Letter: Parish and Town Councils Must Be Politics Free

Published on: 19 Feb, 2026
Updated on: 19 Feb, 2026

From John Redpath

former R4GV borough councillor

In response to: Opinion – A Brave New World – with No Party Politics Please

Well said John Ferns.

We must get rid of politics in any new parish or town council(s) that may be formed as we move to a unitary system.

I’d like to go one further and get rid of warding (the organisation of a council’s area of responsibility into wards) as well, as this can create a political incubator.

Members of a council should be selected on their ability and understanding of what is important to residents. They should become experts in planning, experts in the needs of the elderly, experts in community, experts in heritage etc. In fact, experts that all residents can contact with ideas and concerns.

I would also like to suggest these councillor positions should be unpaid or paid any allowances at minimal cost. For far too long, we have had councillors, often in it for the income, with joint county and borough councillors, “double-hatters” as they are known colloquially, almost certainly becoming reliant on their considerable dual incomes, especially if they are also Executive or Cabinet members.

This does not give us the best, and it does not always give us what we need; councillors that know about and care about their local area.

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