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History of Letchworth Parish Council

Many people in Letchworth do not realise we have a Town Council, or how it came about.

Here is a quick summary of what happened...

  • In 2003 Raymond Smale (now Cllr Smale) started a petition around town for people to sign to get rid of the Heritage Foundation. He then changed the petition to one for starting a Town Council. Having obtained the requisite number of signatures he forced NHDC to carry out a town opinion poll.

  • In December 2003 NHDC asked about two thirds of Letchworth residents (by postal ballot) if they liked the idea of a new Town Council which would cost us virtually nothing. 21% agreed.

  • The Secretary of State was informed that Letchworth residents wanted a Parish Council, and the new Parish of Letchworth was duly created.

  • NHDC were required to organise the election of Councillors for the new Parish Council.

  • In 2005, 24 new councillors were duly elected by only 10% of the town, creating Letchworth Parish Council.

  • The councillors decided to rename to Letchworth Garden City Council, and set the Council Tax precept to £185,000 (about £14 for a Band D resident).

  • Roundabout in bloom near Letchworth station Nothing much happened for 3 years. The councillors could find no role to fill in Letchworth. 6 councillors resigned through the futility of the whole thing. 6 new councillors were appointed by the Town Council without elections, bringing the the council's representation down to only 7.5% of the electorate of Letchworth.

  • In 2008 the councillors decide to raise the Council Tax precept to more than 3 times its previous amount, up to £600,000 (about £50 for a Band D resident). The law allows this, as unlike County and District councils, there is no capping on Parish council tax increases!

  • Residents became concerned about the expense, motives and uselessness of the Town Council and formed the HELP campaign.

  • On April 21st 2008 there was an official Parish Poll to ask residents if they want the Town Council to be dissolved. 76.3% of voters said YES to dissolve the town council.