Agenda item

(i)            Report by Carolyn Godfrey, Corporate Director.

(ii)          Details of schemes considered and the recommendations from the Working Group on Community Governance Review

(iii)         Guidance on Community Governance Reviews by DCLG

(membership of the Working Group:  Councillors Stuart Wheeler (Chairman), Jon Hubbard, Ernie Clark and Ian McLennan)

The Chairman outlined how he intended to deal with the various Community Governance Review schemes under consideration on this item. He then asked Cllr Stuart Wheeler, Chair of the Community Governance Review Working Group, to introduce the report.

Cllr Wheeler thanked the members on the Working Group for their support during the process, thanked the officers support provided to the Working Group and to the process, making particular reference to: John Watling, Phil Morgan, Ian Gibbons, Paul Taylor, Yamina Rhouati and all Democratic Services. Cllr Wheeler made special reference to the work of Jessica Croman in Democratic Services who had helped to co-ordinate and support the  working group and various public meetings, wishing her well in her maternity leave.

In proposing the general proposals of the Working Group, subsequently seconded by Cllr Jon Hubbard, Cllr Wheller went to outline to terms of reference and composition of the Working Group and that members of the group had withdrawn from deliberations of final recommendations where they had an interest as a resident or member of the relevant local council.  Cllr Wheeler clarified that none of the parishes in his area were affected by any of the proposals, allowing him to participate without fettering. He went on to outline how the views of the public had been sought and what matters the working group could consider in accordance with the national guidance. He clarified that the matter of the precept and the impact of the proposals on planning development matters did not form part of the deliberations of the working group.

Cllr Ernie Clark proposed the wording of the proposal be amended to ask the Working Group to take action so that any properties which might be moved from one  parish to another was written to individually by this Council alerting them to the consultation and advising how they can make their representations to the working group.

Cllr Stuart Wheeler indicated that he was happy to accept this as a friendly amendment, and it therefore became part of the substantive motion.

Cllr Ian McLennan spoke in support of the amendment, and Cllr Jon Hubbard raised some concerns over the issue of consistency as this represented a change to the procedure part way through the process.

The being no further debate, the meeting;

Resolved

1.       To approve the recommendations set out in the appendices to the report as presented, as subsequently debated and amended, in respect of the parishes that have been reviewed;

2.       That, where changes to the area or structure of parishes are approved, the Working Group gives further consideration to the consequential changes (if any) that may need to be made to the electoral arrangements for those parish councils, including any changes to warding and brings these back to Council for final approval; and

3.       That the Working Group be instructed that any properties which might be moved from one civil parish to another is written to individually by Wiltshire Council alerting them to the consultation and advising how they can make their representations to the working group.