BUSINESS leaders are considering a move to take over the running of Brighouse car parks.
The Brighouse Business Initiative (BBI) and other community organisations will get more rights under the Localism Act.
From July as part of the Act Calderdale Council has to accept bids from community and voluntary organisations to challenge for the right to bid to run council services, if they believe they can do it better or differently.
Community groups can also nominate public or private assets, such as land and buildings deemed too valuable to lose, and bid for them if they’re to be sold off.
The BBI is looking at how they could run the Brighouse town centre car parks.
Lesley Adams, chair of the BBI, said: “It’s something we’d love to do, we are considering it.”
Clr Colin Stout said: “Brighouse is vibrant because of the people in the BBI and United Brighouse and we need to help them to look at how they can be involved in running these services and assets.”
Last year Calderdale Council introduced parking charges at car parks at Church Lane, Mill Lane and Bank Lane to the dismay of traders.
Calderdale Cabinet members last night put forward a policy for the Community Right to Challenge and Community Right to Bid powers and admitted the majority of services could potentially be challenged.
Groups would need to submit an expression of interest to run council services. If it’s acceptable it triggers a competitive procurement exercise open to other suitable providers.
