Resident calls for Saltburn and Marske parish council to be abolished

Peter Finlinson claims Saltburn, Marske and New Marske Parish Council is not representative as less than two thirds of its members have stood for election, the remainder having been co-opted onto the council.

Mr Finlinson also said the council was not accountable for the money it collected and spent through its parish precept, and attendance by members was in decline.

He said: “Parish councils have been dissolved in other parts of the country and savings made.

“There are five parish councils across the borough with a combined budget of more than £500,000.”

The 80-year-old, a former civil engineer, addressed an annual assembly of the parish council and said a poll of residents living in the parish was required to determine their views.

But the proposal did not win any formal support.

Mr Finlinson was told that all members of the council were hard-working and how regular audits took place.

A statement on behalf of the parish council and its chairman, Councillor Stan Glover said: “The overwhelming view of those members of the public who spoke was that the parish council was doing a good job in supporting local groups and that its abolishment would be detrimental to the parish. 

“Mr Finlinson’s proposal received no support from those present and there was no suggestion of it being seconded, so it failed on that basis without the requirement for a vote.”

Peter Finlinson, of Marske

Local electors can petition the principal council in their area – in this case Redcar and Cleveland – for a review to consider the abolition or dissolution of a parish council.

Meanwhile, a poll could be used, for example to ask residents if they maintain confidence in the parish council.

But it would not be binding on the council and would simply express the views of the electorate who vote in it.

Mr Finlinson said: “There have been problems with the parish council for a long time, if you make a complaint about them it never gets anywhere.

“I am entitled to speak at the parish assembly and entitled to ask for the dissolution.
“It is wrong to say there is no support, people came up to me after the meeting and asked why they [the council] didn’t ask for a vote.

“Nobody votes for anybody on the parish council, I don’t think people actually know what the parish council do, and even the members themselves – I think some of them go for a gossip or a chat, rather than do any particular work.”

Mr Finlinson described the parish council as a “cost centre” which he said could be absorbed into the borough council and done away with.

He said: “You wouldn’t be dealing with two tiers of local government, which in my view is too many.

“I think the general public need to wake up, if you like, to the fact we have another tier of government, which I don’t think is working, and which has been replaced in other parts of the country and savings have been made.”

Councillor Stuart Smith, left, with current chairman, Councillor Stan Glover

Redcar and Cleveland councillor Stuart Smith, who represents the Saltburn ward and is also a Saltburn, Marske and New Marske Parish councillor, said: “Peter has his own personal views.

“All parish councillors are volunteers, we don’t get paid, and we all are trying to seek to improve the communities in which we live.

“We do levy a precept – although it hasn’t increased for seven or eight years – but it does back into the community by awarding groups grants, who would struggle without this funding.

“We have a warden in Saltburn, Marske and New Marske, who does a lot of work and also helps the borough council with work they can’t do.

“If you didn’t have the parish council, the burden would go back onto the borough council who would struggle to cover with cutbacks what the parish do now.”

Cllr Smith said it was a “sad reflection” that some people did not want to give up their time to represent their community, but it was also understandable.

“They would complain, I’m sure, if services the parish council provides disappear, other examples being the Christmas lights switch on and Britain In Bloom,” he added.

Parish and town councils are the most local tier of government in England. 

They have a range of powers, but these largely extend to local matters such as looking after community buildings, open space, allotments, play areas, some street lighting, bus shelters and car parks.

They can raise money through council tax – the parish precept – and are required to hold elections every four years.

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