Local government (England) : role of parish and town councils in England

32 Pages·1992·0.5 MB·English

by  Great Britain. Department of the Environment

DEPARTMENTOFTHEENVIRONMENT
LOCALGOVERNMENTREVIEW
THEROLEOFPARISHANDTOWN
COUNCILSINENGLAND
AConsultationPaper
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INDEX
Para
Introduction 1-3
SubmissionofResponses 4-5
PARTI
Background 6-12
LocalCouncils'Powers 13-15
LocalCouncils'Rights 16-18
HowServicesareProvided 19-21
FinancingLocalCouncils'Activities 22-24
LocalCouncilRevenueExpenditure 25-26
CapitalExpenditure 27-28
ElectionsandAccountability 29-36
PARTII
ShouldLocalCouncilsbeGivenMoreResponsibilities? 37-40
AdditionalFunctions 41-42
EnhancingtheRoleoftheLocalCouncil 43
RepresentationoftheCommunity 44-49
LocalCouncilsasAgenciesofPrincipalAuthorities 50-51
DirectRepresentationonPrincipalAuthorities 52-55
ExtendingtheCoverageofParishes 56-60
TheLocalGovernmentCommission-UnitaryAuthorityStatus 61-62
FinancingLocalCouncils 63-64
CouncilTaxBills 65-66
SpecialExpenses 67-69
FinancingElectionCosts 70-72
ControllingLocalCouncils'Expenditure;Revenue 73-75
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THEROLEOFPARISHCOUNCILSINLOCALGOVERNMENTINENGLAND
1. ETnhigslapnadpearndexianmviinteesstchoemmreonltesoofnpparroipsohsaalnsdttoowinmpcroouvneciltsheiirn
efficiencyandeffectivenessasrepresentativesoftheir
localcommunities.
2. The paper draws on the findings of a survey recently
carried out for the Department by the Aston Business
rScehfoeorlr^ed.Tthorobuyghtohuetctohlelepcatpievreptaerrim,shlaoncdaltocwonunccoiulnsc.ilsare
3. TheSecretaryofStatewouldwelcomeviewsontheideasset
outinthispaper, andalternativesuggestions, fromany
individual or organisation with an interest in local
councils and thepart theyplay inlocal democracy in
England.
SubmissionofResponses
4. Comments should be sent to: Steven Watts, the Local
Government Review Team, Room N7/09, Department of the
Eanrvriirvoenmneontl,at2erMatrhsahnam30StNroeveetm,beLron1d9o9n2.SWl.Responsesshould
5. TheSecretaryofStatemaywishtopublishresponses to
thispaperinduecourse,ordeposittheminthelibraries
oftheHousesofParlieiment.Shouldrespondentswishtheir
comments tobetreatedasconfidentialtheyshouldmake
thisclearinanypaperstheysubmit. Allresponsesmay
neverthelessbeincludedinstatisticalsummariesofthe
numberofcommentsreceivedandviewsexpressed.
752592^8"ParishandTownCouncilsinEngland:ASurvey”ISBNOil
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. .
PARTI
B6.ackground
Parishesdatefrommedievaltimesorearlier. Inthe16th,
g1o7tvhernamnednt18threCsepnotnusriibelsethefyorwerepotohremarienliuefn,itofhiglhowcaaly
maintenance, and law and order, as well as for their
ecclesiasticalfunctions. IntheT9thCenturythesecivil
functionswere largely transferred toor takenover by
otherbodies. Theyhaveoperatedintheircurrentform
oenlleyctesdincbeodi1e8s94.withAsdiasctrieetrioonfarlyocpaolwegrosveranndmenrtightthseylaaired
downbyParliamenttorepresenttheircommunitiesandto
provideservicesforthem.
7. Tefhxoetrempnetadttabereroenunnodfdedptiaesrrtimisinhnceetsdcaobcmyrmousnhsiistttihoeersy.c-ouanPntadrryisehvheeasnstthooadvaaeygrbweehaeetnn
theyarecreatedtheytendtobecommunitybased.
