50 signatures reached
To: Westmorland and Furness Council
Community Governance Review for Penrith
We, the residents and local electors of Penrith, are concerned about the current state of community governance in our town. We believe that it is time for a review of the community governance structure in Penrith to ensure that the voices of our community are heard, and our needs are addressed.
Penrith Town Council and its councillors have rejected two motions in the last 12 months to request a community governance review, denying the people a say in the governance of our town. As a result, we are calling for a valid petition for a Community Governance review of the entire areas of the Parish of Penrith currently served by Penrith Town Council.
We call on Westmorland and Furness Council to initiate a community governance review for Penrith, with the aim of improving transparency, accountability, and citizen participation in decision-making. A community governance review for Penrith should cover a range of issues, including the number of councillors, boundaries, wards, and the potential wider upper tier change to return Penrith to its historical home in Cumberland.
We also request that the review considers the option of disbanding the current Penrith Town Council and creating smaller parish councils serving the diverse range of distinct communities across Penrith. This could include separate parish councils covering CastleTown, Town Head, Scaws, Carleton, Wetheriggs, and other potential distinct parish council areas serving the local communities that cover Penrith. These areas have populations bigger than many of the smaller parish areas around Penrith that are already served by their own distinct parish councils made up of local people in those communities.
Smaller parish councils would bring more local-focused councils for the communities and substantial reductions in costs and parish precepts for households on the annual council tax. For instance, the current town council annual precept for 2023/24 is set at £468,295.00, resulting in a Band D property in Penrith paying £83.09 for the Parish Council. In comparison, residents in Eamont Bridge, covered by the Yanwath & Eamont Bridge Parish council, have an annual precept for 2023/24 set at £5,850.00, resulting in a Band D property paying just £26.38 a year for the Parish council.
As part of the governance review, consideration should be given to the properties located in the village of Eamont Bridge located North of the river, currently in the parish of Penrith, being relocated into the parish of Yanwath & Eamont Bridge with the rest of the community these properties are part of.
We believe that a community governance review is crucial to give the people of Penrith a voice in the governance of our town. We call on Westmorland and Furness Council to take immediate action to commence a community governance review of Penrith as legislation in the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007 enables to give the community a say on the governance of Penrith and the diverse range of communities across the area covered by the parish of Penrith.
Penrith Town Council and its councillors have rejected two motions in the last 12 months to request a community governance review, denying the people a say in the governance of our town. As a result, we are calling for a valid petition for a Community Governance review of the entire areas of the Parish of Penrith currently served by Penrith Town Council.
We call on Westmorland and Furness Council to initiate a community governance review for Penrith, with the aim of improving transparency, accountability, and citizen participation in decision-making. A community governance review for Penrith should cover a range of issues, including the number of councillors, boundaries, wards, and the potential wider upper tier change to return Penrith to its historical home in Cumberland.
We also request that the review considers the option of disbanding the current Penrith Town Council and creating smaller parish councils serving the diverse range of distinct communities across Penrith. This could include separate parish councils covering CastleTown, Town Head, Scaws, Carleton, Wetheriggs, and other potential distinct parish council areas serving the local communities that cover Penrith. These areas have populations bigger than many of the smaller parish areas around Penrith that are already served by their own distinct parish councils made up of local people in those communities.
Smaller parish councils would bring more local-focused councils for the communities and substantial reductions in costs and parish precepts for households on the annual council tax. For instance, the current town council annual precept for 2023/24 is set at £468,295.00, resulting in a Band D property in Penrith paying £83.09 for the Parish Council. In comparison, residents in Eamont Bridge, covered by the Yanwath & Eamont Bridge Parish council, have an annual precept for 2023/24 set at £5,850.00, resulting in a Band D property paying just £26.38 a year for the Parish council.
As part of the governance review, consideration should be given to the properties located in the village of Eamont Bridge located North of the river, currently in the parish of Penrith, being relocated into the parish of Yanwath & Eamont Bridge with the rest of the community these properties are part of.
We believe that a community governance review is crucial to give the people of Penrith a voice in the governance of our town. We call on Westmorland and Furness Council to take immediate action to commence a community governance review of Penrith as legislation in the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007 enables to give the community a say on the governance of Penrith and the diverse range of communities across the area covered by the parish of Penrith.
Why is this important?
This petition is important because it calls for a review of the community governance structure in Penrith, with the aim of improving transparency, accountability, and citizen participation in decision-making.
It also suggests the creation of smaller parish councils serving the diverse range of distinct communities across Penrith, which would bring more local-focused councils for the communities and likely lead to substantial reductions in costs and parish precepts for households on the annual council tax bill.
The petition highlights the fact that the community's voices have not been heard, and their needs have not been adequately addressed by Penrith Town Council.
The community must have a say in the governance of Penrith, and a community governance review would provide an opportunity for the community to be heard and have a meaningful say in decision-making.
It also suggests the creation of smaller parish councils serving the diverse range of distinct communities across Penrith, which would bring more local-focused councils for the communities and likely lead to substantial reductions in costs and parish precepts for households on the annual council tax bill.
The petition highlights the fact that the community's voices have not been heard, and their needs have not been adequately addressed by Penrith Town Council.
The community must have a say in the governance of Penrith, and a community governance review would provide an opportunity for the community to be heard and have a meaningful say in decision-making.
How it will be delivered
This Petition requires the signatures of 1290 Penrith residents registered to vote in Penrith.
Once this number of valid signatures is reached the petition will be handed to the monitoring officer of Westmorland and Furness Council who will have a legal duty to commence a Community Governance Review for Penrith.
