Plan to scrap town council branded ‘nonsense’ by leaders

The leader of Fleetwood Town Council says calls to disband the authority are “total nonsense”.
Calls to disband Fleetwood Town Council have been dismissed as "nonsense".Calls to disband Fleetwood Town Council have been dismissed as "nonsense".
Calls to disband Fleetwood Town Council have been dismissed as "nonsense".

Coun Terry Rogers’ comments came after Steve Clarke, who held the vice-chairmanship until May before his resignation, claimed the council is seen as a “waste of money” by taxpayers in the port.

Coun Rogers has defended the services the council offers, along with current vice-chairman Coun Bill Barrow.

He said: “It’s a total nonsense.

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“We’ve given out hundreds of pounds to local groups and people.

“He forgets as a council we are not responsible for highways, pavements or waste collection, but we do work with the borough and county to get things done for Fleetwood.

“I’m spending four or five hours a day in our office working to get a town plan together.

“We’re asking people in Fleetwood to come and see us on what they want to be included in that.”

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Steve Clarke, who held the same role until May claimed in The Gazette last week the council is seen as a “waste of money” by taxpayers in the port.

He resigned at the same time as the authority’s former leader Alan Marsh.

Mr Clarke said: “People pay extra on top of their council tax for it and they’re getting nothing back.

“They’re giving money to services already in the town and they can’t make any big decisions at all.”

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Coun Rogers also said the authority had given £100,000 to the Rossall sea defences project, as well as donating to the town’s Christmas lights.

Mr Marsh and Mr Clarke both quit the council in May after claiming it had become too political.

But Coun Rogers added: “We have Conservative, Labour and Independents on this town council but (Mr Clarke) knows full well that political independence stays with the council.”