Torbay Labour DON'T want new town councils

Lib Dems say it will bring democracy closer to voters.

The party says local people are not to blame for the council’s financial problems so should not have to pick up the bill.

A statement from the Torbay Labour Local Forum said: “By a unanimous vote, having listened to its own members’ views, Torbay Labour has called on local people to reject the proposals for Torquay and Paignton Town Councils.

 “Local residents are not to blame for the current financial position of Torbay Council, so why should they be expected to contribute an over 6% increase in local rates – £90 on a Band D property? 

“The true reason is the continuing austerity, started by the Conservative and Lib Dem Coalition Government and the failure of a Mayoral run Conservative Council, to increase council tax, year on year since 2011.”

Torbay Council is carrying out an eight-week public consultation on proposals to set up new town councils for Torquay and Paignton, which ends on October 25th.

A previous consultation early this year under the Conservative-dominated mayor-led authority saw eight of 10 responses against the idea.

The new Liberal Democrat and Independent partnership decided to go ahead with the next stage of consultation on detailed proposals after taking control of the council at elections in May.

The new administration says town councils would be able to take over some of the council’s non-statutory services which are at risk due to financial pressures, such as parks and gardens, seafront lights, museums, libraries and events, and bring democracy closer to communities.

People are being asked for their views on a set of proposals for the new councils which would limit the extra tax bill to £90 for a Band D property in the first year.

The proposals are for the new councils to be split into wards with the same number of representatives as sit on Torbay Council.

The Labour statement criticised the consultation, saying the process was open to abuse and designed to lead people to the council’s preferred option to go ahead.

Eddie Harris, chair of Torbay Labour Local Forum, said: “This is not consultation, it is using vital money – a budget of £50,000 has been allocated – to promote a course of action for which they have no mandate.”

He said it would be wiser to wait for the forthcoming general election followed by a Labour Government which would ensure local government was properly funded to improve public services.

The council’s Conservative group is also against new town councils, arguing they would be an expensive and unwanted extra layer of bureaucracy.

Liberal Democrat council leader Steve Darling has said the new structures would allow the transfer of at-risk services and bring democracy closer to voters by giving communities more power over decisions.

He has warned that the council is in danger of becoming “overwhelmed” by the increasing costs of providing children’s services.

The council has had to impose a freeze on non-essential spending for the second year in a row to tackle a projected £4m overspend.

Brixham already has a town council which was set up in 2007 after a campaign by electors. This year it is charging £51 for Band D tax payers.

People in the Churston With Galmpton ward will be asked whether they want to be added to Brixham or be under a new council for Paignton.

If Torbay decides to go ahead with the new town councils after the consultation, they could be in place for the start of the next financial year in April 2020.

Torbay council’s £36m planned spending on children’s social care from its £111m annual budget has doubled in a decade.

Meanwhile in the last six years Government funding for the council has been cut by £30m to £6m a year.

The council is a top-tier unitary authority and by law has to provide services such as children’s and adult social care.

A public event is being held as part of the town councils consultation at 7pm tonight (Tuesday 1st October), at the Riviera Centre in Torquay, where people will have the chance to ask questions to be answered by a panel of senior councillors and officers.