Plans for Larger Council Grind To A Halt.
Although Lanner Parish Council has received permission to increase the number of councillors from seven to nine it will not be able to give effect to this until 2013. Lanner currently has one councillor for every 302 electors. This is very low compared to its neighbours – Carharrack has one councillor for every155, Gwennap one for every 178 and Stithians one for every 146. The new number of councillors would provide one for every 235. However, these additional places cannot be filled by co-option but can only be affected at an election. This means that either the existing council resigns now and new elections are called or council waits until the normal parish elections in 2013. Because an election would cost the parish in the order of £3,000 it has been resolved to wait until 2013. The need for more involvement by parishioners in the working of the parish council remains urgent if the community is to fare well in these times of government cut backs. Lanner’s voice needs to be heard when decisions are being made about the level and nature of local services. Thankfully more people are getting involved in matters from the parish plan to Christmas lights, from the cemetery management to the playing field management. If you would like to get involved in any aspect of parish council work without necessarily becoming a councillor, or if you’d like to test the water with a view to possibly standing for election in 2013 do contact either the Clerk or any of the present councillors. October 2010.