Leeds City Council Parish Council precepts band D

Click here to download a list of Parish Council Precepts in Leeds. The communities in bold are immediate neighbours to Garforth

Community Governance Review of Garforth – further information

Introduction
Garforth Neighbourhood Planning Forum has produced this information which you may find helpful when completing the consultation survey for the Community Governance Review of Garforth.

Please note this information contains the views and opinions of the Garforth Neighbourhood Planning Forum and is in no way affiliated with Leeds City Council. 

Questions relating to Leeds City Council’s review process and future arrangements including precepts should be referred to Leeds City Council Electoral Services on 0113 3784419 or electors@leeds.gov.uk. More information can also be found at www.leeds.gov.uk/GarforthCGR.

The sections referred to below correspond to the sections of the survey, which you can view at www.leeds.gov.uk/GarforthCGR.

Section 2     Do you think a new ‘parish’ should be created for Garforth?

The Terms of Reference for the review make clear that a ’parish’ is the geographical area that forms the lowest level of local government. A parish may have a parish council, town council or community council. The name of the parish may vary, but the parish itself is the area it serves. For the purpose of this review, the word parish refers to the area/boundary which could potentially be created for Garforth, while later questions in the survey ask what type of council, if any, should govern the area. 

• Garforth is surrounded by other parish councils and those areas benefit from having the support of both the LCC ward councillors and parish councillors. The Garforth Neighbourhood Planning Forum believe that Garforth should have the same support as all our neighbours: Aberford, Barwick, Micklefield, Kippax, Allerton Bywater, Swillington and Great & Little Preston.

Section 2   What advantages or benefits, if any, do you think a Parish could bring?

• There are many different groups/organisations within Garforth we believe information about these groups is not easily available. A Parish Council could have a dedicated website tab listing details of all these activities.
• Parish Councils can support local groups, improve local green spaces e.g. Glebelands, Barleyhill, Queensway, Goosefields and raise funds for larger projects. 
• A parish council could actively campaign to oppose the threats of closure or cuts to council or health service facilities. Already Garforth has lost the clinic on Lidgett Lane, the police station is no longer open to the public, there are continued threats to close the Leisure centre on Ninelands Lane and the children’s services.

Section 2   What disadvantages or concerns, if any, do you think a PC would bring?

• There will be concern about the additional precept added to council tax, but even the highest precepts in Leeds: Otley Town Council £101 per annum and Wetherby Town Council £127 for 2026/7 would be less than the price of a cup of coffee each week. However, if you do not pay council tax then you do not pay the precept either. Some areas of Garforth outside of our suggested boundary already pay a precept to Aberford and to Barwick parish Councils.

Section 3 do you think existing arrangements for community participation currently provide effective and inclusive local representation. Explain your reason.

• Most groups rely on posters at venues, banners on railings or posted on the notice board in supermarkets
• There are several Facebook pages with open and closed groups. However, these are only accessible to homes with internet access and only then if people are aware of them, so information is not available to all residents
• There is a notice board on Main Street with limited space
• The GNPF has a notice board in the library
• There are no regular meetings held in Garforth which are open to residents to meet local councillors and voice concerns.
• There is an Outer East Community committee with councillors from 4 different wards who now only meet at the civic hall and minutes are only available online.

Section 3 Would a PC improve community engagement compared with existing arrangements?

•  A Parish Council would meet monthly in Garforth and be open to the public and ward councillors, 
• The Public would be invited to raise their issues
• The minutes and agenda would be published on the website and on dedicated notice boards throughout Garforth and in the library
• A dedicated website with easy access to many topics affecting Garforth

Section 4   Does the proposed parish area represent a recognisable community?

• Yes, we believe it does.  The map of the area we have proposed shows Garforth surrounded by the green belts of all the other parish councils.

Are the proposed boundaries appropriate?

• Some parts of Garforth to the north have been built in the Aberford Parish and some are in the Barwick parish, and so are not included in our application.  The construction of the motorway has split the parishes of Aberford and Barwick. 

Are there any areas that should be included within the proposed parish Boundary?

• There are areas which are part of Garforth but built in the Aberford and Barwick parishes which may be represented by a Garforth Parish council. We encourage those responding to the consultation to consider what they think would be most appropriate and make this clear in their responses.

Section 5 if a PC is created what should it be called?

• Town councils are much larger organisations than Parish Councils. Morley, Wetherby and Otley are Town councils with physical premises (town hall) and a mayor. At present with no recent history of having a Parish council status nor any premises we believe it would be more appropriate to start with a smaller organisation which can be changed at a later stage.
• We are applying for a Garforth Parish Council but you may wish to suggest an alternative style.

Section 6   What do you think the main issues a parish council should focus on (select up to 3)?

• We consider all of these topics are important
• Parish Councils consider all aspects of community life
• It will be up to the parish Council to consult with residents and focus on their priorities

Section 6 What services or activities would you like a parish council to provide?

We understand that some services currently provided by Leeds City Council will be passed to a Parish Council. These will be confirmed should a parish and parish or other council be approved. These are some of our suggestions but will depend on the priorities of residents 

• Regular meetings in Garforth open to residents
• Minutes and newsletters available to all residents
• The reinstatement of community activities that are no longer held e.g. Firework displays, community galas, events to celebrate national events.
• Take responsibility for the Garforth Neighbourhood Plan and represent Garforth Parish at planning meetings
•  Improve and protect community facilities, many are at risk of closure by LCC
•  Improve all the green spaces 
•  Seek to Improve Main Street where appropriate 

Section 6 Would you support paying an additional council tax charge if it funded local services and priorities identified by the community?

• Parts of Garforth situated in the Aberford and Barwick parishes already pay a precept to those parish councils although they generally do not benefit in the same way as the residents of Aberford and Barwick
• Other parish councils use their precept to improve the environment and facilities and give support to groups within their community. A Garforth parish council would seek to do the same
• The highest precepts within Leeds are the Wetherby and Otley Town councils £101 and £127 respectively. Most precepts across the 31 parish and town councils would be less than one cup of coffee a week.

Section 6 In your view would the benefits of a Parish Council justify the likely precept?

• All our neighbours: Aberford, Allerton Bywater, Barwick, Great& Little Preston, Kippax, Micklefield and Swillington have Parish Councils and have the support of both their Parish and Ward councillors in looking after the interests of their communities. 
• Please see the suggestions listed in the questions above

Section 7   If a PC is established, how many councillors do you think it should have?

• The Terms of Reference for the review contain information about other parishes in Leeds and their Councillor numbers. Our application suggested the proposed Garforth parish would comprise of 3 wards with approximately 5 councillors in each ward, depending on how the wards are organised. 

Section 7   Should the parish be divided into wards for the election of Parish Councillors?

• Warding divides the population into manageable smaller areas with each representing its own needs. In Garforth there is an older area based around Main Street and Townend and then the estates to the West and the East situated at some distance from Main Street.

Section 7 if yes how should the area be divided?

• As Garforth has been developed estate by estate it would seem appropriate for the wards to represent these distinct areas. A central older area based around Main Street and Townend, and the estates to the West and East of Main Street, but this has yet to be determined.

Section 7   Have you any views on the following: Parish ward boundaries, number of councillors in each ward, ward names?

• Ward boundaries - see section 4 
• Number of councillors in each ward – see section 7

Ward Names.  Our application suggested the following based on historical maps   for the area: West Garforth, Church or Moor Garforth and East Garforth. These will be determined using information gathered during consultation as part of the review being undertaken by LCC.