Setback in rescue plan for Shropshire services
A "fractious" meeting has failed to find more time for town and parish councils to take over vital services in Shropshire.
Shropshire Council has refused to extend the deadline for towns and parishes to formulate plans to run services like libraries, leisure centres, parks and community centres.
In a summit, the authority also failed to agree with suggestions that it should hold a referendum on increasing council tax to pay for the at-risk services.
Speaking following the private meeting, Ludlow Town Council clerk Gina Wilding accused Shropshire Council of "failing to listen".
Those attending the meeting described the atmosphere between the parties as "fractious".
Mrs Wilding said: "The feeling I got from other town clerks and councillors that they are pushing us into their way of doing things and they still haven't stopped and listened."
Town and parish councils have been given until September to express their interest in taking on closure threatened services. As a result of the meeting, Shropshire Council has asked the county's town and parish councils to form "clusters" and discuss which services they would like to take over.
Mrs Wilding said: "Shropshire Council is pushing to make clusters happen which is difficult and not really helping the situation, although we have agreed to do it."
Mrs Wilding said a number of councils still have concerns about the times scale for those taking services on.
She said: "Town councils that can take on services are well down that road although it is clear that is a process that will take 18 months to two years, so we still have concerns over the timescale."
Shrewsbury Town Council has already carried out extensive discussions on taking over services, including the town's library.
Town clerk Helen Ball said some councils are in a position where they can take facilities on, whereas others lack the resources.
