This document discusses the formation and activities of the Bingley Town Council in England. It provides background on how the Town Council was established in 2016 through a community petition and vote. It then summarizes some of the Town Council's activities like providing grants for community projects, advising on planning issues, maintaining green spaces, emergency planning, and addressing community concerns. The document argues that the Town Council enables grassroots democracy and gives local residents a voice and power to act on issues in their area.

1.
Improving local democracy
by creating Community Councils
Ros Dawson

2. Bingley: snapshot
27/04/17
2

3. Overview
• Town Council formed 2016
• Serves Bingley, Cottingley,
Crossflatts, Eldwick,
Gilstead, Micklethwaite
(part of CBMDC)
• 16 councillors, 8 wards,
18,430 electors
• Budget: £140,918
• Precept: £16.31 (Band D
property)
• Expenditure 2018-19:
£215,000
24/05/2018 3

4. Democracy: people power
A system of government by the whole population or all the
eligible members of a state, typically through elected
representatives.
24/05/2018 4

5. Powerless
24/05/2018 5

6. What if…..
•Regular forum
•Organisation:
mandate and funds
•Voice
•Do – not empty
promises/talk
•Bat for Bingley
24/05/2018 6

7. Towards a Town Council: 2013-2016
•Bingley Community Council Group
•Informal community consultation
•15,000 central govt grant funding
•Petition
•CBMDC consultation
•Vote
•2016 created + first election
24/05/2018 7

8. Funding for community projects: £13K+ grants
24/05/2018 8
Cottingley Guides
celebrate £2,000 grant
award
£6,000 for CAT
feasibility study for
Bingley Pool
Defibrillator
s
In villages
Bells: 250 years and
still pealing..

9. Planning committee and Neighbourhood Plan
• Advisory only, final decision by CBMDC
Planning
• 100s of Planning applications
• Land Allocations Development Plan
• Greenbelt and environmental issues
• Neighbourhood Plan
24/05/2018 9

10. Allotments
24/05/2018 10
Beck Lane
allotments• 3 allotment sites
• Reduced waiting lists
• Commissioned
improvement contracts
• Listed improvement
priorities
• Engaged with tenants
and noted their concerns

11. Green and Clean
• Litter picks
• Green and Clean Champions
• Replacing the bins/grit
• Caring for parks, green spaces
• Hub for horticultural groups
• Floral displays: expanded in 2018
24/05/2018 11

12. Emergency Planning
24/05/2018 12
• From floods to an Emergency plan
• Worked with Emergency Planning
department of Bradford Council
• Emergency Box
• Key volunteers
• Contacts
• Maps
Bingley is more prepared!

13. Assets (of community value) and derelict sites
• Bingley Pool
• Bingley Town Hall
• Bingley Myrtle Park
• Priestthorpe Annex
• Lidl site
24/05/2018 13

14. Bingley Toilets
24/05/2018 14

15. Responding to demands: vox populi vox dei
24/05/2018 15

16. Bingley market
1212 – 2018….
24/05/2018 16

17. Points to consider…
• Party politics
• Resignations + bi-
elections
• Core activists
• Poor behaviour
• (lack of) diversity
• 5ws + h
• Social media/critics
24/05/2018 17

18. Bingley Town Council: grassroots
democracy
•Regular, scheduled forum
•Voice
•Power to act and respond
to local people
•Place, not politics
24/05/2018 18