CONCERNS have been raised about plans to give parish councils more services following a Government announcement that the amount of cash they can raise could be limited.

Swindon Borough Council is in talks with parish councils over taking on responsibility for duties such as cleaning graffiti and maintaining grass areas.

While it would provide transitional funds in the first few years, parish councils would have to find the money after that.

Many existing parish councils have accepted the change believing they can improve the service currently provided by the borough but last week residents in Stratton rejected the move in a poll.

Further, the council has begun a consultation, known as a community governance review, which could lead to the creation of new parishes in areas currently without one.

Local authorities are currently limited to raising council tax by two per cent before they need to call a referendum.

As it stands, this limit does not apply to parish precepts, the parish charge which appears on council tax bills, but on Friday ministers said they are prepared to bring in similar restrictions to stop excessive rises.

The Labour group believes this would scupper the plans to pass on services, which it has always argued would equate to a double tax.

Councillor Jim Grant (Lab, Rodbourne Cheney), leader of the council's Labour group, said: “The Government’s announcement, together with the result of the Stratton Parish Referendum, could sound the death-knell to the Council’s parishing plans.

“What the Conservative administration want to do is transfer streetsmart services to new and existing parishes in order for parishes to increase their parish precept over and above what Swindon Council is legally able to without going to a referendum.

“However residents can clearly see the injustice of the council looking to make residents pay twice to get the same services.

“That is why the Government is looking at capping the levels of parish precept increases, which would in effect render it pointless for this Conservative administration to transfer Streetsmart services down to parishes.”

Labour is calling for a town-wide referendum on the plans but the Conservatives have said one is not permitted under the community governance review taking place.

It says no final decision of the future of parishes has been made and all considerations will be taken into account.

Councillor Toby Elliott (Con, Priory Vale), the cabinet member responsible for the review, said: "We are currently out to the first phase of consultation as part of the community governance review.

“To assist with getting feedback from residents we will be seeking their views in a series of engagement events across the borough.

“There are no plans currently; but we believe that services including grass cutting and street cleaning are best when controlled by those that actually experience them day to day.

“Any decision by full council towards the end of the year will be taken with all of the facts and following full consultation."