SALISBURY City Council will delay a key vote on whether to accept a package of assets from Wiltshire Council until after a decision is reached on Salisbury and Laverstock merging.

The once-in-a-generation boundary review could see the whole of Laverstock and Ford parish swallowed up by Salisbury City Council (SCC).

SCC bosses say the only way it can afford to take control of the Market Place, CCTV, six buildings, four public toilets, Shop Mobility, and grass-cutting services without raising its share of the council tax bill is to increase the number of taxpayers.

They argue that Laverstock residents already use many of the city council’s services and that parts of the city like Harnham and Bemerton are just as far from the centre of Salisbury.

But Wiltshire Council (WC) has not yet set the date for a decision on changing the parish boundary, and it might not happen until after the summer recess. SCC is due to decide the asset transfer on July 18.

SCC leader Andrew Roberts denied giving WC an ultimatum. He said: “[We] simply wish to know what WC decides on the long-term issue within its control before making a final decision on the one within ours. It would be wrong to do otherwise. I trust that both decisions will be made in the best long-term interests of all current and future residents of our city, that assets and services will transfer on a fair basis and that SCC and WC acting in co-operation can improve our city and create a model of really effective localism for the whole county.”

Conservative WC leader Jane Scott cannot legally impose the whip on the boundary vote, meaning many rural councillors who are likely to be against the expansion of urban parishes in Wiltshire could block the move.

The decision on whether to merge the parishes is reportedly on a knife edge, with one Tory councillor telling the Journal if the vote was taken today it would be a 50/50 split.

Laverstock and Ford Parish Council chairman David Burton said three secondary schools, parks and River Bourne Community Farm were all in his parish and he did not expect any contributions towards their upkeep from Salisbury residents.

“I am afraid SCC Leader Andrew Roberts has failed to understand what effective localism actually is,” he said.

“He seems to think it is all about taxing everyone as much as possible and making them feel guilty if they live anywhere near a particular facility.

“Sorry Andrew, but you do need to pop over to Laverstock and Ford Parish and learn a thing or two before you continue to bombard local people with your campaign of guilt, fear, division and aggressive badgering of Wiltshire Council into abolishing us.”

Public meetings will be held at Salisbury City Hall on May 9 and Wyvern College on May 18, from 6pm to 9pm.