Survey shows support for Town Council in West Bridgford

376 people in West Bridgford support the idea of having a Town Council, according to the results of a new survey.

The findings revealed 87% of respondents in support, with 9% opposed and 4% undecided. The on-line survey was held over a three week period from mid-February to early March, supplemented by a stall on three consecutive Saturdays on Central Avenue taking written responses. In total there were 432 responses.

• Support: 376
• Opposed: 39
• Undecided: 17

Cllr. Steve Calvert, who represents Abbey Ward in West Bridgford on Rushcliffe Borough Council said:

“The participation numbers were exceptionally high for this type of survey and the support was substantial.”

He is also a member of the West Bridgford Local Area Forum, which sponsored the survey.

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The Forum is a partnership of local councillors, representatives of community groups, businesses and other organisations active in West Bridgford, such as the police and bus operators.

The Forum was gauging views on whether to seek Town Council status for the suburb ( population of 48,000 projected in 2026 ). It’s the only part of Rushcliffe Borough ( population 126,000 estimated 2024 ) without a Town or Parish Council.

The Forum believes the results show concern that West Bridgford could lose its unique identity, local voice and have even less democratic accountability than currently under proposed changes to local government boundaries.

The Forum says the findings demonstrate an “overwhelming preference for enhanced local representation” with a Town Council “an essential protection against the loss of representation” if a Unitary Authority is established in the future.

The survey results also revealed some concerns about the cost and potential council tax increases to pay for it all. Some residents also felt a Town Council might create “unnecessary bureaucracy”.

Cllr. Calvert says that residents ‘already pay an additional annual levy for West Bridgford Special Expenses, but have virtually no say in the size of the levy or what it is spent on.’

West Bridgford residents currently pay £67.40 per year as ‘special expenses’ through council tax collection.

More on ‘special expenses.’

Background to Special Expenses

The concept of ‘special expenses’ dates back to the Local Government Act (LGA) 1933. Further provision was made in the LGA 1972. Section 147 of that Act deemed all expenses to be general unless the district council, by resolution, declared any expenses to be special expenses only chargeable on part of their area.

The current provisions are set out in S35 of the LGFA 1992 which lists limited categories of expense which may be treated by a billing authority as ‘special expenses’. These restrictions first appeared in the LGFA 1988 (S33).

The categories of special expense provided for in S35 of the 1992 Act are:

1. The expenses of meeting a levy or special levy issued to the billing authority;
2. Relate to expenses arising in respect of property held in trust for part of the area;
3. Any expenses incurred by the billing authority in performing in part of its area a function performed elsewhere in its area by a parish council;
4. Any expenses incurred in performing in part of its area a function performed elsewhere in its area by a body with a power to issue a levy or special levy to it.

The categories of special expense provided for in S35 of the 1992 Act are:

1. The expenses of meeting a levy or special levy issued to the billing authority;
2. Relate to expenses arising in respect of property held in trust for part of the area;
3. Any expenses incurred by the billing authority in performing in part of its area a function performed elsewhere in its area by a parish council;
4. Any expenses incurred in performing in part of its area a function performed elsewhere in its area by a body with a power to issue a levy or special levy to it.

For Rushcliffe Borough Council the following have been deemed special expenses:

1. Parks and Playing fields:
   1. Bridgford Park
   2. West Park (including Julien Cahn)
   3. Abbey Park
   4. Alford Road
   5. Bridge Field
   6. The Hook
   7. Boundary Road
2. Children’s Play Areas:
   1. Adbolton Lane
   2. Oaktree Close
   3. Carnarvon Road
   4. Denton Drive
   5. Greythorn Drive
   6. Boundary Road
3. Allotments
4. Community Halls – Lutterell and Gamston
5. Christmas Illuminations in West Bridgford
6. West Bridgford market and other events (e.g. outdoor Cinema)
7. Musters Road Memorial Gardens
8. Provision of seats, litter bins, and notice boards in West Bridgford
9. Annuity Charges for capital projects for assets listed above. For these, the initial outlay is met by capital receipts and it is recharged to West Bridgford Tax Payers through an annuity.
10. Revenue contribution to capital outlay for capital works to play areas.