Henley public to speak out on council

CONFIDENCE in councillors will be called into question in Henley next week.

A referendum will see residents have their say on whether or not they have faith in Beaudesert and Henley Joint Parish Council. It will be held on Tuesday (May 25) between 4pm and 9pm at the Memorial Hall in Station Road.

Residents can cast a yes or no vote on the question: "Do you agree that confidence has been lost in the leadership and management of Beaudesert and Henley Joint Parish Council and that all existing councillors should resign immediately and that there should be an election for a new parish council as soon as possible?"

The radical move comes amid claims councillors are not listening to the concerns of residents.

Residents felt their opinions were ignored over the possible installation of CCTV cameras in

Henley, and the allotment committee also disbanded, claiming poor working relations with the parish council.

And things really came to a head when the council objected to the purple frontage of Bespoke Curtains and Blinds in High Street. The council was even accused of racism against the shop's Asian owner, which councillors rejected saying they were only concerned with the conservation of the town.

Resident Peter Crathorne, who was among those who backed the referendum, said: "The parish council has failed to respond to the heartfelt criticism of their actions by a wide range of respected and prominent people in the town and this referendum is born out of the frustration created by this failure to recognise the value of wide consultation about the issues.

"The results of the referendum are not legally binding but the parish council will tarnish its reputation further if it does not heed the result."

It is possible for any resident to call for a referendum at a town meeting under the provision of the Local Government Act 1972 as long as they have the backing of at least nine other electors. Ten residents showed their support for a referendum for the Henley ward. Only six electors supported it in neighbouring Beaudesert.

It was later claimed that several Beaudesert residents had not been allowed entry to the Baptist Church Hall due to concerns the hall had reached its capacity.

Nevertheless it will only be Henley residents who go to the polls on Tuesday.

However, the poll is not legally binding on the parish council.

The Stratford Observer - Thursday 20th May 2010