Calls to launch a major review of the local government set-up in High Wycombe were voted down by Conservatives this week as a council chief claimed “there is not a democratic deficit” in the town.

Two motions asking for a community governance review to be carried out in the unparished areas of High Wycombe were presented to Wycombe District Council (WDC) on Monday by councillors Matt Knight and Khalil Ahmed.

The review would investigate the different options for local government in High Wycombe and would potentially pave the way for a town council to be created.

Presenting his motion, Cllr Knight, who represents Micklefield, said residents have “equal rights to be represented and served” like the many other areas in the district. with town and parish councils.

He said: “Indeed, if we as councillors listen to the public who we represent we would know that this was a matter of interest and concern for those who live in High Wycombe.

“Those of us who are well rooted in our communities hear the people we meet on a day to day basis, we know that they desire to see their communities having greater oversight and more investment of time, energy and money put into them.

“I fail to see why this is remotely controversial, why it would be taken off the agenda, and why anyone in this chamber who supports the idea of listening to residents and promoting local democracy, could be against such a move.”

“I would have to question why anyone should be here in this chamber if they didn’t support these values of local democracy.”

For years councillors and residents have called for a council to be launched in the historic town – ultimately replacing the current town committee which has limited powers. The government’s approval of a super council in Bucks in November has sparked fresh fears the town will be left without any form of democracy – as WDC will be scrapped by 2020.

However council leader Cllr Katrina Wood, slammed the councillors for “creating baseless fear” among residents and said a town council would be “expensive”.

Cllr Wood said: “It is disappointing that some members of this chamber are using this as an opportunity to generate baseless fear amongst our residents, but I suppose that is the nature of politics.“I will be the first to say that the move to unitary presents many possibilities, but they are possibilities for financial savings, operational efficiencies, and for improving service delivery.

“There are no examples of a move to unitary where these objectives have been furthered or achieved by the inclusion of a community governance review, and the creation of a new tier of local government.

“In stark contrast, there are many examples of unparished areas surviving and thriving within a unitary – Reading, Windsor, and Maidenhead.” to name but a few.”

Last week current and ex-district councillors met to discuss the next steps towards creating a town council, and agreed to launch a petition calling for a community governance review if the motions were rejected.