Parish Councils were established in 1894 as the first tier of local government. In the same year Tadcaster Rural District was established as a 2nd tier of local government and included the parishes of Austhorpe, Garforth, Barwick, Scholes, Swillington, Allerton Bywater. Great and Little Preston, Micklefield, Aberford, Ledston, Ledsham, and Cross Gates, Kippax, Micklefield and Swillington.

In 1908 Garforth Urban District Council was established which included Garforth, Kippax and Allerton Bywater and lost their parish council status.

Why is Garforth the only community in this area of Leeds unparished?

The 1974 local government reorganisation included all of the District Councils in the new Leeds Metropolitan Council and the Garforth Urban District Council ceased to exist.

In 1999 Allerton Bywater and Horsforth applied and were granted PC status, followed by Kippax in 2004. In 2014 Alwoodley, Gildersome and Drighlington (with similar Local Government arrangements to the Garforth Urban District council) applied and were granted PC status. Bingley, Horsforth, Morley, Otley and Wetherby became town councils following the 1974 reorganisation. 

All of the above councils have the added advantage of being supported by both their Parish and Ward Councillors.

The Benefits of Parish Councils.

There are 31 parish and Town councils in Leeds who work together with local ward councillors for the benefit of their community.

Areas with Parish Councils have many advantages when compared to Neighbourhood Planning Forums. Their status is permanent unless abolished by a Community Review. As an elected body, Parish Councils have a mandate to:

• Speak on behalf of their residents
• Be formally consulted by Leeds City Council
• Raise precept money to improve services and the environment of their community.

All Parish Councils exist to represent the best interests of residents. The Parish Councillors are local residents elected by their communities and are supported by a funded Parish Clerk. They;

• Meet regularly with meetings open to the residents, to discuss the effect of their Local Council policies on the area
• Consult with and provide opportunities for local people to raise local issues
• Regular communication e.g. regular newsletters, notice boards and website
• Provide information on local issues and organise events
• Campaign for additional facilities.

Why Garforth needs a Parish Council now.

The Garforth Neighbourhood Plan is now a statutory document, but the plan needs to be monitored to ensure that the policies are included in decisions taken by planning officers. The Garforth Neighbourhood Planning Forum (GNPF) is not an elected body and does not have the permanent status of a Parish Council, nor the financial or clerical support to undertake this work.

Leeds City Council are preparing their next Local Plan for development and Government guidance wishes to prioritise development near railway stations. Once again, Garforth will be a target for developers and in the recent Council’s ‘Issues and Options’ consultation every field around Garforth has been submitted for possible development.

During the preparation of the Plan Garforth residents were consulted on many occasions, and the concerns expressed (access to educational and health services, road congestion, parking and surface water flooding) still remain. A Garforth Parish Council would be better resourced to work with our ward councillors to oppose further development and cuts to services and campaign for better facilities.
 

A Garforth Parish Council:

• Would have the right to be consulted regarding planning proposals before they go to a public consultation
• Would represent the views and concerns of residents over future plans to impose further large housing developments in Garforth
• Would ensure that its share (25%) of any locally raised Community Infrastructure Levy monies (CIL) is spent only in Garforth not throughout the Garforth & Swillington ward as at present.  CIL is currently due from the Selby Road development and any development on the industrial estate as that land has already been granted planning permission. As  the Forum  opposes all further development on the Green Belt and Green spaces  further CIL money will not be available.
• Would seek to improve the Green Spaces within Garforth
•  Would seek to protect the Green belt and good quality farmland that surrounds Garforth from further development
• Would provide information on all the clubs and activities that take place in Garforth
• Would publish regular communications e.g. a newsletter relating to events affecting Garforth
• Would campaign for additional facilities in Garforth and oppose cuts to services
• Would seek to protect the non-designated heritage assets in Garforth.

Aberford, Barwick, Swillington, Great & Little Preston, Allerton Bywater, Kippax and Micklefield have the support of both Ward and Parish Councillors. Garforth should have this support as well.

Any improvements could be funded by the precept levies on all properties. This precept would be set by Leeds City Council. In 2026/27 for a band D property in neighbouring areas ranged from £24.22 to £86.23 per annum and reflects the services that The Parish Councils provide. If you do not pay council tax you do not pay the precept.

NB Some residents in Garforth along with parts of the Industrial estate already pay a precept to Barwick and Aberford parish Councils.

The process followed by Leeds City Council involves several stages:

• An initial consultation seeking the views of residents on the principle of establishing a Parish or Town council
• Leeds City Council will then decide on future responsibilities, the precept, number of ward (& names) and the number of councillors
• Then there will be another public consultation on these proposals later this year which will need to be supported before final arrangements are made to establish a Parish or Town council.

 There are 31 Parish and Town councils in Leeds, some have a smaller population than others. Town Council are larger organisations and most have a Mayor and physical premises (Town halls).

 If a Parish (Council) is supported and created then it can always change to a Town Council.

 Horsforth was in a similar situation to Garforth being part of a District Urban District Council. A Parish Council was formed in 1999 and then established itself as a Town Council.

How do people become a Town or Parish Councillor?

 Anyone can apply to become a Parish or Town councillor if they live within the area and meet other criteria see  https://www.nalc.gov.uk/campaigns/becoming-a-councillor/how-to-become-a-parish-or-town-councillor.html

 Voting takes place at the same time as  local elections for Ward Councillors.

 The proposed boundary

 Garforth has been built out into both the Aberford and Barwick Parish Council areas. 

 As Garforth is surrounded by other Parish Councils parts of the industrial estate, Briarlands and all of Cedar Ridge and Nanny Goat lane could not be included. These areas have a Garforth address and are regarded as part of Garforth and in theory should be included.  The parishes involved have been split by the construction of the motorway. This anomaly meets the criteria for changing the boundary.   https://www.lgbce.org.uk/changing-parish-boundaries and it would need a separate Community Governance review.