Garforth parish council plan raises key questions

People in Garforth are being urged to have their say on plans for a new parish or town council, amid questions over its cost, powers and future role.

The Garforth Neighbourhood Planning Forum triggered the formal process of possibly creating a new Garforth Parish Council. A public consultation is running until 24 August.

The proposal has prompted questions from residents and local representatives.

“I’ve had so many questions about this,” said councillor Mark Dobson, adding that he had received “dozens of emails and text messages” from people who are very concerned.

He added: “There are so many questions that – and I am speaking now as a member of the Garforth community – I want and need answering,” he said. 

He raised concerns over how a new council would operate, whether it would take over community services and how money raised through a council tax precept would be managed. 

As the plans are still under consultation, there is no clear answer on how it will impact council tax or costs for services. 

Leeds City Council also confirmed that as of yet, no decision has been made on creating a parish council, meaning there is currently no proposed precept or estimate of its impact on council tax.

However, it said the average parish precept in Leeds is £47.57 a year for a Band D property.

Commenting on the proposals, a spokesman for Leeds City Council said: “No decision has been made on whether a parish or parish council should be created. If a parish council were established, it would be a separate local authority with its own powers and responsibilities. Any decisions about services provided by a future parish council would be considered at that stage. Parish councils typically provide additional local services, facilities or community initiatives, rather than replacing the core services delivered by Leeds City Council.

“Decisions about any local services are normally made by the elected parish council after its creation. Parish councils can choose to provide additional services or take on responsibility for certain local assets or functions where appropriate.”

Explaining why the forum triggered the process, Sue McQuire, a spokesperson for the GNPF said a parish council would give Garforth powers that ward councillors alone do not have. She added that a parish council would give Garforth its own budget and legal powers to directly fund local projects, grants, events and public space improvements. 

She explained: “A ward councillor is an advocate and decision-maker within Leeds City Council, whereas a parish council is a local body that can raise money, fund projects, and directly organise improvements/ Kippax benefits from both, while Garforth has only ward councillors who are now responsible for even more recently developed areas.”

A parish council could also receive 25% of Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) receipts generated in an area with an adopted Neighbourhood Plan. Leeds City Council said this funding would be uncapped. 

However, Dobson questioned whether the potential financial benefit would outweigh the impact of development.

“The real question is, if the town or parish council were to have a windfall through a CIL, what would be the cost to the local community in terms of green space and supporting infrastructure?” he said.

He also raised concerns about how the proposals could affect existing groups within East Leeds and explained: “I am worried about this because at the moment we have lots of brilliant community groups who run services, and maintain buildings, on the ground such as Garforth Community Association at The Miners Welfare Hall.

“Is there an expectation that the newly formed council would take over these functions? Would they employ staff? Where would their operational base be? How would the money generated through a precept on council tax be managed?

“There are so many questions that, and I am speaking now as a member of the Garforth community, I want and need answering. I work in Wetherby and they have a brilliant Town Council, but it is a complex machine. Is there a strategy to roll out a council in Garforth on similar lines? Have these things been thought through in sufficient detail?”

Addressing concerns about local facilities, McGuire noted that while specific plans depend on the consultation outcome, parish councils “usually support community assets” rather than taking over direct operations. 

“This would be something decided by Leeds City Council along with the precept, should a Parish Council be created for Garforth,” she added. 

Despite growing questions from Garforth residents and local representatives about how a new parish council would change the area, concrete answers remain scarce for now. 

Leeds City Council said it will consider views from residents, businesses, community groups and other interested parties as part of the consultation before making recommendations on whether to proceed with the proposals.

Dobson urged residents to take part: “It is the people of Garforth whose views count, not mine,” he said.

Residents can respond online, on paper or in person.

To find out more, get contact details or fill in the online survey, visit: www.leeds.gov.uk/GarforthCGR.