JOHN COLE’S PERSONAL THOUGHTS ON A TOWN COUNCIL IN BAILDON

The status of this document is simply some personal views which readers can take or leave as they wish. I hope, though, that they might prove a little helpful. Official guidance can be obtained by contacting Mr. Salman Mather, Head of Democratic Services in City Hall, Bradford BD1 1HY. There is at least one official “hand out” sheet.

What do town councils do?

Parish, town and community councils in England and Wales have a number of basic responsibilities in making the lives of local communities more comfortable, many of which are often taken for granted. Essentially these powers fall within three main categories: representing the whole electorate within the parish; delivering services to meet local needs; and striving to improve quality of life in the parish.

Individual powers include the provision and maintenance of community transport schemes, traffic calming measures, local youth projects, tourism activities, leisure facilities, car parks, village greens, public lavatories, litter bins, street lighting, street cleaning, burial grounds, allotments, bus shelters, commons, opens spaces, footpaths, bridleways, and crime reduction measures. Town councils can also comment on planning applications - they are statutory consultees (they have to be consulted if they so wish) and can be represented at public inquiries.

Where do town councils get their money from?

Town Councils can levy an additional precept on the Bradford District Council Tax.  For example, Haworth Town Council levies a precept of £12.50 per band D property in Haworth.   This brings in a revenue of £29,000 to the Town Council to fund its activities.  Haworth, in population terms is just over one third the size of Baildon, so a similar level of precepting would bring in £80,000 in Baildon’s case.   This would be money raised in Baildon to be spent exclusively in Baildon on projects which the Baildon Town councillors determine.

Clearly  town councillors need to give those who pay the precept “value for money”.   If they fail to, they can be voted out at the next set of elections (every four years).   On the other hand, if  a town council identifies a series of local projects which are valued locally and which are successfully carried out by the council, voters will see and appreciate the results and re-elect the councillors.  

How will a Baildon Town Council relate to the Bradford M.D. Council?

For the moment Bradford will act as the collecting agent for the Baildon precept, which is then handed over to the town council, and will organise the council elections.  Bradford will still be responsible for the major functions which it carries out at present – education, social services, refuse collection etc.    I see an important task of the twelve Baildon Town Councillors being the keeping of Bradford up to scratch.  At present there are three District councillors for Baildon on the Bradford Council, and we regularly phone up to report bins not emptied, gullies needing clearing or roads needing gritting.  Having an additional twelve Town councillors should mean that the reporting of faults and shortcomings should be that more efficient and comprehensive.

Coming back to spending, I think it vital that town council spending be on additional items in Baildon – adding icing to the basic cake provided by Bradford.   In no way should precept spending be used to make good deficiencies in any service which Bradford should be providing.   Put another way, once a town council is in place this should NOT provide an excuse for Bradford to backslide on its current provision.  This is why I see keeping Bradford up to scratch as being an important task for town councillors.

What might be the “icing” which Baildon Town Council adds?

See above in “What do town councils do?”.   The Council’s Youth Service assure me that Baildon is already receiving its fair share of Council spending on youth services and yet I receive frequent requests for more spending in this area.  So, a town council might spend additional money in this area and seek to enhance what is already being done by Bradford.   Three other thoughts spring to mind: the Town Council might arrange and contribute funding towards the Christmas lights in the village; it might also offer support to organising the Baildon Carnival and it can support “Baildon in Bloom”.  

What relationship will the Town Councillors have with the District Councillors?

A fruitful one, hopefully.   At the simplest level I would be grateful for town councillor support in what might be termed “the janitorial things” – spotting things needing doing by Bradford, so that Baildon is kept clean and tidy.  A Town Councillor phoning up a Bradford officer will have more “clout” than a member of the public.

As  someone who sits on the Shipley Area Planning Panel I am used to town councillors from other areas (e.g. Denholme)  coming to put their views on planning applications in their patch. I find it very helpful to have a considered local view presented.

In an ideal world District Councillors and Town Councillors work in a mutually supportive fashion.  Town councillors provide a dozen extra pairs of ears and eyes for the three District councillors, and a sounding board with a democratic mandate. District councillors would, I feel, be well advised to sit in on Town Council meetings when they occur (every six weeks, probably).  There they can, if necessary, act as a conduit between the two levels of council.

Is a Town Council guaranteed to be “ a good thing”?

No guarantee – it all depends on the quality of the councillors.   If electors in Baildon respond positively to this opportunity and candidates of good calibre come forward to offer themselves, then we can be optimistic about outcomes.  Given the scope for precepting, I see this as a chance for local people to make difference in Baildon.

Where can I find out more?

There is an excellent website of the National Association of Local Councils: www.nalc.gov.uk

If you lack internet access at home, you can gain access in Baildon Library