Area Committees would work in villages with Parish Councils (Darlington and Sedgefield Liberal Democrats)

Darlington and Sedgefield Liberal Democrats <joe.kelley@darlingtonlibdems.org.uk>

Area Committees would work in villages with Parish Councils

May 21, 2007 3:33 PM

The Northern Echo published today a report of the Council Meeting on May 18th at which Cllr Mike Barker called for the introduction of Area Committees in Darlington. One aspect of the story was wrong, however. The Echo journalist, Paul Cook, suggested that Area Committees would not be introduced in villages which already have Parish Councils. In fact, they would work quite happily together.

Mike Barker has sent the following letter to "Hear All Sides" to correct this point.

"Dear Sir,

Whilst I am grateful to Paul Cook for his report on my maiden speech in Council, in which I advocated the introduction of Area Committees, one aspect of his report is incorrect. He states that villages which have Parish Councils would not have Area Committees. In fact, Area Committees would sit quite happily alongside Parish Councils, which could send one Councillor to the Area Committee as a non-voting co-opted member.

Parish Councillors would continue to carry out their existing functions, while Area Committees, consisting of Borough Councillors from the various geographical areas of the Borough, including the villages, would carry out many of the functions of the Borough Council in those areas.

Area Committees would have responsibility for approving planning applications, for example, and control over many environmental, cleaning and recreational services. They would have control over capital, revenue and grant expenditures in their areas.

Area Committees really are a wonderful way of ensuring that services in a local area meet the requirements of local people; they give hard-working back-bench councillors a real purpose and they encourage the involvement of local people in decisions about the area in which they live."