More power for Parish Councils?

Announcements today could signal a major increase in the powers of parish councils to run local neighbourhoods and communities.

According to national newspapers over the weekend, this could extend to licensing pubs and controlling parking. Local communities could run museums, libraries and even deal with low-level anti-social behaviour under 'power to the people ' plans to be announced today.

The Government's public services White Paper will see a shift towards 'localism' and away from central control.

Government sources say this will mean devolving powers down as far as possible to smaller bodies such as parish councils.

This, reports suggest, could mean parish councils ruling on opening hours for pubs, bringing in new traffic restrictions in towns and villages, including speed limits, and run parks and leisure facilities.

Some of this devolvement is already happening in Audlem. The parish council has taken over the public toilets and is supervising their refurbishment at present. ADCA, Audlem & District Community Action, took over responsibility for Day Care earlier this year when Age Concern (Age UK) pulled out.

Hopefully, the White Paper will also tackle the issue of funding in full. Concern is already being expressed about 'double taxation'. If services are to be devolved, so should the funding be devolved, it is argued. Any increase in parish council costs and the parish precept should, surely, be balanced by a reduction in the borough's element of Council Tax.

We wait and see what the White Paper will say on that particular subject. It looks as if it could be an interesting time for parish councils.

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