We will still need a town council in Scarborough if local government reorganised

We need to have a town council for Scarborough, says Dilys Cluer of the Green Party.

Everywhere else in the borough has parish councils to look after the most local matters, but Scarborough does not.

I do not agree with the system of elected mayors, which puts too much power in the hands of one person, and I’m not happy about the prospect of local government becoming less local with the change to large unitary authorities.

But if that has to happen, at least we should have a town council, which could represent us to the higher council on matters such as planning and transport issues, for instance.

And while they are about it, the Government could improve democracy tremendously by allowing us a proportional representation system of election to the new unitary authorities.

That would make ordinary voters feel that their vote counts and perhaps stop the drift away from involvement in public affairs.

Dilys Cluer

Scarborough Green Party