Latest news with #localdemocracy
ABC News
18-07-2025
- Politics
- ABC News
Cootamundra-Gundagai demerger ignites hope for other NSW councils
A decision to split a merged council has offered hope to other New South Wales shires fighting for the same cause. The Cootamundra and Gundagai councils were forced to merge in 2016 when the state government created 19 new councils from the amalgamation of 44 existing councils. A decade-long campaign to demerge ensued and on Thursday locals got their wish. "It was a great day for local democracy," Demerge NSW Alliance coordinator and Save Bombala president Grantley Ingram said. "The minister has listened to the community of Gundagai and Cootamundra and he's acted on their wishes." The 2016 decision to amalgamate councils was made by the former Coalition government to improve efficiency and reduce administrative costs. But Mr Ingram said that was "nonsense", and "roads, rates and rubbish" were common issues faced by merged councils, as well as the loss of council-run aged care facilities and staff turnover. He said people had wanted out in his town of Bombala, which was forced to merge into the Snowy Monaro Regional Council. "It's just not working," he said. Snowy Valleys Council was also among the 19 newly created councils, combining the Tumut Shire and Tumbarumba Shire councils. Councillor and former Tumut mayor Trina Thomson said both communities had different wants and needs. "It's like trying to run two separate councils under one umbrella," she said. "We believe that going forward, a demerger would enable us to have that independent, unique identity." The sentiment is not shared in the NSW western plains, where Dubbo Regional councillor Matthew Dickerson believes most people have accepted the merger between Dubbo and Wellington shires. "The eggs have been broken, the omelettes have been made," he said. "I think that moment has gone and I don't think there is any appetite for a de-amalgamation. "We're moving on in the world." During Thursday's announcement, Local Government Minister Ron Hoenig said there was now a legislative pathway for other merged councils to consider splitting. "We will not forcibly merge or demerge councils," he said. "These are decisions for communities, they are not decisions for governments. "[Governments] need to get their nose out of local government and their nose out of local communities that are more than capable of managing their own affairs. "The responsibility on effecting the demerger is in the hands of the democratically elected councillors." Mr Ingram agreed that councils were best to lead the process of demerging, and community consultation was paramount. "While I think it's a disaster, there may be others that quite like our regional council," he said. "We need to assess the wishes of the community."
BBC News
08-07-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Plans for apartments at Hull's Victoria Dock submitted
Plans for a four-storey residential development near Hull's Victoria Dock have been apartment block, earmarked on land north of South Bridge Road, would accommodate 20 two-bedroom and four one-bedroom units, according to would also be made to an existing retail unit car park to provide parking for the proposals will be considered by Hull City Council. According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service the site, to the east of the city centre, has become a popular place to live in recent years.A heritage impact assessment found the development "would not unduly impact upon the residential and commercial amenity of neighbouring occupants".Other developments on the eastern side of the River Hull include the East Bank Urban Village, which includes plans for up to 850 new homes. Listen to highlights from Hull and East Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here. Click here to download the BBC News app from the App Store for iPhone and here to download the BBC News app from Google Play for Android devices.
BBC News
04-07-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Views sought on Epsom & Ewell plans branded a 'waste of time'
A Surrey council is set to ask residents if they want one or more community or parish councils across the borough, in addition to a new mega council, under local government driving force behind the proposal is concerns over a "local democratic deficit", according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service. Epsom & Ewell Borough Council (EEBC) hopes the proposed 'community councils' would fill the void and give residents' back their voice in local councillor Julian Freeman has branded the plan a "waste of time". 'Local democracy at risk' As part of local government reorganisation, EEBC will be dissolved in April 2027 along with all 12 district, borough and county councils in Surrey. Two or three new super unitary councils will then be John Beckett has also criticised the reorganisation plans. "Let's not be under any illusion, these changes are about centralisation of power and money at the expense of local democracy," he warned if Epsom and Ewell is absorbed into a mega council, the population of 81,100 could be represented by 10 councillors. The borough currently has 35 councillors. The consultation on introducing the new community or parish councils is due to start in July 2025 and will run for 12 weeks. Local government shake-up is rushed, says MP Community councils, similar to parish councils, could take on responsibilities such as managing parks, bus shelters, community centres or street lighting and act as a local voice on planning applications, although these details would be clarified later. But adding another layer would go against the government's goal behind reorganisation which is to simplify the current two-tier council structures. Some councillors were sceptical if people in Epsom and Ewell wanted more councils or would respond to the consultation."For me this is a complete waste of time, money... and effort when we've got other priorities that are very much being neglected," added councillor Julian Freeman.
