of election, currently Liam Fox of the Conservative Party. It was also part of the South West England constituency of the European Parliament prior to Britain leaving the European Union in January 2020, which elected seven MEPs using the d'Hondt method of party-list proportional representation. Geography Near the village is Clapton Moor, 40 hectares of grassland owned and managed by the Avon Wildlife Trust. Religious sites The 13th century church is dedicated to St Michael. Landmarks Clapton court was a mansion house and then a farmhouse. The northern elevation dates from the 15th century with the rest of the building dating from the 17th and 19th centuries. It has been designated as a Grade II listed building. In 2009 planning permission was gained to demolish some of the farm buildings and convert others into holiday homes and offices. Notable residents Sir Edward Payson Wills, 1st Baronet ( 1834 - 1910 ) Tobacco manufacturer and a director of W.D. & H.O. Wills Tobacco Company, whose country seat was Clapton Court, and was a church warden of Saint Michael's Church. References External links