8. HraiursreatalosriEtcnhagellylaynrdeppbaruretisseohnvterchotauhsnecibpleasesntwec2r0heanygeliaanrrgsg.etlhySeinancaetfue1ra9et7u4orfemotrhofee
"urban"areas,inparticularfreestandingtowns,havebeen
parished,particularlyareasformerlyrepresentedbyurban
districtandboroughcouncils. Thereare, however, still
onlyafewcouncilsinthemetropolitanareaswhichhave
wshoemere40l%ocaolfEcnogulnacnidl'sspproepduolmaitniaotne.,EtvheenirincorvuerraalgeEnigslanndo,t
universal
9. Ocnoluyncil6%. oTfhislosctaaltuscoudnoceislsnothavaeffetcatkenthethpeowetristleoftotwhne
council - which remain the same as those of aparish
council-buttheChairmancanusethetitle"Mayor"
10. CSuercrreenttalryy noefw pSatraitsehesfoarretchreeateEdnvibryonmoerndteroonf tthhee
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.
recoimnendationoftheLocalGovernmentBoundaryCommission.
In due course his decisions will be based on the
11. recommendationsoftheLocalGovernmentCommission.
Thereareover10,000parishesinEnglandtoday-notall
olofcawlhicchounhcaivlescoiunncEinlgsl.anTdhewiAtshtoonvesrur7v0e,y00i0decnotuinfciieldlo8rs159-
threetimesthenumberofdistrictandcountycouncillors.
Thecouncilsrepresentpopulationsrangingfromlessthan
100 toover40,000. Theoverwhelmingmajorityof local
12. ows2c1fei,9orn85u1eEg0nnl0crgeicellpepasepnnroasdeprursliseeespn.hrt4ee0essT%d.ehnebhtIyanmdaasjm1ploa9oorl8pc1iluatllycaaoptcm-piomrouuo8nnnx8sci%iitmliba-eet-sleo;ol3fwy0%act51oo04uf0tnhmcteaiihnlledlstiipom8oren3pe%upolprfaeeutosnipedtolnehnetre
13. MaLbAasiaoorlsycrestoaootrlrduhiigetcashhGtnteoidrrvoncieerstocrioutangCnrmnlicceeiotionaoylu2tksn2.acaanoiCbfdlnhotlalTeoIprihrrsltsessaehitturerhewede.hsTosrCioauhBnrlfsaueeftrtpteetrhceefetetrushitneenoac1yngwnt9tndi7scto4t.ahcnhneiseriveriCbaoacherrrtaeegporacarwtonnoetonisprofss.euarTalettrtliyufeeosocdnstrtuembcoeeyhfasr
LocalCouncils'Powers
^araelshacroeldownisthhtahveecertainstatutorypowersmostofwwhniicchn
14.
aroretehcerrlesia.sttieodTnhaeblyenlaatoru^ereprTihnecisp^all^y of^'Tenvironmental and
Allotments
Artsandrecreation
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Supportandencouragementofartsandcrafts
Provisionofcommunityhalls
Recreational facilities (egparksandopen spaces,
playingfields,swimmingbaths)
Encouragementoftourism
Provisionofpublicentertainment
BurialGroundsandChurchyards
Cemeteriesandcrematoria
Maintenanceofclosedchurchyards
Provisionofmortuaries
EnvironmentalHealth
Cleaninganddrainageofponds
Littercontrol
Publicconveniences
Washhousesandlaunderettes
Footpaths,RoadsandTraffic
Provision andmaintenanceofpublic seats and t>us
shelters
Footpaths, signs (creation and maintenance and
signposting)
Provisionoffootwaylighting
Parkingfacilities
Acquisitionandmaintenanceofrightsofway
Provisionofmaintenanceandprotectionofroadside
verges
Publicclocks
WPaorstMaelmoarnidalsTelephone Facilities (egguarantee agencies
againstlossonafacility)
Theexerciseofsomeofthesepowersissubjectto the
consentofthecountycouncil
d(uAtifeusllearndltihsetroeflelvoacnatlsctoautnuctiolrsy'pfruonvcitsiioonnss,ipsowaetrsAnnaenxd
A.)
15. The proportion of local councils which spentmoney on
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providingormaintainingparticularservicesin1989/90is
shownatAnnexB.
