"Don't Put Our Country Parks Out to Private Companies" say Lib Dems

1.05.00am GMT Wed 15th Nov 2006

Cllr Sally Beardsworth, Deputy Leader of Northamptonshire Liberal Democrat Councillors has called upon the Northamptonshire County Council Cabinet not to put the County's Country Parks and Pocket Parks out to tender to private companies to run.

Councillor Sally Beardsworth

The Cabinet was given the following options:

(1) to go to tender with private contractors,

(2) Maintain services as currently delivered,

(3) The creation of a new management body.

The Stronger Communities Scrutiny Committee has complained that they had insufficient time to work on these proposals before the recommendations were brought to Cabinet.

The Liberal Democrats favour the creation of a New Management Body with Trust Charitable Status to run the parks.

"This would give the opportunity of extra funding and grants from organisations such as English Nature etc. which a council or privately run could not obtain" said Cllr. Beardsworth. "It would also give local communities the opportunity to get involved in the management of the parks which would not happen with a private organisation running the parks" she added.

The Conservative controlled County Council Cabinet agreed "to issue an invitation to tender for the management of the Council's Country Parks, Pocket Parks and Open Spaces."

The issue is due to come back to cabinet with a further report in March.