Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies or substitutions for the meeting.

Apologies were received from:

Cllr Ian Thorn

Cllr Stuart Wheeler

Cllr Gavin Grant

The Committee noted that Cllr Gavin Grant and Cllr Stuart Wheeler were in attendance virtually (non-voting).

To approve and sign the minutes of the meeting held on 22 November 2023.

The minutes of the meeting held on 22 November 2023 were presented for consideration, and it was;

Resolved:

To approve and sign the minutes as a correct record.

To receive any declarations of disclosable interests or dispensations granted by the Standards Committee or Monitoring Officer.

There were no declarations of interest.

To receive any announcements through the Chair.

The Chairman explained that following Council’s approval of the Committee’s recommendations on 17 October 2023, the Local Government Boundary Commission for England (LGBCE) had given their consent to the requested parish changes in Westbury and other areas.

The LGBCE would be considering whether to amend the Electoral Divisions at their January meeting but given the aforementioned consent to parishes that could be a positive indication.

Statements

If you would like to make a statement at this meeting on any item on this

agenda, please register to do so at least 10 minutes prior to the meeting. Up to 3 speakers are permitted to speak for up to 3 minutes each on any agenda item.

Please contact the officer named on the front of the agenda for any further

clarification.

Questions

To receive any questions from members of the public or members of the Council received in accordance with the constitution.

Those wishing to ask questions are required to give notice of any such

questions in writing to the officer named on the front of this agenda no later than 5pm on 6 December 2023 in order to be guaranteed of a written response. In order to receive a verbal response questions must be submitted no later than 5pm on 8 December 2023. Please contact the officer named on the front of this agenda for further advice. Questions may be asked without notice if the Chairman decides that the matter is urgent.

Details of any questions received will be circulated to Committee members prior to the meeting and made available at the meeting and on the Council’s website.

No statements or questions were submitted.

To agree draft recommendations for the Community Governance Review 2023/24.

Public Participation

Area 02 Mere/Zeals - Cllr John Jordan, Chairman of Mere Parish Council

Area 03 North Bradley/Trowbridge - Mr Francis Morland

Area 03 North Bradley/Trowbridge – Cllr Roger Evans, Chairman of North Bradley PC

Additional Request 01- Mr Francis Morland

The Committee considered the information within the information pack, published in the agenda before making draft recommendations and agreeing consultation arrangements for the Community Governance Review (CGR) 2023/24.

It was explained that a public survey detailing received CGR scheme proposals ran from 31 October to 26 November 2023, and was then extended until 31 December 2023, and that letters had been provided to residents of Rowden Lane, Chippenham, as part of the review of that area.

The information pack in the agenda included initial proposals, responses which had been received from parish councils and others, electorate projections, and notes from information sessions with local members and parishes. Attention was drawn to information within the Agenda Supplement.

Area 1 – Winterbourne

The request submitted by Winerbourne Parish Council related to four separate areas around the current boundary which impacted on the parishes of Laverstock & Ford, Durnford, Firsdown, and Idmiston.

The Committee noted the low number of responses received in relation to the Winterbourne proposals and that the response from Laverstock & Ford Parish Council was opposed to the boundary changes concerning the dwellings within its area.

In each of the areas proposed by Winterbourne Parish Council, the Committee noted limited or non-existent responses, and the lack of perceived governance improvement from the very minor changes. They determined there were no significant community benefits to the proposals and declined to make a recommendation to amend the governance arrangements in the area.

Area 2 – Mere/Zeals

Mere Town Council had submitted a request for an area of the parish of Zeals to be transferred to the town. It related to a small area within the B3092 & A303 slip road area.  The site currently had planning permission for business use, the Hill Brush Factory and Visit Hillbrush visitor centre, one dwelling and planning permission for a 70 bed Care Home to the east of the Hill Brush Site.

The Chairman of the Town Council made a statement setting out the reasons for the scheme request and noted that there had not yet been any local consultation with the Mere residents as the town council was awaiting the initial draft recommendations of the Committee before running a local campaign. He stated this was the reason why there had been a low number of responses to the survey from Mere residents and a high number from Zeals resident as Zeals Parish Council had circulated a flyer seeking responses to the survey to its residents.

The Committee noted the high number of responses to the survey, with over 100 responses received stating they disagreed with the proposal.

The Committee received details of the reasons provided in the comments against and the few comments in support. They noted that financial factors such as changes to precept or development  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

To consider a request from Luckington Parish Council.

The Committee considered two Parish Name Change requests, as set out in the agenda and Supplement 01.

Luckington

Luckington Parish Council submitted a request to change their name to Luckington and Alderton, to reflect the two communities making up the parish. They already informally used the name and had not been aware it was not the legal name of the parish.

Although no responses were received to a public survey set up in December, the request was considered to be reasonable and appropriate and he Committee agreed to recommend the change to Full Council for approval request at its next meeting.

Clyffe Pypard

After publication of the agenda Clyffe Pypard Parish Council provided a request to change the name of their parish to Clyffe Pypard and Bushton, also to reflect the communities which make up their parish.

As there had not been time to conduct any kind of public survey the Committee agreed to defer a decision on the request until the next meeting to provide that opportunity..

It was then,

Resolved:

1.     To recommend to Council that Luckington Parish Council change its name to Luckington and Alderton Parish Council.

2.     To conduct a survey on the Clyffe Pypard PC Name change request.

To confirm the date of the next meeting as 27 March 2024.

The date of the next meeting was agreed as 27 March 2024 at 10:00am.

Any other items of business which the Chairman agrees to consider as a matter of urgency.

There were no urgent items.