Unitary takes over governance of parish council after mass-resignation leaves it with no members

A public backlash over a parish council's response to a man who cut grass on a verge free of charge has led to the entire council stepping down.

All seven members of Broughton Moor Parish Council resigned last week after a council member claimed that a 22-year-old man who has autism had broken the law by strimming grass that had grown onto the pavement along a local road, according to a report from the Telegraph.

Cumberland Police reportedly received two reports about the man, but said they would not be taking further action as it is a civil matter.

In a statement on the parish council's website, the local authority said Cumberland Council will now assume responsibility for the governance of the village, with the parish clerk remaining in post to assist the unitary.

A Cumberland Council spokesperson said: "The parish council remains a legal entity and continues to exist, with the Clerk ensuring that statutory duties continue to be fulfilled.

"In this situation, as the principal authority, Cumberland Council will co-opt some of our own councillors onto the parish council to ensure that the council is quorate and can carry out its functions until other individuals can be co-opted, and an election held."

Adam Carey