Saddleworth Parish Council is the administrative body for the area. Consisting of elected representatives from each village or locality, its aim is to promote, maintain and improve Saddleworth.

The Parish Council's main activities include managing the local amenities of the Saddleworth Civic Hall, Uppermill and Saddleworth Cemetery, considering the effect of planning applications upon the area, undertaking special projects such as the creation of the Four Meres Trail and Boundary Signs, encouraging and enabling local interest groups and publicising the variety of Saddleworth events.

In June 2005 the Parish Council attained Quality Parish Council Status. This means that the Parish Council, in co-operation with Oldham MBC, would be allowed to consider taking over some of the services in the Saddleworth area, currently undertaken by the principal authority.