L16o.calCouncils'Rights
Local councils also have specific rights to receive
ontohteirfiacuatthioornitfireosm., aAnmdongrsetproetsheenrttchoimnmgusnidtiystirnitcetrecsotusncitlo,s
mustnotifylocalcouncilsof:
(1) planningapplications (wherethelocalcouncilhas
askedtobenotified);
(ix) mnaaunmsyiincig;natnedntdiaonncintgo,mparkoemenbaydeelsa,wsserae-lsahtoirnegatnodtsatxriese,t
(xli)aanndyIntentiontoprovideacemeteryinacommunity;
(iv) proposalstocarryoutsewerageworks.
1197.. pLroicmaalrycosucnhcoiollsssmearyvianlgsotheaiprpocionmtmunaitgyo.vernor to certain
18. cfLohoracraiSlutnihecsounscaeirl1vsVi-nJmga...ythmeaikrecoampmpuoniinttym,entasndtomaytheholtdrusptreoepsertoy^f
HowServicesareProvided
mt^uLhnosoeetdicuihianpLorvlg,dirsodct.wuoohnaurelnTi;schrbtieyalbofsywpmfnaooyspfoitrsrnotagavlvffliorfdtlesihuqinenouxgtreeednseivat-rsopstlgrom.ruroreniavttcnihbettdoyeedrososaror;rucclsmboooeaymuadibnnnitptnyaaaatryitoeicninooguatsnnhec.evrioovlf,liuTucstrtneeoht:seaosdrbofe*oyyr
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.
20. TAhpeprosxtiamfaftienlgyr9%esoofurtcheesmohfaveloncoalpaicdounstcaiflfsaatreallvearnydolonwl.y
7%ofthemhavefull-timepaidstaff. Thevastmajority
employpart-timepaidstaffworkinglessthan15hoursa
wveoelkun.teOevrerworakerqsu.artTehreAosftonloscuarlvecyouensctiilmsateudsethaptart2-6t,i40m0e
peoplework forlocal councils, twothirdsofwhomare
paid
21. wInorkfiunlgl-ftoirmeloceaqluicvoaulnecnitlsteirsms6,6t0h0e-Tnhuimsbecromopfarepsaiwditshtatfhfe
1.9mfull-timeequivalentstaffestimatedtobeworkingin
localauthoritiesinEnglandinJune1991.
FinancingLocalCouncils'Activities
22. Tohnetmhaeindisstoruriccetocfounacillo.calThecoulnacrigle'sstipnacroimsehesishaivtsepbruedcgeetpst
comparablewiththoseofthesmallestdistrictcouncils.In
around10%ofruraldistricts,thetotalparishincomein
thedistrictis12%ormoreoftheincomeofthedistrict.
Bycontrast,insomedistrictsparishincomeisnegligible
comparedwiththatofthedistrict.
23. Tihnecommeajcoormepsarftromofchtahregesr,emarienndtesraonfdbtahneklionctaelrescto.uncAinlnsex
Ccousnhcoiwlssitnhe198m9a/i9n0,soiudrecnetsifioefdbryevtehneueAstionncosmteudyo.f local
24 UcepnoloduewnececrtrioslrSsbeucotthniawovhneaicct1phi3ov7wtiehtroeisfyesttcohoenfossrLipoedcnewdarhliw£ci3Ghl.ol5v0etbrheenpymeoerfnhtalbvoeAcencaetlfnio1gt9o7vst2eoprenlctmoihcefeaniiltcr
areasorcommunity.
LocalCouncilRevenueExpenditure
25. T1h9e89A/s9t0onofstauldlyleosctailmactoeudnctihlastitnotEanlglraenvdenwuaese£x1p0e8mn.ditTuhriesiins
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.
