500% pay rise plan could mean end of parish council
Pressure on Wootton and East Hunsbury Parish Council over pay deals and council tax rows have sparked a former member to suggest the area should be 'de-parished'.
Helen Bolden, of Berry Lane, Wootton, wrote to Northampton Borough Council to suggest that residents consider having Wootton and East Hunsbury 'de-parished' with the permission of the Secretary of State ahead of Wednesday's parish council meeting.
Such a step would mean re-defining the boundary of the parish so that responsibility is taken away from the parish council.
Mrs Bolden, who is now retired, said: "I wrote to all the members of the parish council and I sent a copy to Councillor Colin Lill (Conservative borough councillor for Nene Valley) and the chief executive. I said that perhaps the residents would consider asking for the area to be de-parished because it has grown into such a large parish.
500% pay rise councillors propose 16 %rise in council tax - click here
"Practically the whole of the parish has been built on and we're already paying a borough rate. I've never minded paying a parish rate in the past but for them to vote themselves a pay rise, it's a bit rich. If they are going to award themselves 4,000 this year, what are they going to award themselves next year?"
Meanwhile, residents have complained about anti-social behaviour, an imbalance of services and a lack of youth facilities on the back of the parish council's pay hike and tax increase.
One resident described the pay deal that would see councillors take home at least 4,000 next year for their parish work as "appalling".
Tracey Davidson, from East Hunsbury, said: "It's appalling. I've lived in East Hunsbury for 10 years and house prices will go up because of that. It's quite raw at the moment."
The parish council has also spent more than 30,000 on youth work, as well as 10,000 on facilities at Blacky More this year while part of the parish has still been subject to a dispersal order to combat anti-social behaviour.
Residents are concerned the Multi-Use Games Areas (MUGA) provided by the council have only worsened the problem.
One resident in Butts Croft Close, East Hunsbury – where police have been moving on groups of youths since October – objected to a playground being built next to his house at Blacky More after problems with youngsters hanging around the games area.
East Hunsbury resident Wayne Chalmers agreed the new council tax would be too high.
What is your experience of Wootton and East Hunsbury? Is there enough for teenagers to do? Let us know what you think by registering below to post your comment or click here to email the Chron
He said: "There are lots of parks, the library is quite good and we've got Danes Camp but apart from that, we've not got that much.
"The increase in council tax is a big rise.
"I suppose, for the hours they put in, it's understandable but having said that the rise in council tax is too high, especially with rises in inflation."
Residents will get the chance to have their say on the councillors' decisions during public time at the parish council meeting tonight at Wootton Community Centre from 7pm.
donna.bowater@northantsnews.co.uk
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