Husband and wife Telford councillors take reins at new shadow parish council

Three meetings are being held in Telford this week to begin the process of creating two new parish councils and merge two others.

The first meeting on Monday (Sept 14) saw the first gathering of Muxton Shadow Parish Council as the area seeks an amicable divorce from the current Donnington and Muxton Parish Council.

Other meetings tonight (Sept 15) and Wednesday (Sept 16) will firstly see the launch of Priorslee Shadow Parish Council as it divorces from St George's and Priorslee.

Then tomorrow the ex partners of Muxton and Priorslee will get together to start the process of marrying up as St George's and Donnington Parish Council.

Councillor Nigel Dugmore spoke of a 'long, hard trawl' to as he was elected to chair Muxton's shadow.

He recalled the campaigning of former councillor Adrian Lawrence for "God knows how long" to establish a council for Muxton.

"It's finally happening," added Conservative Councillor Dugmore.

Two councillors - Lisa Dugmore and Independent Jenny Urey - put their names forward to be vice chair.

But only Councillor Dugmore was seconded and stepped into the role alongside her husband.

"There you go, you've got a husband and wife team," said Councillor Nigel Dugmore.

Councillor Lisa Dugmore quipped: "Be afraid" and her husband responded: "Oh my God, very worrying."

Four of the five shadow councillors were present, with Sonja Randhawa being the fourth member as apologies were recorded for Councillor Iain Alexander.

When the final parish council comes into being next year there will be nine berths to be filled by the elections in May.

But councillors heard that there is a lot of work to do before then, including who pays for the clerk.

Lee Jakeman, the current locum clerk to Donnington and Muxton Parish Council, said the shadow council would have to ask "for permission to pay me."

Councillors agreed to write to Donnington and Muxton Parish Council for some form of support during the transition.

Councillors will be tasked with sorting out things like grass cutting and other contracts, and the hand over or division of assets.

Elected members will eventually also have to sort out the setting of the first budget and the council tax to pay for it.

The meeting heard that there is uncertainty about how much income could be generated by its council tax and how much the costs could be.

Members do not know at this stage where the new parish council will be holding its meetings.

The shadow parish council will hold its next meeting at Turreff Hall in Donnington on October 12, immediately before the next gathering of Donnington and Muxton Parish Council.