The Labour Group on Erewash is trying to unlock the puzzle of how Parish Councils justify spending Borough money. For the second time we are putting forward a resolution to the Erewash Full Council meeting trying to unlock the secret of the way that Parish Councils claim money from the Borough under a heading called "concurrent functions". The whole sum is over £200,000 spread unevenly across Parish Councils.Several Parish Councils have been obstructive about giving access to information. One claimed they wanted over a thousand pounds up front before they would give the information someone asked for!
It smacks of hypocrisy chucking money at Parish Councils when the Tory controlled Borough recently turned down our efforts, on the grounds of cost, to get a formal consultation going on the possibility of Town Councils in Long Eaton and Ilkeston .
When you compare their actions against the so-called localist agenda that the Conservative led Coalition Government are pushing, the Erewash Tories stance just doesn't stack up. They have had plenty of practice doing U-turns at national level now it's high time they did so locally in Erewash on the issue of Town Councils.
What is so irksome is that the Tory Councillors who voted to stop progress towards town councils are mainly Parish Councillors themselves. I don't mind people being two hatted but two faced is a bit too much.
The next Erewash Full Council starts at 7.00 p.m. at Ilkeston Town Hall on Thursday 27th January. Come along and see democracy in action. Will the Tories chicken out again?
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