Press Coverage
|
Date: 31 January 2011
Type: Other Publication / Broadcaster: Eden Valley Messenger A parish revolution
Rory Stewart MP, Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Local and Parish Councils, used a meeting with Greg Clark MP, Minister of Decentralisation, to call for a radical transfer of power to parish and town councils. Mr Stewart said: "There is vast untapped potential in parish and town councils. For too long they have been treated patronisingly as though they can barely be trusted to cut the grass.In reality they can drive highly responsible, original and successful programmes. “Almost no-one can hope to compete with a parish's local knowledge, strength of their passion or their understanding of how to find a flexible and imaginative solution. No official will ever care as much about a parish as the people who live in it. But parishes can also demonstrate highly sophisticated technological knowledge - as Eden is showing every day through the 400 active members of Broadband Cumbria (www.broadbandcumbria.com) who are finding solutions far faster and cheaper than anything offered by previous governments. They can also - as Crosby Ravensworth shows with its Affordable Houses - show real imagination and flexibility." Greg Clark MP echoed Mr Stewart’s own feelings when he said he was disappointed in the Second Reading of this bill to hear the opposition benches’ patronising view of what goes on at a parish and a town level, describing those “who wish to exclude parish level from the new powers because they felt they lacked expertise” as being insulting and misplaced. He went on to say: “It is paradoxical to believe in localism and exclude those working at the most local level. Mr Clark showcased the work being done in Penrith and the Border when he said: “We hope and expect that neighbouring town and local council leaders will come together and help each other to replicate success stories. We will have a chance to pilot and lead the way just as is happening in Rory’s constituency in Cumbria.” Noting the national proliferation of local history societies the Minister explained “there is a yearning for sense of place and identity and an appetite for local services which is stronger than it has been for decades. Some local authorities have got in touch in advance of the bill saying they are working with their local councils and want support to get on. I think Rory’s Eden valley activities are a good example of this. It is very helpful to have someone like Rory, who is outstanding in the community encouraging his own constituents to get involved.” |
|
«...back |
