LTC Councillor Resigns

LETTER from: Ex Coun Mark Flewitt, Leigh Town Council.

SIR, Town and Parish Councils are truly part of the local government family. But I believe it’s long overdue to review if they are all necessary and whether they are sufficiently well served by adequate structures, who have the capability to intervene, if or when the (the town or parish) council becomes incapacitated for whatever reason.

The network of these kind of councils is said to amount to over 8,700, a substantial number.

Whilst a number work effectively, many, simply unquantifiable, have constant councillor vacancies, frequent uncontested seats, vacancies of a Town Clerk and raging poor councillor conduct and social media incitement, that may make “fun” reading for some, but costs the majority taxpayer a lot of money and risks more serious consequences, for everyone.

The current recourse to parish councils, with instability, is limited to well meaning national associations, of course, for legal advice and assistance, there are cost implications.

A free service is provided by whoever the nearest senior council has, in the form of its Monitoring Officer. The code of conduct, is largely acknowledged as a toothless tool with little real force in its decisions.

The Standards Board for senior councils, is driven by councillors, who decide if a case is proved or not.

It is clearly not going to have full impartiality, despite legal advice.

The need for a Commissioner to be appointed to oversee the town and parish network, is in my opinion, now strong.

To let hundreds of thousands of taxpayers continue to pay a second (smaller) layer of council tax to any ineffective town or parish council, is not acceptable. In some cases the councillors get a small monthly amount or like Leigh Town Council, absolutely nothing or £85 per year.

For those who would point to the old and weary legislation, try applying that to “shouters” and the inciters, it is too highbrow and cannot cope with the contemporary and often vexatious minority who bring some small councils to a grinding halt.

For my part, I join the huge numbers of former parish councillors, who quit well before the end of their term. At least I have a working knowledge and understanding of this area of neglected local government.

 

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