26. ci1etaa0no9oxuu.u8tptt2n91aheh3c/9lon%oi98rdrl09iii.r/ottt9efbiui0vyeAreesnestan,snhnuibeedezexoetiAfweDnneeosnxfet£sepn4ihxe5cmEon,loanwEdoutg7sicnl9estac5adhualimnor.ldwebce,sroxaTeupnarhanedviecknesiriddoreneloinascswtgl.nuwaeurewdAeorirpisfeteenhvrgworewifencitvtuadhehepapeneliorueltsevexatvsapeioreebnztinxauehadpseaetieibritnsioooudnlfnricilsetotoumticerihoai,enennl
lllaftseToAeooneohxhfsaccdwuopesaatsewetllhhHeneAxiuldspcgmliWctieohbteononueasuundnrsstrnticspechstivieimeuuladnclarrredosyveSpyiueooinnsbyiupongcpentufgieehllandsbatusdlitehtEtosaetiahicttbswoonaholtenrlSeri,eitotsntahulechientsedoeedihpaudsSnesnb.odttnEceuiht.daictvohLslahisaotmsOuedtconWsuaseeavsoiltsalpann.tertc,pniahtotTedueehuhchrtseenlehcrmooNcieobbsroaflgseaeirpisitstlttigoiwyihtunseipearneefseEcnorosabYofltsaonrlhhtsrtfeaoeeiakogvwassisreieldpnhrodeesittanvnorhhgbsedfeeeyael
CapitalExpendituxe
27. reutcexhnacpeeprevieentacnata.liiptoiuLentrax;aerplgeaenndiedlsixotppcueaarnorlednk:isctbouyuarvnneidclliollcotaasphgleaengnecnsospeucmarnoacacmellimslllu.ysnioatincysec,so.uhbnaytMlolifsstot;srcmnaIoapnrtduieroteoao,rlf
28. crmeEcaexnaapcpgpmeieliitnatpadnatlidlwsta.euiyexrsxpepAeeennisnindntsdeiiixtmtubwauryhtEreieecudaihsnilidtnlnougccs1ahot9pacur8ivuna9temc/taui9ellbl0saesgterfintoavhrfneeaitpnapbaplfranaliolcynxaemailnenomcnccaetiattssnlhegeliaiycnnroodu£1fn92c8r1cdi9emali/vpsr9eie0ntTcuahitelen
ElectionsandAccountability
29. parishis requiredtoelect aparishcouncil if its
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. .
population includes more than 200 local government
eslteicltlorrse;soilfvethteoneulmebcetraispsamrailslhercotuhnacnilt,hibsutthtehepardiissthrmiacyt
mustalsoagreeifthefigureislessthan150.Contested
eothflhaeevceptaniruoaimnsbshecerotsuoon-fcpiaglcreoinnsecthroeanscldtolueuycdntctiehlletsehcelttiaiarrokgneesbr.pulstaiPhcnaeeersicissonhuenastcrhiorwluohnuidtgchhheonldhpoyiagrh4nie4os%rth
meetings
30. Cfoourntchiclosminghavemeeatindgustyofto tnhoetifyfullthecopuunbcliilc. ofPubltihec
participation inmeetings of the full council is quite
htihgeh.smaIlnltetromsmedofiumactsuiazledpcuobulniccilpaarptpiecairpeadtiotnobienmteheetimnogsst
active.
31. Epoaaaftcrtihaesnnhncd.oueuadAnltcbitpyleanr2dmi5ausnshoctreaanfadletswotetorhhweonpsleedcoopmaulenneectiaiilnnnncgumlsaeuleditisminenggegetsntiehniergnalco1lof9yu8n9tcl/hio9elw0lw-ohwroe7slr5e%e
32. Olstoihcgeanrlifimcecaeontutinnclgioslcaolftoipsasreuinesashbloerelaectthmeoarjsorcmopamlymaunnbnieitnygcaaltplopeldicdbaiytsicoutnsh.se
Thesemeetingsarequitefrequentlycalledbyallsizesof
councils,mainlytodiscussdevelopmentissues.
33. Apaaprlaiorscihas/lhtocowornuntecoliwelnctmtooerestaironrnganpmgaaerytitpcoauslsaasrcaeirrstesasuioenlsuttbihyoencvaiirnerswytironufgctitonhuget
abeyxppaetrnhisesehrbepotorulnrle.nibnAygstihoneffelilocececartlioocfnosutnhctehieldpciaosnrtciresirhcntepdoc.loluTnihcseilcionancndidudcetntechdee
ofparish/townpollsisminimal.
34. Itnhnuetmebreperassttofi2n5cboyenectaoermssitneg-daaneldloecctathliioscnosui.sncirBleulftolrecchtoaeusdnciiinlncrtemhaeesmebdheirogsvhheeirrp
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