Re: Town Council forms.
 

Oh...okay.

If they ever make your's letter of the week I'll have lunch with you too.:D

Re: Town Council forms.
 

Ace Garinda. :D Better come to chaperone though to referee discussions on PB !

Was a lovely afternoon Jaysay, Garinda is a comfortable person to be with and that is what makes great friends.

Re: Town Council forms.
 

There ain't much chance of that, they either don't print mine or they're to controversial, that is the two I've sent in this year. I'd much rather post on here, instant responce, you don't have to wait a week for a reply:D

Re: Town Council forms.
 

Next Wednesday at the HBC Cabinet meeting the issue of Town councils is being discussed. There is a recommendation about Great Harwood.

Link to report is below.

http://www.hyndburnbc.gov.uk/downloa...nsultation.pdf

The meeting is at 1.00 pm at Scaitcliffe House and is open to the public to attend as observers

Re: Town Council forms.
 

According to the Obsever the consultation produced 1,571 resposes.

Even though I suspect many people didn't even get a form, as Peter Britcliffe promised that every household in Hyndburn would receive one, I wonder what the percentage is of forms returned versus those sent out?

I guess we'll never know, because of the fiasco of using the private distribution company, which incidentally I can find no information about how much they were paid from the public purse for delivering these forms, or not, as seems the more likely case.

Re: Town Council forms.
 

I wondered how long before this thread made a re-appearance. :rolleyes:

It's taken you longer than I thought it would. :rolleyes::D

Garinda, it said in yesterday's Telegraph that 80% of people who responded were in favour of town councils and that 2.1% of 59,000 residents took part in the referendum.

I think I can predict what's coming now.........that's not very many is it?

Re: Town Council forms.
 

Maybe 59,000, but how many of those people even saw a form?

A form that was supposed to be delivered by this private firm, and which the council presumably paid them for this bad service with our money.

As I said way back, in theory the town councils do sound a good idea, but as yet there is still too little information as to whether in reality they're a good idea, or not.

We are told they will be able to raise their own budgets. Which budgets, what will still be the responsibility of H.B.C., and which won't?

Will we have residents in Clayton paying a different amount of tax than someone in Church, for example?

Who will sit on these councils, will they be elected, or will they be filled with the cronies of our current councillors?

The fact is no one seems to know, and if they do know, they aren't telling us.

Re: Town Council forms.
 

According to the Telegraph, the next stage is a community review which will sort out boundaries, the number of councillors and decide what functions and powers the town councils will have.

I must admit, I'm a bit confused too. I have the same question as you, Garinda.

We're in Ossy so in addition to the councillors we already have will we be electing more or will the councillors we already have be on the town council? :confused:

Re: Town Council forms.
 

I'm glad it's not just me that's confused.


It does seem a good idea in theory, but I think all that it entails should have been worked out before it was put to public consultation.


It's a bit like the Apprentice.

They're pitching an idea, but don't have a clue as to what the costs will be, or how it will be constructed.

Even though it might be a wonderful idea, I don't have enough information to decide if it's going to work or not.

Therefore I'm sorry to say, H.B.C., you're fired.:D

Re: Town Council forms.
 

Think what made it more difficult for people is that they had to make an effort to return it to their library, etc. (and not everyone has a computer).
Still if they never got the form .. wouldn't know they could vote on line.

The extension was OK, but you had to ring up for a form (or again vote on line). Suppose would have been too expensive to collect like they do with the Electoral Register forms ...although sure wouldn't have eaten too much into the budget. Perhaps most people couldn't make their mind up either, without details.

Would love to go next Wednesday to the meeting, but not sure whether I can get there at the moment. :(

Re: Town Council forms.
 

Re: Town Council forms.
 

Try more bureaucrats, more taxes, more left and right hand, more tree's needing felling and plenty of extra fuel for hot air balloons. The politics show last week ran a good article about the rise of people protesting at more government. Parish Councils put Council Taxes up 200% it said.

It is easy to see how people in Great Harwood will end up subsidising HBC. Give them autonomy, give them back their services such as Great Harwood baths. Subsidised and uneconomical. And anything else that's a burden. Let the Town Councillors put that on the local rates for the people of Great Harwood. Sit back and gather votes for giving (false) independence. That's what The Council is thinking.

Re: Town Council forms.
 

http://www.rossendale.gov.uk/site/sc...=&oe=&filter=0

There is a charter for whitworth town council on rossendale councils website. The people in whitworth pay extra on their council tax.

Re: Town Council forms.
 

So do people in Altham as they have their own parish council.

Will this be the case for all of us once town councils are introduced? :confused:

Re: Town Council forms.
 

Who knows?

We haven't been told enough information.