Town councils set to become ‘more effective’

Town and parish councils could become ‘more effective’ if the current Lincolnshire devolution bid is approved.
Coun Stephen BunneyCoun Stephen Bunney
Coun Stephen Bunney

That is the message from Coun Stephen Bunney - a West Lindsey District Council member for Market Rasen, and deputy mayor of the town.

Speaking at the town council’s July meeting, Coun Bunney reassured fellow councillors they would not be affected by the plans to scrap councils.

He told the meeting: “The fourth tier parish and town councils will remain.

Market Rasen Leisure Centre opens to the public for the first time. L-R Cordelia McCartney, Giles McNeil, John McNeil, Steve England, Anna Grieve, Kerry O'Neill - contract manager, Stephen Bunney. EMN-200727-103243001Market Rasen Leisure Centre opens to the public for the first time. L-R Cordelia McCartney, Giles McNeil, John McNeil, Steve England, Anna Grieve, Kerry O'Neill - contract manager, Stephen Bunney. EMN-200727-103243001
Market Rasen Leisure Centre opens to the public for the first time. L-R Cordelia McCartney, Giles McNeil, John McNeil, Steve England, Anna Grieve, Kerry O'Neill - contract manager, Stephen Bunney. EMN-200727-103243001

“The thing to remember is that town and parish councils will never disappear under the current arrangements.

“Any consulting is not to do with getting rid of parish and town councils, it’s to make them more effective and to make sure they’re listened to and their views are taken into account.”

Last month district councils across Lincolnshire criticised a lack of engagement and consultation over a devolution bid which could see them disbanded by 2022.

The proposals could see the formation of two unitary councils for Greater Lincolnshire – North and South – and would see the existing councils abolished and disbanded.

The move to restructure the county’s governance has been led by Lincolnshire County Council, with support from Lincolnshire’s two existing unitary authorities - North Lincolnshire Council and North East Lincolnshire Council.

District council leaders have raised concerns about the time-frame and have proposed a new 12-month ‘scoping exercise’ to identify what a successful reorganisation could look like, with those proposals being implemented in 2023 instead of elections.