Ilkeston and Long Eaton residents are to be asked for their views on whether they would like their own town or parish councils as part of a wide-ranging review being carried out by Erewash Borough Council.

 

Public meetings will be held on Saturday 13th February in both towns and local people are urged to go along to give their opinions on the best way to ‘govern’ their home towns in the future and ask any questions they may have.

 

The first meeting will be held in the Council Chamber at Ilkeston Town Hall from 10am -11am and will be followed by a similar forum at Long Eaton Town Hall’s Council Chamber between 12noon - 1pm.

 

All electors in the Ilkeston and Long Eaton areas will also receive an information booklet and a questionnaire at the beginning of February, with residents asked to complete the form and return it by 31^st March.

 

Both towns are currently unparished areas and the Council says its ‘Community Governance’ review, which was announced this week, will be a year-long process.

 

Councillor Chris Corbett, Leader of Erewash Borough Council, says:

 

“This is an important review and we urge local residents and organisations to make their views known. It is vital that the Council is fully informed of public opinion and this will, as always, be taken into account in deciding the preferred option.”

 

Once all the views from the public meetings, the completed questionnaires and other responses have been evaluated, the Council will draw up a draft recommendation later this year on what it feels is the best way forward.

 

This draft proposal will then be at the centre of the next phase of public consultation in the autumn, when residents will be asked for their views on the recommendation.

 

Any new arrangements put in place would take effect from the date of the next local elections in May 2011, when elections to any newly-created Town or Parish Councils would also be held.