Agenda item

Cllr Stuart Wheeler introduced the proposals for the Melksham Area (ref 43, 44, 45, 46, 47 and 48), and outlined that the Working Group’s proposed changes.

The meeting then considered the scheme for the merger of Melksham Town Council and Melksham Without Parish Council (ref 44 and 45).

Representations were received from Cllr Richard Wood, Melksham Without Parish Council, Mike Mills, Tony Bruun and Brain Warwick

Cllr Jon Hubbard spoke in support of the proposal to merge the two parish councils.

Cllrs Terry Chivers and Roy While spoke against the proposal to merge.

Issues discussed in the course of the debate included: the potential impact on community identity; how the councils currently worked together; the potential impact on efficiency of administration; the benefits and drawbacks of merging communities; how councils could work in partnership without formal merger; and the views of the public.

Having been put to a recorded vote, the meeting;

Resolved

That there be no change to the structure of Melksham and Melksham Without parishes and that they remain as separate parishes

A record of the vote is appended to these minutes.

The meeting then considered the scheme for the Properties within Melksham Without (Snarlton Lane, Thyme Road area) (ref 43).

Representation were received from Alan Banes and Brian Warwick

Cllr Terry Chivers spoke in support of the proposal.

There being no further debate, the meeting;

Resolved

That the area of land in the parish of Melksham Without shown hatched and edged in green on Scheme 43 - Area A9 - Melksham and Melksham Without Map 1, being land in the vicinity of Snarlton Lane and Thyme Road, becomes part of the parish of Melksham

The meeting then considered the scheme for the Re-draw north west boundary to align with the A365 and Dunch Lane junction (ref 46).

Representation were received from Alan Banes and Brain Warwick

There being no further debate, the meeting;

Resolved

That the area of land in the parish of Melksham Without shown hatched and edged in green on Scheme 46 - Area A9 - Melksham and Melksham Without Map 2, being land in the vicinity of Dunch Lane and the A365 becomes part of the parish of Melksham.

The meeting then considered the scheme for the Southern boundary with Seend, Locking Close and the canal – Giles Wood (ref 47).

Representations were received from Mike Mills in support of the proposal, and from Cllr Kevin Reed, Seend Parish Council, against the proposal.

Cllr Terry Chivers and Cllr Jon Hubbard spoke in support of the proposal.

Cllr Jonathon Seed and Cllr Philip Whitehead spoke against the proposal.

The meeting then considered passing the following motion, as recommended by the Working Group:

That the area of land in the parish of Seend, shown hatched and edged in green on Map Scheme 47 - Area A9 - Melksham and Melksham Without Map 3 being land in the vicinity of Locking Close and Giles Wood becomes part of the parish of Melksham Without.

Having been put to a recorded vote, the motion was lost. This vote, in effect, meant that there would be no change to the border between Melksham Without Parish Council and Seend Parish Council.

A record of this vote is appended to these minute.

The meeting then considered the scheme for the Land between Berryfield Lane and the River Avon – LCP (ref 48).

A representation was received from Alan Banes.

Cllr Terry Chivers spoke in support of the proposal.

There being no further debate, the meeting;

Resolved

That the area of land common to the parishes of Broughton Gifford and Melksham Without, shown hatched and edged in green on Map Scheme 48 - Area A9 - Melksham and Melksham Without Map 4, being land in the vicinity of Berry Lane becomes part of the parish of Melksham Without.