Agenda item

Community Governance Review 2021/22

To receive a report from the Director, Legal and Governance, following the consultation on the Draft Recommendations agreed on 8 February 2022.

Minutes:

Public Participation

Mr Ioan Rees, the organiser of a petition, spoke in support of recommendation 7 (Calne without/Derry Hill & Studley)

Mr Keith Robbins as a petitioner spoke in spoke in support of recommendation 7 (Calne without/Derry Hill & Studley)

Mr John Bartholomew, representative of Brokenborough PC spoke in in respect of Recommendation 8 (Malmesbury)

Mr Roger Bugden, representing St Paul Malmesbury without PC spoke in respect of recommendation 8 (Malmesbury)

Mr David Briggs representing St Paul Malmesbury without PC spoke in respect of recommendation 8 (Malmesbury)

 

The Committee considered the responses to the Draft Recommendations consultation which ran from 18 March 2022 – 5 May 2022. 

 

Charlton St Peter

The Committee discussed Draft Recommendation 1 (Charlton St Peter). No further responses had been received, and the Committee considered the reasoning and evidence for the proposal remained appropriate and confirmed its recommendation.

 

The Committee determined to confirm Draft recommendation 1

 

Calne & Surrounding Areas

 

The Committee considered Draft Recommendations 2 – 7, which related to Calne, Bremhill, Hillmarton, Compton Bassett, Cherhill, Heddington and Calne without (Derry Hill & Studley). Members of the public spoke as detailed above.

 

Recommendation 2 - Calne Town

 

Cllr Ian Thorn spoke as local member and not in his capacity as Committee member.

 

Consultation responses relating to the Calne Town proposals were considered as attached to the report.  Responses were predominantly in support, however there were requests to consider the views of residents in the proposed area A, Cherhill View estate.  The Committee continued to consider the area was an urban extension of the town and should be transferred within it. A request from Calne Town Council to reconsider its proposal to transfer the Beversbrook sports facility was also discussed The Committee noted there were no residential properties involved and did not consider evidence had been provided that governance or community reasons justified such a change.

 

The Committee determined to confirm Draft recommendation 2

 

Recommendation 3 – Bremhill

 

The Committee noted the consultation responses relating to the Bremhill proposals, with an objection from Langley Burrell PC to the transfer of area E, although support had been received from residents within that area, currently a part Langley Burrell Without. The Committee continued to support the proposals to transfer the area to Bremhill as more reflective of the community identity and interests. There had been a mixed response from residents around Stanley Abbey Farm, and on balance the Committee upheld its initial recommendation as the most appropriate option.

 

The Committee considered and supported a request for an amendment to the boundary line to the south, to include within the parish of Calne Without (Derry Hill & Studley) a group of properties around Black Dog Holt, which were currently split across two parishes by the recommendation

 

The Committee noted that a further short consultation would be required and that a final recommendation for Bremhill would be considered at the next meeting once the consultation responses had been considered.

 

Recommendation 4 – Hilmarton & Compton Bassett

 

The Committee noted the consultation responses, which indicated support by both parishes involved.

 

The Committee was in favour of confirming Draft Recommendation 4 (Hillmarton and Compton Bassett).

 

Recommendation 5 – Cherhill

 

The Committee noted the consultation responses relating to the Cherhill proposals which were mostly supportive, subject to an amendment to the currently split Blackland area, to bring it wholly within a single parish, with most responses proposing it be within the parish of Cherhill. Other suggestions had been to increase the number of wards and councillors for the expanded Cherhill

 

The Committee noted that a further short consultation would be required and that a final recommendation for Cherhill would be considered at the next meeting once the consultation responses had been considered.

 

 

Recommendation 6 – Heddington

 

The Committee noted the consultation responses relating to the Heddington proposals which were mostly supportive but had raised a request for an amendment around the Bowood Estate area, to bring it as a whole into one parish, rather than to split across two as was currently the proposal. 

 

The Committee was advised that a map had been requested of the Bowood Estate to clarify the exact boundary of the estate.

 

Heddington parish council also supported the proposals subject To adjusting the name of the proposed new ward for Stockley.

 

The Committee supported the amendment requests and noted that a further short consultation would be required and that a final recommendation for Heddington would be considered at the next meeting once the consultation responses had been considered.

 

Recommendation 7 – Calne Without (Derry Hill & Studley)

 

The Committee noted the consultation responses relating to the Calne without (Derry Hill & Studley) proposals.

 

The proposals were in line with the original request of the petition to have Derry Hill & Studley un-warded, however, Calne Without Parish Council had submitted an amendment to the proposals, to ward the remaining area of Calne without, which would be renamed Derry Hill & Studley.

 

The Committee discussed the proposal and the responses, noting the parishes in the area were a mix of warded and unwarded. Taking note of the support of the parish council the committee supported the amendment request to ward the remainder of Calne without (Derry Hill & Studley). It proposed boundaries for those wards to include Sandy Lane and the Bowood Estate noted that a further short consultation would be required and that a final recommendation for Calne without (Derry Hill & Studley) would be considered at the next meeting once the consultation responses had been considered.

 

 

Malmesbury & Surrounding Areas

 

The Committee then considered Draft Recommendation 8 which related to Malmesbury & Surrounding areas.

 

Ward members Cllr Gavin Grant spoke as local member and not in his capacity as Committee member, and asked the Committee to support a deferral to the consideration of a final recommendation for Malmesbury and surrounding areas, to allow time for representatives of both councils to come together to discuss options, taking note of the responses which had been received including from surrounding parishes such as Charlton.

 

The St Paul Malmesbury Without Parish Council representatives in attendance were in support of the suggestion.

 

The Committee also noted the request for an amendment from Brokenborough Parish Council to the boundary line around Hyam Farm and associated buildings.

 

The Committee discussed the consultation responses which had indicated a high level of objection to the proposed transfers from residents of St Paul Malmesbury Without, and noted the revised suggestion from the parish council to transfer a smaller area to the town. It supported the request for a deferral to allow for further discussion between the two councils in a bid to achieve a revised proposal which was more acceptable.  

 

It was;

 

Resolved

 

To confirm that Council be proposed to approve Draft Recommendations 1, 2 and 4

 

To amend Recommendations 3,5,6 and 7 as detailed in the additional draft recommendations document.

 

To delegate the preparation of an additional draft recommendations document to the Director, Legal and Governance, after consultation with the Chairman of the Committee.

 

For an additional consultation to take place on recommendations 3,5,6 and 7, with the dates to be agreed by the Director, Legal and Governance, after consultation with the Chairman of the Committee.

 

To defer making a Final Recommendation for Malmesbury until the next meeting, to allow time for discussions between Malmesbury Town Council and St Paul Malmesbury Without Parish Council.

 

 

Supporting documents: