Grantham could be set for its own town council after councillors yesterday voted for a review into the subject.

A full meeting of South Kesteven District Council saw support for a motion from Grantham's deputy mayor Graham Jeal, which sought: "That the Council approves the commencement of a Community Governance Review in relation to the establishment of a Town Council for Grantham".

At present, Grantham is the only one of the four market towns in South Kesteven not to have its own town council, as Nub News reported yesterday. Stamford, Bourne and Market Deeping all have one, even though they are much smaller than Grantham.

In the debate, held at the Meres Leisure Centre, Coun Jeal (Con- Grantham St Vincent's) said: "Cllr Jeal said: "The set-up in Grantham is unusual. Decisions about Grantham are not always undertaken by the people of Grantham. Local Govt reorganisation could make this worse, with decisions about Grantham taken in Lincoln or by Whitehall. Now is the time to ask the question."

Former Grantham Mayor Coun Ian Selby (Unaligned- Grantham Harrowby) said: "There is already some confusion over which council does which role. Grantham has district & county. In Bourne they have town, district & county. My concern is having an extra tier of councillors for the community and for people not to know where to go."

Grantham St Vincent's councillor, Charmaine Morgan, the leader of the Labour Group on SKDC said: "I've always felt the best way to represent the people of Grantham would be through a town council. We need a consultation with meaningful costed options so that people are fully informed before making a decision."

Support for Coun Jeal's move also came from councillors in wards some distance away.

Cllr Ashley Baxter (Ind- Market and West Deeping) said: "Any impending new Lincolnshire local authority should not be the determining factor in this debate.

"It would be useful for the people of Grantham to have some representation that is meaningful. It would also stop this chamber discussing matters that are very specific to Grantham."

Coun Lee Steptoe (Lab-Earlsfield) said: "I very much hope we can progress this on a cross-party basis. This is about democracy and, more importantly, about parity. This would bring Grantham in line with the vast majority of other local councils following reorganisation in 1972."

Council Leader Coun Kelham Cooke said: "I always said I would keep Council updated on local government reorganisation and also devolution. I would rather we were in the driving seat for the people of Grantham rather than have anything imposed upon us."

Summing up, Cllr Jeal said: "We will engage with the people of Grantham about the strengths and weaknesses of the current system."

His motion was carried.