Unhappy at town council absence in report

A BOROUGH councillor was unhappy to find a report, which reviewed parish council arrangements in Charnwood, did not recommend creating a Loughborough Town Council.

Charnwood Borough Council met on Monday, June 26, to hear of recommendations the member reference group had come up with after carrying out a review of parish electoral arrangements.

The council formed the group at the start of the year and a public consultation was launched seeking people’s views.

A total of 35 responses were received and, from them, the group came up with 13 recommendations to improve parish council arrangements. The recommendations include: • Increasing the number of parish councillors for Quorn Parish Council from 11 to 13

• Establishing a new parish meeting for the proposed Garendon development

• And increasing the number of town councillors for Shepshed Town Council from 15 to 20

But Coun Jewel Miah was unhappy the report did not suggest a Loughborough Town Council.

At the meeting he said: “There’s a population of 65,000 residents in Loughborough who deserve to make their own decisions.”

Coun Paul Mercer said one response was received relating to Loughborough in the public consultation.

He said: “The fact there is only one response on this shows, in my experience, there is no interest in having a town council.”

Councillors voted in favour of the report. The draft report will now be subject to a further three-month consultation with parish and town councils and residents whose properties may be affected by recommendations to change parish boundaries.