Blackburn with Darwen's parish councils 'could go bankrupt' (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Blackburn with Darwen's parish councils 'could go bankrupt'

7:40pm Wednesday 4th November 2009

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PARISH councils across Blackburn with Darwen could be forced into bankruptcy if Darwen Town Council is forced to pay its own election costs, it has been claimed.

A motion tabled by the For Darwen Party against having to pay the full £33,000 due to go before Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council tomorrow night, has now been withdrawn while other parish and town councils are consulted.

There are six parish councils in the borough: Eccleshill; Livesey; North Turton; Pleasington; Tockholes; and Yate and Pickup Bank.

Panic has broken out over the intention of Blackburn with Darwen Council amid fears it would stop paying the election costs of any town or parish council.

For Darwen Party councillor Trevor Maxfield, who sits on both the town council and borough council, said: "It has been delayed until the next full council meeting because we have been getting a lot of phone calls from other parish councils and we want to consult with them.

"In the past, the parish councils have had their elections paid for by the borough.

"But if Darwen has to foot its own bill, this sets a legal precedant, and that could bankrupt all the other councils."

When news of the motion was first announced, Colin Rigby, executive member for resources on Blackburn with Darwen Council, said: "They have no choice but to pay for their own election.

"This is the reality of what they wished for. They wanted a town council, they've got a town council, now they've got to pay for a town council."

Coun Maxfield added: "If we do have to meet the costs as a town council, it will be spread out as £11,000 a year for three years.

"This will still have a significant impact on what we want to do but, because a budget has not been finalised yet, it's hard to tell exactly which projects and ideas will be hit."

Darwen MP Janet Anderson has also hit out at the borough's stance.

She said: "The motion had my full support and I consider the borough council are petty and churlish in not meeting these costs.

"It only serves to convince us that they know nothing and care less about the needs of the more rural parts of the borough.

"No wonder that people in Darwen think the council only cares about Blackburn."

The cost of June's poll works out at more than £10 for every Darwen resident who voted, and more than £2,500 for each of the 13 town councillors.

According to the breakdown, the biggest cost of £8,542 related to postal vote ballot packs.

Ballot papers cost £4,323 and there was a £180 bill for stationery.

According to the borough council, many costs have been split with the European election, which took place on the same day.

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