Countryside Agency thinks our Parish Councils are "sleeping"...

Cllr Jonathan Owen, Deputy Leader of the Conservative Group, will ask the following question at Full Council on Wednesday 27th February, to highlight the issue of Parish Council 'grading' by the Government amid fears that this is the first stage in a move to justify the abolition or amalgamation of parishes as part of its regeneration agenda.

"Does the Leader of the Council agree that the categorisation of Parish Councils by the Countryside Agency, under government direction, into 'vibrant', 'active', 'barely active' or 'sleeping' without any consultation is an insult to the voluntary work the individual members of those councils undertake particularly in addition to them having to sign a draconian code of conduct making a mockery of the supposed enhanced role the Government expects of them through its 'quality parish and town council' initiative?"

25th February 2002