'Act now' warning to SW town and parish councils

DEVON'S towns and parishes are being urged to act “before it is too late” if they want to regain control over key facilities in their areas.

- BRADLEY GERRARD Local Democracy Reporter

Town and parish councils usually have numerous responsibilities depending on their size, but many day-to-day services include things such as allotments, car parks, festivals and community buses through to open spaces, public toilets and street lighting.

Often, though, district or borough councils, or even county councils, might actually own features within towns and parishes, such as village or town halls, toilet blocks or open space. That can mean parish and town councils having to rent out the hall in their own community, or not being in control of when toilet facilities are operated.

The call for parishes and towns to start making requests now for the items they want control of comes ahead of one of the biggest shakeups in local democracy in 50 years known as local government reorganisation (LGR).