Page 46 - link magazine

VIEWPOINT: Is parishing the future of Swindon?
Are you one of nearly half of Swindon voters who lives in an area with
no parish council? asks Colin Doubleday.
If you live in areas like Old Town, their own review. But why do this
Central Swindon or Rodborne then only three years after a previous
Swindon Council has started a review decided that there was no
process of creating a parish council great demand in Swindon for parish
for your area. Not just your area, councils? Colin Doubleday asks the council difficult questions about parishing
the other areas too, we may all get Whilst supporting the idea of a
one whether we like it or not. consultation process, Cllr Renard is responsibility will pass from one run by volunteers with separate
Council leader David Renard has very clear that his preference is that layer of government to another new money raised by new local
found himself in rather a pickle over we should have parish councils in new layer. Departments for lighting precepts. A clever trick. More money
the idea of creating parishes. He all areas. However it is also stated streets and emptying bins will will be charged per household, but
says they are local and hence truely that he would assume that all those be removed by the borough and under a different name. Of course
democratic, however he believes who don’t respond to a consultation officers may be made redundant. don’t blame Cllr Renard, he has ‘no
so strongly in this idea that he is can be deemed to support the idea. There will be no real opportunity choice, financially as this is the only
willing to push it through without Consultations do not often to reverse these changes if a future way to keep the street lights on’, or
any democratic vote by the people. attract large responses, because council decides that it doesn’t work. so he tells us.
Actually when asked, he felt that a the questions are complicated and Cllr Renard has found himself in So why is Cllr Renard against a
referendum was specifically ‘not the residents have busy lives. When this position thanks to the politics referendum? I say - if this idea is
most democratic way to decide this 5,000 people have an opinion of expediency. Whitehall are making good enough he should be able to
matter’. on the idea of parish councils, it large cuts to local government, but sell it to the people as it will affect
What is strange is that new quickly becomes irrelevant because they are also clear that council tax generations to come. A referendum
parish councils are normally at the 215,000 other residents are deemed must not be raised by more than is a fair way forward in each of the
request of local people. Legislation to support the idea, just because 2% unless there’s a referendum. proposed parish wards and would
passed in 2007 encourages residents they have not spoken. It is hard to Of course Swindon, like many cost little if organised at the next
to petition for a parish council. see how this can be challenged. Conservative councils, is not keen council elections in May. It is legal
If a petition of at least 7.5% of Does all this matter? Perhaps on raising council tax and even less and reasonable for the council to
people in a specific parished area they are a good thing? But the idea keen on holding a referendum. So take a view by a referendum in each
is received then an authority can of parish councils is even more at a central level they suggest that proposed parish area.
conduct a review. But as no such important, because it represents a the responsibility for cleaning, and Surely he cannot force ideas on
petition has been received, this constitutional change. lighting and street repair could be people who are unaware and not
appears to be the borough starting Power and budgetary passed to parish councils, to be yet involved.

46 swindonlink.com n January 2016