A MOVE to bolster parish and town councils and prevent people being charged twice for services has been welcomed in County Durham.

Rural Affairs Minister Alun Michael launched a guidance note on financial arrangements for parish and town councils to enable parishes to work more closely with principal authorities and reduce 'double taxation', where taxpayers are charged twice for services.

The practice happens when, for example, a principal authority transfers a service to a parish without reducing its share of the council tax bill, or when the cost of facilities for residents of unparished towns is spread across the district.

Addressing a local government conference in London, Mr Michael said: "We want to see truly representative parish and town councils as the recognised voice for their communities.

"By creating a framework for good financial arrangements for parishes working in partnership with principal authorities, we will reduce double taxation and ensure that local people get a fair deal and decent local services."

The guidance note includes case studies of local authorities which have tackled the problem of double taxing.

Tom Toward, secretary of the Durham Association of Parish and Town Councils, said it would help them to prepare for their new roles under an elected regional assembly and a new unitary authority in County Durham.

"As county secretary, I welcome the announcement by the minister," he said.

"Parish and town councils more properly represent people than county councils, and the Government is recognising that.

"It ties in with the idea of regional assemblies."

Mr Toward said it was difficult to establish where double taxation was occurring, and welcomed the move to eliminate it.

"No person who pays tax should be expected to pay twice for the same thing," he said.

The guidance note follows the publication of a Quality Parish and Town Councils document setting out detailed plans for strengthening them.