Governance Review - Further Consultation
Central Bedfordshire Council has decided to extend the Consultation exercise on the Fairfield Governance Review to see whether dividing Stotfold parish into wards would solve the issues we have highlighted.
This surprising idea came from the General Purposes Committee of the council at their meeting in December. The idea has been firmly vetoed by Stotfold Council and we are urging residents to reject it also.
For newcomers to the Park you will all know that you pay a rentcharge for the upkeep of the open spaces, play areas and the community hall (yet to open). You also pay towards local facilities via the parish precept part of the council tax. However, none of that money is invested in Fairfield and it is not a small sum. In the coming year it is estimated to be in excess of £90,000.
We say this is not only unfair it is wrong. The money raised on Fairfield should be invested in facilities on Fairfield.
A petition organised in May attracted 1,200 signatures – more than enough to trigger a Boundary review asking for Fairfield to become parish in our own right.
The first stages of that review were published in December and the report is available for download here.
Our thanks to all those who reacted in such a positive way to the Consultative document for the Fairfield Governance Review. A report on the results of the consultation has now been published.
Of the Fairfield households who responded, 98 per cent were in favour with just two per cent against. Interestingly, 56 per cent of households in the rest of Stotfold also voted in favour.
When the subject was discussed at the meeting in December Councillors did not follow the democratic wishes of the people but instead decided on the further consultation as described earlier.
Please complete the form from Central Bedfordshire and return it. The Consultation document is being delivered on a one per household basis.
The more signatures we get the stronger our case.
If there is more than one in a household, you can either photocopy the form so that each completes it or go online and each person can complete it.
The timetable for the Review agreed by the Committee is:
| Two months |
7 January to March 7 | ||
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If you wish to read the full terms of reference they can be downloaded here.
Our Submission document is available for download here.
We are contributing almost £100k in Council Tax to Stotfold Town Council but enjoy little or no return.
However, we are also paying for public facilities on Fairfield through our rentcharge or service charge that receives no contribution from Stotfold.
This is not only unfair and unjust it is leaking money that could be better spent within Fairfield where the cash is generated.
A Community (Parish) Council could do many things for Fairfield once it is set up.
It would have one duty — to provide allotments. We would also look at all planning matters to make sure we preserve the feel and the look of Fairfield. But if residents agreed we could make Fairfield a better environment for young and old.
These are some of our thoughts:
- Maintaining the Orchards
- Improving the graveyard and unmarked cemetry
- Making an annual contribution to the Community Centre that covers its expected early year losses
- Providing much needed furnishings and equipment in the Community Hall that turns it from a Sports Hall into a fully equipped Community Centre
- Finding land and establishing a recreation Ground for the enjoyment of the youth and those not so young!
- If you would like to see more, please go onto our Forum and let us know your thoughts.
Rome wasn't built in a day and not all of the above could be tackled on day one. But if we budgeted to produce a similar sum these ideas could be tackled within a few years.
