PLANS by Pendle Council to ‘offload’ some of its services to town and parish councils are set to be decided tonight.

Council chiefs in Pendle recommended that the town and parish councils take a host of facilities in a bid to lessen the burden on the cash-strapped borough council which is limited by how much it can increase council tax.

MORE TOP STORIES:

A report by officer Philip Mousdale suggests that whereas Pendle Council’s scope for increasing council tax is limited, the town and parish councils have more flexibility as they can raise their precepts without restraint.

Mr Mousdale’s report identifies that the move may not be seen as wholly fair, as certain facilities may be located in one parish but widely used by residents from another who would not have to foot the bill.

Councillors have also raised the point that they may end up taking over play areas, for instance, which need investment that they simply do not have the money or resources for.

Town and parish councils in Pendle usually only employ two or three members of staff, meaning they would have to enlist volunteers to build up their manpower.

If the transfer goes ahead, town and parish councils could expect to be responsible for indoor and outdoor markets, car parks, picnic sites, town centre sweeping, CCTV and bus shelters, by April 2015.

Leader of the borough council Joe Cooney said: “Town and parish councils are already taking on more responsibilities in their areas, for example, for events and festive decorations.

“There is scope for them to take on more and some have a real appetite for this.

“It’s time to put this on a firmer footing by working on a programme of possible future transfers over the next two years.

“This will help us avoid increasing Pendle’s Council tax.” Coun Tony Greaves, deputy leader of the council and Liberal Democrat group leader, said: “The government is forcing Pendle Council to cut its spending by half and there is no way that it can continue to pay for everything it does now.

“Passing some services to town and parish councils means they can be looked after more locally and helps us make savings.

“It will also help to keep things going in the future if councils like Pendle are joined up under much larger unitary authorities based in places many miles away.”