Residents in Ilkeston are set to be asked whether the town should get its own Town Council for the first time in decades – a move which could bring more local control but also an additional charge on council tax bills.
Erewash Borough Council has now published the draft terms for a major Community Governance Review covering Ilkeston, Kirk Hallam and Long Eaton.
The consultation itself is due to officially launch on 5 June and will ask residents whether they support the creation of new parish or town councils in the borough’s currently unparished urban areas.
At the centre of the debate is Ilkeston itself.
Unlike surrounding areas including Sandiacre, West Hallam, Dale Abbey and Stanton-by-Dale, Ilkeston does not currently have its own parish or town council. Instead, residents are represented only by borough and county councillors.
Erewash Borough Council says this creates what it describes as a “democratic imbalance”, arguing that a Town Council could give Ilkeston a stronger local voice and more direct control over community priorities.
According to the documents, a future Ilkeston Town Council could potentially become involved in:
- organising or supporting events such as Ilkeston Fair, Bonfire Night and Christmas lights
- maintaining local assets and public spaces
- representing community concerns
- taking on responsibility for certain local services
- potentially having future involvement with buildings such as Ilkeston Town Hall and Erewash Museum
However, any new Town Council would almost certainly require additional funding through a council tax “precept” – an extra charge added to residents’ bills.
The council papers include examples from existing parish and town councils.
Belper Town Council currently charges the equivalent of around:
- £78 a year for a Band A property
- £117 a year for a Band D property
- £234 a year for a Band H property
Meanwhile, Sandiacre Parish Council currently charges:
- around £27 for Band A
- around £40 for Band D
The actual cost for any future Ilkeston Town Council would depend on:
- what services it took on
- how large the council became
- how many councillors were elected
- and how much money it decided to raise.
The documents also state the review is taking place against the backdrop of wider local government reorganisation across Derbyshire.
Under current proposals, Erewash Borough Council itself could eventually be abolished and replaced by a larger unitary authority covering a much wider area.
Supporters of town councils argue that creating a dedicated Ilkeston council could help preserve local identity and ensure the town keeps a stronger voice if those wider changes happen.
Opponents, however, are likely to question whether residents want another layer of government at a time when many households are already under financial pressure.
The review will also look at:
- Long Eaton
- parts of Kirk Hallam
- and whether boundaries of neighbouring parish councils such as Stanton-by-Dale, Sandiacre and Dale Abbey should change.
The consultation is scheduled to run from 5 June until 20 August 2026.
Once launched, residents will be able to submit their views directly to Erewash Borough Council before councillors decide whether to move forward with formal recommendations.
One of the biggest questions will simply be:
Would residents support paying extra council tax in exchange for a dedicated Ilkeston Town Council?