Some parts of North West Leicestershire have a Parish or Town Council. They look after parks, open spaces and community centres. They work in partnership with local businesses. They can apply for grants unavailable to upper-tier councils. Run by volunteers, passionate about the place they live in, they are in the right place to get the best for local people. But not everywhere is lucky enough to have one.
For some reason, Coalville never had a Parish or Town Council. When the old Coalville Urban District Council morphed into North West Leicestershire District Council, in 1974, the District retained control of the town centre wards, charging residents a local precept or ‘Special Expense’ on their Council tax. Ultimately it is the ruling Cabinet that decides how much money to raise and what to spend it on.
In 2027 a Shadow Unitary Council will prepare to take over Leicestershire’s local government. Joining up services across the County should make it easier for customers to navigate public services. It will join up Highways with Planning, Social Care with Communities, Waste Collection with Waste Disposal. We won’t know for a few more weeks exactly what it will look like, but we can be sure that it will cover a much larger area than the current district council and it may feel more distant from our towns and villages.
In a recent consultation, 80% of Coalville residents said they wanted a Parish or Town Council for Coalville. There are now two options on the table: a full-sized Coalville Parish Council, eligible to apply to become a Coalville Town Council, or two smaller Parish Councils. The alternative option would split Coalville in two. Three wards of the town would become a tiny Parish Council covering the Greenhill area.
Don’t Split our Town in Two - Cllr John Legrys
‘Don’t Split our Town in Two,’ says town centre resident and Labour Group Leader Cllr John Legrys. ‘The biggest cost to any organisation is wages. A Greater Coalville Town Council shouldn’t cost you any more than you are paying now. But two smaller parishes would mean employing two Parish Clerks and two sets of secretarial and ground staff. A fragmented Coalville urban district would have less money to spend on the local improvements that people want to see.’
The next round of consultation begins on the 1st July and runs until the 13th September. For more information see the Community Governance Review: https://www.nwleics.gov.uk/pages/elections_community_governance_reviews
Are you interested in becoming a Parish Councillor? Not sure what the job entails? Click the link below and have a look.