BBC News
19-06-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Elections cancelled due to lack of candidates
A dozen parish councils are unable to function due to a lack of candidates, stoking fears about the future of local near Lyneham in Wiltshire, is one of the areas affected, with Thursday's election cancelled because it failed to meet the minimum number of people councils represent the most local tier of government, with responsibilities for open spaces, street lighting and certain public amenities. Other areas affected in Wiltshire include Burbage, Ashton Keynes, and Vines, Dauntsey parish clerk, said it is a struggle to keep functioning. He added: "I'm holding the fort trying to make decisions on the council's behalf." Mr Vines added the parish is charged for each failed election and this was creating a financial a parish election to take place, the law states there must be at least three people standing. When asked, residents were divided on whether they would put their names council chair Ellen Blacker said that she was "really surprised that nobody ended up going for nomination".She added that if the situation continued she would probably nominate herself again, because she does not want to "see the village let down".Lucy Townsend, Wiltshire Council's returning officer, said that it was disappointing "there aren't more people that recognise what value they could add to their local communities"."We have to have town and parish councils that are able to function," she in Dauntsey are due to open again shortly, ahead of next month's election, as the community tries to elect a parish council for the third time in as many months. Uncontested parish council elections that were due to take place on Thursday are listed below: Ashton KeynesBurbageDauntseyGraftonHeywoodLattonLittle BedwynLydiard TregozeOakseyRedlynchStocktonWinterbourne Stoke
BBC News
03-06-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Bradford Council set to green-light roadworks worth £143m
Better bus infrastructure and a long-awaited footbridge are among several major road schemes across Bradford which are expected to get the green light will approve £143m-worth of work, with projects including major changes to Kings Road, a new footbridge linking Steeton to Silsden, and new bus lanes on Leeds Road and money is part of a £5.7bn government pot of cash distributed to councils for transport projects.A report being discussed by Bradford Council's decision-making executive says the works will contribute to a "safer" and "sustainable" transport network - but also warns there will be "temporary disruptions" from each phase of work. Projects getting the go-ahead include the long-planned footbridge over the busy A629, linking Steeton and bridge has been in the planning stages for well over a decade, and will get £12.9m funding from the programme. However, this will only be for Phase 1 – the actual eventual plan is for new pedestrian and cycle paths linking the two villages. However, the report going to the executive stresses no funding has so far been allocated for that phase, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Council said around £35m of the funding would also go towards extensive improvement works on Kings Road, which runs from Wrose to Bradford city centre. 'Temporary disruptions' Another £20m will be used to create a "sustainable transport corridor" on Wakefield Road, and £4.2m will improve "bus hotspots" at Westgate and near the Thornbury Gyratory close to Leeds £57m of the cash, all of which will be distributed by the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, would be spent on general highways repairs, the council report being presented to the executive says: "Safer, well-designed transport networks can help reduce crime and anti-social behaviour by increasing the presence of people in public areas."By providing and promoting sustainable travel options, the programme also offers alternatives to private car use, potentially improving community safety by mitigating issues around driver behaviour, such as speeding or congestion."However the report warns the extensive round of works "may bring temporary disruptions".The council said it would "seek to mitigate risks to community safety" by managing the works and pedestrian next major phase of roadworks for Bradford comes after the recent completion of regeneration works in the city centre which caused significant disruption for more than a year, with many businesses expressing traders have been more hopeful since the works were completed. Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
