An Atherton Parish Council?
I am putting this topic forward for serious discussion as
a possible
way forward for Atherton. Possibly the only way.
What is there to stop Atherton forming a Parish Council to take over some of the
statutory powers from Wigan? Nothing
as far as I can see.
Lots of other urban areas have done this since Parish Councils were given
greatly increased powers by Parliament.
Parish councils are not only found in rural areas. Many metropolitan areas of
England have created councils where there were none.
Areas of Leeds, Liverpool and Birmingham, among others, have created parish
councils to deliver the type of local representation residents felt they
otherwise lacked:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/actionnetwork/A2443132
The powers of a Quality Parish Council are quite extensive (including amongst
many others, ability to build public baths and swimming pools\traffic claming
measures\ provision and maintenance of allotments\!):
See here ( A Government website) : http://tinyurl.com/yvcaxz
All the info as to how to go about it is here:
http://www.createacouncil.org.uk/
Createacouncil.org.uk: a guide to creating a parish council or town council
could be just what you need to start the ball rolling toward the creation of a
local council in your area.
Parish and town councils are at the grass roots of local community democracy and
are the first tier of local government.
Through increased government commitment and recognition by other organisations
and key stakeholders, parish and town councils are now at the forefront of
renewed community democracy.
Through partnership working with principal authorities and the opportunity to
achieve Quality Status, parish and town councils can continue to develop their
role, not just as the voice of local communities, but as a facilitator and
provider of better services.
Over 150 new parish and town councils have been created since 1997 as
communities all over the country take greater control over their local affairs
and decisions that affect their lives.
A summary of the powers available:
Allotments Provision and maintenance of allotments for cultivation.
Arts* Developing and improving knowledge of the arts and the crafts
which serve the arts.
Baths Provision of baths and wash-houses (which in modern terms may
mean a launderette).
Borrowing Parish, Town and Community Councils can borrow money for up
to a maximum of 25 years with loan sanction consent. The Council must
have loan sanction consent before Borrowing.
The Local Government Act 2003 removes the requirement for loan
approval. Councils may now borrow money without prior approval. .
Cemeteries* Provision and maintenance of burial grounds, cemeteries,
crematoria, mortuaries and post-mortem rooms.
Church yards Power to contribute to the costs of a churchyard in use
and a duty to maintain any closed churchyard where the duty has been
transferred by the Church of England.
Clocks* Provision and maintenance of public clocks, on churches or
elsewhere.
Commons Power to protect any finally registered common which has no
registered owner.
Crime prevention* installation of equipment and establishment of
schemes for the detection or prevention of crime; making grants to the
police authority for these purposes.
Entertainments* Provision of any form of public entertainment and any
premises for giving entertainments. (This includes maintaining bands
or orchestras and providing for dancing.)
Halls* Provision of buildings for public meetings and functions, for
indoor sports or physical recreation, or for the use of clubs or
societies having recreational, social or athletic objects.
Legal Proceedings Power to prosecute and defend any legal proceedings
in the interests of the inhabitants. Power to take part in any public
local inquiry.
Lighting Provision and maintenance of any footway lighting which
lights roads or pavements provided the columns are not above specified
heights.
Litter* Provision of litter-bins in streets and support for
anti-litter campaigns.
Open Spaces Provision and maintenance of public open spaces, pleasure
grounds and public walks.
Parking Places Provision and management of car and cycle parks.
Parks Provision and maintenance of public parks and appropriate
facilities.
Planning Local councils have a right to be notified of any planning
application affecting their area and to make comments which the
planning authority must take into account.
Playing Fields* Provision and maintenance of land for any kind of
outdoor recreation, including boating pools.
Ponds* Power to deal with ponds, pools, or other places containing
filth or matter prejudicial to health.
Public Lavatories Provision and maintenance of public lavatones.
Rights of Way Maintenance of public footpaths and bridleways.
Roadside Verges Power to plant and maintain roadside verges.
Seats* Provision and maintenance of public seats on the highway.
Shelters* Provision and maintenance of shelters for general public
use and also particularly for bus passengers.
Signs
Power to erect signs which warn of dangers or announce a place name,
or indicate a bus stop.
Swimming* Provision of indoor or outdoor swimming pools or bathing
places.
Tourism* Provision of facilities for conferences and encouragement of
recreational and business tourism.
Traffic calming contribution towards the cost of traffic calming
works provided by highway authorities.
Transport* establishment of car-sharing and taxi fare concession
schemes; making grants for community bus services and bus services for
the elderly or disabled; investigation of public transport, road and
traffic provision and needs; provision of information about public
transport services.
Village Green* Powers to maintain the village or town green.
General Expenditure Power In any situation not covered by one of the
specific powers described above a council may spend money on any
purpose which in its opinion is of direct benefit to its area or to
the inhabitants. The total expenditure by the council on all the cases
under this general power must not in any financial year exceed £3.50
per local government elector in the parish or town or community
The Local Government Act 2003 raised this to £5 with effect from 1
April 2003, indexed annually inline with the RPI.
THESE ARE SUBSTANTIAL POWERS. POWERS WHICH ATHERTON DESERVES TO TAKE
BACK.
WHAT DO YOU THINK?