Escrick Parish Council is the first tier of local government.
The Council has some direct responsibilities, for example:
- cutting the grass on the village green and playing fields
- maintaining the war memorials
- insuring and inspecting the playground
- operating about half of the streetlights in the village
In other areas the Parish Council makes representations on behalf of residents of the Parish, such as commenting upon planning applications. However, the final responsibility lies with other bodies such as North Yorkshire Council.
There are up to eleven elected Councillors and a part-time clerk.