A Conservative councillor from Salford has found himself at the centre of a cross-boundary council spat after taking a second elected role in Warrington.
Les Turner, who represents the Boothstown and Ellenbrook ward on Salford City Council, was elected to Culcheth and Glazebury Parish Council at this year's local elections. He says the voluntary role lets him contribute to the village where he lives. Salford mayor Paul Dennett, however, was less inclined to reach for the bunting.
During a full Salford council meeting at Salford Civic Centre on Wednesday, May 15, Mayor Dennett criticised the appointment, arguing that the parish council's precept would add to council tax bills for residents in Culcheth and Glazebury. The parish council agreed a Band D equivalent charge of £37.92 for 2024/25, producing a total precept of £129,648.
Mayor Dennett also said Mr Turner had not mentioned his Salford council position on campaign leaflets used during the Culcheth and Glazebury election. His advice was fairly pointed: if more election literature appears, voters should be told that Mr Turner is also serving on Salford City Council. It is not exactly scandalous to have two public roles, but transparency is hardly an unreasonable request.
Jim King, a Labour councillor in Salford, joined in with a sarcastic congratulation on Mr Turner's arrival at what he called the “dizzy heights” of parish council service in Glazebury. Local government banter is alive and well, even when the subject is council tax.
Mr Turner defended the arrangement, describing himself as “multitasking”. He said the parish council meets once a month in the evening, that he can walk to meetings, and that the role is voluntary.
“When you live in a place and it’s a village, you feel like you want to help,” he told the Local Democracy Reporting Service. He also stressed that Culcheth and Glazebury Parish Council has limited powers, with Warrington Borough Council holding the real decision-making authority. The parish's funds support modest local improvements, such as putting up a bench, rather than running the whole village from a grand civic palace.
Mr Turner added that Warrington's council tax is lower than Salford's and said he receives no additional payment for the parish role. That is a fair point, and volunteering locally is generally a positive thing. Still, residents are entitled to ask whether candidates have been open about their existing responsibilities, especially when their elected role is linked to a precept on local bills.
Mr Turner received £22,500 from Salford City Council in the 2023/24 financial year through basic and special allowances for elected members. That figure relates to his Salford duties, not the voluntary parish position.
So, from a Culcheth perspective, this looks less like a dramatic power grab and more like a small parish role caught in a larger political squabble. The work may be useful, but clear campaign information and a straightforward explanation of the cost would have prevented much of this fuss.