Erewash Tories recently blocked moves by the Erewash Labour Group to begin progressing towards Town Council's for our two Towns. Their main argument being that it would be too expensive. But at the same time their own Government were trumpeting that local people including Parish Councils will get extra powers. Erewash Conservatives don't appear to believe in localism for Long Eaton and Ilkeston. But it's OK for Parish Councils. Surely some inconsistency here.As a consequence of the refusal, on financial grounds, to progress towards letting local people decide whether they wanted Town Councils or not, the Labour Group decided to look at Parish finances. In particular that element paid directly out of Erewash coffers. It was timely because national Government were about to bleed Councils dry by cutting revenue support massively. The Tories had plenty of time to "declare an interest" bearing in mind eighteen of them are Parish Councillors. But no, they voted en bloc to defer discussion until the debate on the full budget. Without any formal declarations of interests!
However some Labour Members have demanded an Extraordinary Full Council to try to force the Tories to discuss Parish funding. The meeting will be held on Thursday 27th January at Ilkeston Town Hall at 7.00 p.m. A good attendance by the public would be much appreciated.
Absolutely right! The books should be opened as to just what these parished areas have been using of our money. The question has to be then if the parishes get some from the GENERAL Erewash coffers do the non-parish areas get anything from the parish coffers! Equality surely!! Hope the public wake up and smell the coffee about what is going on with this Tory council.
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