Dear Community Councillor
PETITION: NEW POWERS FOR COMMUNITY COUNCILS?
Scotland's 1,200 community councils have no meaningful decision-making powers and virtually no money. By comparison, England's 10,000 parish councils can choose from a wide range of powers with budgets to match, promoting collective creativity and strengthening local democracy - see details below.
WHY NOW?
Under its 'Democracy Matters' programme, the Scottish Government is committed to publishing a ‘blueprint’ before the end of this parliament for devolving powers to communities. Therefore this is a good time to press the case for empowering community councils.
With this in mind, you are invited to sign this petition, calling on the Scottish Parliament to give Scotland's community councils at least the same range of optional powers (with commensurate budgets) as England's parish councils - https://secure.avaaz.org/community_petitions/en/the_scottish_parliament_give_scotland_s_community_councils_real_powers_and_budgets_like_england_s_parish_councils/
BUDGETS OF ENGLAND'S PARISH COUNCILS:
Then there are those aspects of community governance that concern the welfare of the whole community. These might include:
LET'S HAVE A DISCUSSION !!
I'm sure you also have lots of thoughts about your role as a community councillor, and how it could be strengthened. With that in mind, you would be very welcome to join this new Facebook group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/new.powers.for.community.councils/
Yours sincerely,
Michael Gallagher (scunnered former community councillor)
PETITION: NEW POWERS FOR COMMUNITY COUNCILS?
Scotland's 1,200 community councils have no meaningful decision-making powers and virtually no money. By comparison, England's 10,000 parish councils can choose from a wide range of powers with budgets to match, promoting collective creativity and strengthening local democracy - see details below.
WHY NOW?
Under its 'Democracy Matters' programme, the Scottish Government is committed to publishing a ‘blueprint’ before the end of this parliament for devolving powers to communities. Therefore this is a good time to press the case for empowering community councils.
With this in mind, you are invited to sign this petition, calling on the Scottish Parliament to give Scotland's community councils at least the same range of optional powers (with commensurate budgets) as England's parish councils - https://secure.avaaz.org/community_petitions/en/the_scottish_parliament_give_scotland_s_community_councils_real_powers_and_budgets_like_england_s_parish_councils/
BUDGETS OF ENGLAND'S PARISH COUNCILS:
- 5,268 parishes in England have precepts in excess of £10,000
- 260 councils have precepts exceeding £500,000
- 70 local councils in England with precepts in excess of £1M
- Providing allotments, bus shelters, parking spaces, footpaths, public lighting
- Providing premises for athletic, social or educational objectives
- Providing premises for offices and for public meetings and assemblies
- Taking measures to prevent crime
- Tackling environmental issues
- Participating in schemes of collective investment
- Acquiring land for recreation grounds and public walks.
- Incurring expenditure not otherwise authorised on anything which in the council's opinion is in the interests of local inhabitants
Then there are those aspects of community governance that concern the welfare of the whole community. These might include:
- Road safety, e.g. the installation of traffic calming measures and pedestrian crossings, albeit with advice from the local authority
- Taking part in the management of local health centres
- Co-ordinating local volunteering
LET'S HAVE A DISCUSSION !!
I'm sure you also have lots of thoughts about your role as a community councillor, and how it could be strengthened. With that in mind, you would be very welcome to join this new Facebook group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/new.powers.for.community.councils/
Yours sincerely,
Michael Gallagher (scunnered former community councillor)
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