Community councils plan for resort

Plans are being considered to introduce one or more parish or "community" councils in Scarborough, which remains the only area of the borough that currently does not have this level of local government. The move would allow residents to have a greater influence on the decision-making process, and help shape the quality of planning and design of local areas.

The parish councils would also help manage local amenities and provide input for planning and licensing applications.

However, Scarborough Borough Council has admitted that the introduction of parish councils in the town would increase the cost of operating local government as it battles to counter the Government's spending cutbacks.

The borough council and North Yorkshire County Council currently provide all of the town's local authority services.

The proposals will be discussed at the next meeting of the Scarborough Urban Area Forum at Scarborough Library in Vernon Road on Wednesday at 7pm.