Town council made people’s voice heard
TUCKED away in the budget report presented to Lancashire County Council are the responses from parish and town councils to the proposed council tax increases.
In Rossendale, just one area has a parish or town council – Whitworth. Their response read: “It was resolved that Whitworth Town Council ask Lancashire County Council to consider limiting the increase of the precept to a 3% increase.
“Members suggested that Lancashire County
Council have received funding from central Government and also made operational savings through having staff remote working during the pandemic.
“Families are struggling to feed themselves and heat their homes and authorities need to support them by restricting any increases in the next financial year.”
Three per cent is still significantly ahead of inflation and therefore the tax rises will eat into many household budgets.
But it does show the importance of town and parish councils – ensuring local communities get to have a say based on what their local representatives are saying.
There surely is an argument for more parish and town councils across our area, ensuring the very diverse communities in our borough get their voices heard. You might not agree with what Whitworth Council said about tax rises, but at least a voice from Whitworth was heard.