THE cost to the taxpayer of a proposed new parish council for Barrow has been revealed.

The authority's budget of £387,700 would translate to a charge of £16 for the year on a band A property, £23.99 on a band D property and £34.66 on a band F.

The proposals for a new parish council are to be discussed at an extraordinary meeting of Barrow Borough Council tomorrow. 

Twenty-one councillors would be elected across 11 wards: Walney North; Walney South; Barrow Island; Hindpool; Central; Ormsgill; Parkside; Risedale; Hawcoat; Newbarns; and Roosecote.

A second period of public consultation on the plans concluded on August 26. 

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In a report produced ahead of tomorrow's meeting, Debbie Storr, the council's head of legal and governance, says 36 of 57 written submissions were in favour of the draft recommendations for the new parish council, with 10 against and 11 neutral. 

She says that, in light of the submissions, the number of councillors proposed for the parish council was reviewed.

The community governance review working group of councillors looked at basing the parish council around the wards of the upcoming Westmorland and Furness unitary authority rather than the ward boundaries of Barrow Borough Council. 

"There was a strong sense from the members present [at a working group meeting] that, whilst they understood that there was some disquiet reflected in the consultation responses regarding the number of councillors proposed for the new council, that 15 seats, based on the Westmorland and Furness ward boundaries, was too low," said Ms Storr.

"The Westmorland and Furness Council wards were considered too large to be sufficiently effective as local council wards."

The report says that a parish council would create a 'local, democratically elected voice' for Barrow. 

A number of potential benefits of parish councils are highlighted.

Among these is their ability 'to deliver some local services more cheaply than the larger authorities, such as looking after parks and green spaces, public toilets and the cleanliness of the area'.

The next stage in the process would see the Westmorland and Furness shadow authority consider the parish council proposals.

Elections to the new council would be held in May 2023.