Lickey End shows problems with disbanding parish councils

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IF THE decision is taken to disband parish councils, it could be a lengthy process - a fact known all too well by residents from Lickey End.

Lickey End Parish Council was set up in 2001, but public apathy for the system was there for all to see from the off as ten anti-parish councillors - all who wanted to scrap the authority and return the area to its unparished state - were voted in.

The councillors met four times a year - the minimum get-togethers required by law - and never set a precept. Instead, any queries or requests they had were forwarded onto Bromsgrove District Council.

The pro-parish people put up six people for the ten seats in 2003 and the anti-parish councillors won all ten seats and were voted in again.

The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister rejected Bromsgrove District Council's recommendation to abolish the parish council, saying there was no overwhelming support.

Then in May 2007 the ten seats were taken by anti-parish councillors as they were uncontested.

Another review began in April 2010 with one question - asking if the parish of Lickey End should be abolished and the parish council be dissolved.

Of the 2,178 Lickey End electorate, 758 responded with 625 (82.4 per cent) voting in favour of abolition and 120 voting against it (15.8 per cent). There were also 13 rejected responses.

Bromsgrove District Council considered the findings of the electoral matters committee in July 2010 and recommended the parish of Lickey End be abolished and the area should not have a parish council.

Final proposals were published in October 2010 and the Lickey End Parish Council dissolution and abolition order was made in December 2010.

The area finally returned to its unparished state on January 1, 2011.

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