GARFORTH NEIGHBOURHOOD PLANNING FORUM 

NOTES FROM PUBLIC MEETING REGARDING AN APPLICATION TO ESTABLISH A PARISH COUNCIL

10TH AUGUST 2026 at 7.30pm

MINERS WELFARE HALL

Independent Chair: Oonagh McIntosh

This was a very well attended and useful meeting, with over 100 Garforth residents. After introductions and welcome by the Chair, Brian Flynn gave a brief explanation of the process to date.

1. What is the Neighbourhood Plan?

An initial meeting took place in 2013 to form a neighbourhood forum, made up of around 200 people from the community. A Steering Group of volunteers took on the task of writing the Plan over a 10-year period, during which many consultations and surveys were carried out with residents and guidance was given by Leeds City Council (LCC). It was passed at referendum in 2023 by a 75% majority and subsequently “made”. It contains many policy statements which have to be taken into account by LCC when considering planning applications. It can be found at www.garforthnewsletter.co.uk.

1.  Why is a Parish Council a good idea?

The Plan contains many policies and projects aimed at ensuring that Garforth remains a great place to live. The forum has now done its job, but felt that a democratically elected body would be the best way to take it forward.  A Parish council would require funding via a precept on each household. The average payment in Leeds in 2026 is approx. £50pa. Where no council tax is paid, there would be no precept. A power point presentation on the website above gives more information.

1. The request to LCC

The application triggered a Community Governance Review. The initial consultation is now underway and residents can respond on Garforth Community Governance Review | Leeds.gov.uk It will close on Monday 24 August.

1.  Next steps

LCC will consider the responses and then supply more details. If a Parish Council is to be established, it is to be hoped that a wide-ranging group of people will put themselves forward.

his was followed by a talk by Martin Eyres, Chair of Kippax PC about how they are set up and what they do.

• Lowest tier of local government, made up of 16 volunteer councillors; there are 8 sub-committees with 9 councillors on each. They do the same job as town councils and village councils.
• Monthly meetings, plus sub-committee meetings. All are dbs checked and are given first aid training. They have a paid clerk who works 90 hours per month. Maintain a website and noticeboards for information.
• LCC set the initial precept, but once up and running, the PC sets it each year. It is currently £63.52, generating £200,000 income for various projects.
• Work with community groups and share some costs with their ward councillors. Supporting groups can enable them to go for larger grants themselves.
• Councillors have uniforms so that they can be identified at public events.
• Budget for large projects e.g. skate park.
• LCC provide contractors for projects such as re-painting the tennis courts and establishing a new playground. The PC have to accept the quotes, although will negotiate where they can.
• Support many applications for financial help, both large and small, from £38,000 for the Christmas budget to paying for a coach to take school children to a competition.

There was then time for numerous questions and comments: -

CIL money - can be generated at 25% for spending in the local community, but only on large scale developments. Garforth Neighbourhood Planning Forum (GNPF) has consistently opposed large planning developments, but if any do go ahead, there are policies in the Plan to help shape what they would look like.

Ward and Parish Councillors – they each have their own jobs and budgets, but also work together.

Precept – concerns were raised about how this might increase over the years and put an extra burden on young people and those on lower incomes at a time of rising costs.

Provision of facilities by PC – In Kippax there is consultation with residents on larger projects and a majority decision is taken. They also aim to improve what is already there and help with setting up new groups.

Garforth Now – It was commented that Garforth is already well provided for with many community groups and money to finance them.

Committee members – there was doubt about how enough people could be recruited to a PC when other groups struggle to find and retain them. Younger people may find it particularly difficult with so many other commitments.

Additional benefits – a PC would be an addition allowing all residents to contribute and would be a more democratic system. All groups need more money and it would enhance what is already in place.

Boundaries – concerns were raised about those living in Garforth, but who are legally in another parish and pay a precept to them. The current application could not include those areas. It could be a matter for consideration by a new PC.

Process – this is on the Garforth newsletter website. This consultation is the first part of the process, in which Garforth residents are informed and can make their representations to Leeds City Council. After considering those responses LCC will make a decision about a second consultation. As to why there was no consultation prior to the Governance Review, it was responded that this was a fair point of view. It was suggested that it might have been because the forum did not have the funds.

Cllr. Mark Dobson commented that the process is set down in an Act of Parliament. There was a previous attempt at a PC, which didn’t go through. After 2023 when the Neighbourhood Plan was made, it gave any group the right to trigger a Community Governance Review and be considered by the General Purposes Committee. In October LCC will make an evidence-based decision. Boundaries can be sorted out. If not enough people support it, the consultation will go ahead with that knowledge. He has faith in the process.

If a PC is established and doesn’t work out - PCs do occasionally become defunct.

Closing comments and thanks from Brian and Oonagh. There was a sheet of information available for others who were unable to attend. A very well chaired meeting allowed a good exchange of views and provided plenty of food for thought.

Many thanks to all who attended.

Meeting closed at 9.00pm

N.B. These notes do not represent the views of Leeds City Council