RORY LEADS NATIONAL CAMPAIGN FOR PARISH FINANCING

Rory, chairman of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Local Democracy, led a national campaign for parish council financing in a packed – standing room only – meeting of the APPG for Local Democracy. In a meeting attended by over twenty MPs from all parties, Rory challenged the Local Government minister, Brandon Lewis MP, to make sure that local government reforms do not leave Parish Councils out in the cold.

The main purpose of the meeting was to discuss the concerns of town and parish councils about the impact of the localisation of Council Tax benefit on their financial independence. Under the new regime, principle authorities will be given grant funding to cover the costs of providing support for those on benefits, but there is no legal requirement for councils to pass on this funding to cover the council tax precepts for those on benefits to town and parish councils. Although most council’s this year have said they will pass the funding on this year, two have said that they will not and there is concern about the implications this will have on what other councils may do in the future.

Rory raised these issues with the Local Government Minister, Brandon Lewis MP, and pushed for him to look at the issue again, highlighting the need for clarity.

Rory said: ‘This is an incredibly important issue. There is real concern across the country that parish council’s financial independence could be seriously undermined by these new reforms. If the government expects parish and town councils to step up and take more control over local services, they need to ensure that there is a clear and workable financial system in place. It was great to see so many MPs in attendance at the meeting with Brandon Lewis. The APPG for Local Democracy will now continue to work with NALC to ensure the minister looks carefully at this issue again.’

Cllr Ken Browse, Chairman of NALC, said: “We hope that the meeting of the All Party Local Democracy Group made the strength of feeling clear to the minister and we welcome his promise to look at the issue again. Ensuring the funding system works to enhance the independence of parish councils is essential for the future of localism.”