COUNCILLORS have decided against changing the status of their parish council to a town council.

On Tuesday, members of Stratton St Margaret Parish Council discussed the implications of the change and came out overwhelmingly against it.

The proposal suggested that changing the status and name of the parish council to a town council “would be advantageous and provide a more holistic perception of the size and scale of the parish”.

Coun Joe Tray, chairman of the parish council, said: “People still see us very much as a parish and a change would give us a bigger standing in the community. It would give us more respect and I think more people would take notice.”

The proposal comes in the wake of the Community Governance Review, which will see Swindon Borough Council create new parish councils and devolve to them more powers and responsibilities.

Parish councils with a population of 10,000 can be considered small towns and Stratton St Margaret Parish Council currently has a population of around 23,000, with a budget approaching £2million.

It is this perceived irregularity that is the main impetus behind the push for a change.

However, not everyone was convinced.

Coun Claire Crilly, said: “I feel this would add a lot of extra costs for us and I think that, for the time being, we should not spend money on rebranding and relaunching ourselves as a town council.”

Coun Matthew Davis agreed, saying: “Are we just getting into semantics here? I would be worried that we would become much more political. Being a parish means we are apolitical and we can just get on with things.”

There is no legal difference between a parish and a town council. They both have the same powers and functions and provide the same services.

The chairman of a town council may also be referred to as the town mayor.

Coun John Foley said: “When this was put to the council three years ago it was poo-pooed for several reasons. For one, we don’t have a town centre. Also, why would we want to have a mayor instead of a chair? If it ‘aint broke don’t fix it.”

“At one time this parish council was very political and it was very difficult to get things done. I would rather be a member of the largest parish council in the country than a member of a smaller town council within a large urban area.

“I would urge you all: do not vote this thorough!”

In the end there were no takers and the plan was ditched.