Daventry Town Council requests transfer of Parks, Open Spaces and Market from Daventry District Council

Following on from the discussions pertaining to local government reform, the current position regarding the situation of Northamptonshire is that; Northamptonshire elections will be postponed with councillors continuing their position until May 2020; the seven districts/boroughs will be replaced with two Unitary Councils; and, if confirmed, a Unitary Authority will be in place by April 2020.

With regards to this, Daventry Town Council is in talks with Daventry District Council over the transfer of assets and services to preserve the ownership and management of existing open spaces and community buildings for future generations of the Town.

Daventry Town Council has given due consideration to areas where there would be public benefit in transferring these services, as well as considering its capacity to deliver those services. Over the past six months representatives of Daventry Town Council and Daventry District Council have engaged in meaningful dialogue for transfer of Town assets and management of those assets, specifically the Town's parks, open spaces and market.

Daventry District Council has advised that they have a duty to preserve the freedom and flexibility of assets and services for the new Unitary Authority. Daventry Town Council has challenged this view and insisted that it is the duty of both councils to preserve the Town's heritage and work together to transfer the Town's parks, open spaces and market to the Town Council, as the rightful custodian.

Ian Vincent, Chief Executive of Daventry District Council, acknowledged the importance of preserving the Town's heritage and the ownership and management of its assets being governed by the authority that best represented its community but added that legislation and contractual obligations may prevent any transfer. The Town Council has challenged the legal reasons and is seeking legal advice to pursue the transfer of the New Street Recreation Ground, open spaces and the market.

Deborah Jewell, Chief Officer of Daventry Town Council said, "The Town Council has given this matter due thought and consideration and would not be discussing the transfer of Town assets from the District to the Town Council if it thought it would not be in the Town's best interest to do so.

Daventry Town Council has a duty of care to the residents of the Town to preserve its assets, including parks and open spaces, as well as buildings, not just for the current generation but for generations to come. Local councils play important roles in residents' lives and it is important that those who live and work in the Town have a say in how services are delivered in the future. We believe that those services would best be delivered by Daventry Town Council, who know and care for the local area, rather than an autonomous body who is removed from the Town."

For further information, please contact the Town Clerk via email at townclerk@daventrytowncouncil.gov.uk.