STRATTON St Margaret Parish Council has "reluctantly" agreed to take over the running of the parish's StreetSmart services from Swindon Borough Council after being told that if they didn't do it, no-one would.

At an extraordinary meeting of the council held on Tuesday the parish councillors resolved to take on devolved local services from the borough council from April 2017.

Councillors thoroughly debated the motion and considered the "extreme pressure" it was facing from the borough council to take on the services.

Members also expressed their dilemma having conducted a parish poll in February. The Poll, of which 7.87 per cent of the residents voted, sent a message to Swindon Borough that the vast majority of Stratton St Margaret’s residents saw this as a double taxation and voted overwhelmingly to reject the proposal.

A parish council spokesperson said: "This year the council has received numerous complaints regarding the overgrown vegetation on land that is not owned or serviced by them.

"Stratton St Margaret Parish councillors are incredibly proud of its open spaces and did not wish to see Stratton's green areas and roads get any worse. Swindon Borough Council had made it clear that if the Parish Council did not take on the StreetSmart services they will cease, as they themselves are facing reduced funding from central government and have a need to allocate their budget to Adult Social Care."

During the debate, members were also mindful of a recent draft paper published by the Department for Communities and Local Government that proposes a tax referendum for local parish and town councils. The paper proposes to impose a 2 per cent cap on raising precepts to larger, higher spending local councils which includes Stratton St Margaret. The consultation suggests that there could be flexibility for local councils who have had responsibilities transferred to them from principal councils so that they are not unduly constrained.

The cost to the Parish of taking over the StreetSmart services from Swindon Borough Council is approximately £100,000 per year.

The borough has offered a transitional fund of 50 per cent towards the cost in the first year, 25 per cent in the second and 0 per cent in year three.

By taking on the local services and receiving these transitional funds, the parish council will be managing its budgets carefully to minimise any potential increase in the parish precept and to ensure it can maintain a sustainable service going forward.

Councillor Joe Tray, chairman of the parish council, said: “Following the lively debate on Tuesday our members voted to take on the local services from the borough. The motion was carried with reluctance from many of our members.

"However Stratton St Margaret Parish Council also considers that if the delivery of local services are at a local level it will enable our local community to have a much greater say in shape of the local environment and making local choices.”

“Any resident who would like to talk about any of the above issues or any other concerns are welcome to come along to my public question time surgeries every second Saturday at Grange Leisure Coffee Shop at 10am and from 11am until midday at Beechcroft Library. Alternatively I can also be reached by email j.tray@ntlworld.com or my mobile 0781 317 0202."