Crawley Borough Council’s consultation on setting up a Crawley town council will full precepting powers, concluded at noon on the 1st of December.  This consultation has been shambolic, including lacking in information and having a bias. 

Last week I ran a poll over three days on my Facebook page asking Crawley residents if they had received the consultation leaflet in the post, that had been promised by the council as part of this process.  Around 300 people responded and only 6% (18 people out of 300) said that they had received it.  While a Facebook poll is self-selecting and not scientific, such an overwhelming outcome fits in with me hearing many people saying they haven’t had it, despite being due to be delivered in the first week of November.

The local Labour leadership are very sensitive to criticism over their town council pet project.  They voted down the Conservative proposal for a referendum on any final proposal to set up a town council, and I note they included setting up a town council in the updated Council Plan for Crawley Borough Council, before the public consultation had concluded.

Also letting the cat out of the bag that the consultation was only lip service, at last week’s Cabinet meeting at the council, one senior Labour Councillor gave a rambling speech that including saying “when” a town council happens and what he intends for it to do.

This shambles has been brought about because the Labour Government are forcing changes in local government, that is going to be hugely disruptive and costly to implement.  A government-led consultation on Local Government Reorganisation has started and runs until 11 January 2026.  This consultation is not on whether to change (they are forcing that despite no mandate) but on what option to go for.

There are three proposals tabled, but only one will avoid huge disruption and splitting up of existing services, reduce any need to cut services, and avoid massive council tax hikes.  That is one main council covering West Sussex rather than having two or more, which are the other two options.

Councillor Duncan Crow, Leader of Crawley Borough Council Conservative Group

3rd December 2025