Agenda item

To consider making provisional draft recommendations for the areas included within the Community Governance Review 2019/20.

The Committee received a report on information received during the initial stages of the Community Governance Review, including details of responses to an online and physical survey sent to residents in areas which might potentially be transferred to another parish, and details of electorate projections, parish council views and notes from public meetings.

The Chairman explained that given the extensive pre-consultation that had taken place, that the length and methods of consultation required for draft consultation was not set out in law or guidance, and that to delay determination of some areas could result in some areas having arrangements in place for the next parish elections in 2021 which were not providing effective governance or reflective of community identity or interests, it was considered acceptable to continue progression of the review during the Covid-19 situation. It was also agreed during the meeting that the Committee would write to those who had received a letter during the initial phases of the review to further canvass opinion during the ongoing situation.

The Committee then discussed the areas under review and the various proposals which had been received along with public and parish views on those proposals. The Committee debated each area and agreed draft recommendations to be consulted upon, along with reasons for each recommendation.

Given the developing Covid-19 situation, the Committee delegated approval of the final documentation and arrangements to the Director for Legal, Electoral and Registration Services. At the conclusion of debate, it was,

Resolved:

To delegate preparation and approval of a draft recommendation document to the Director for Legal, Electoral and Registration Services after consultation with the Chairman of the Committee.

In relation to the schemes as surveyed, the Committee resolved.

Scheme 1 – Netherhampton – recommended to be approved

Scheme 2/42 – Langley Burrell Without 1 – recommended to be approved

Scheme 3/43 – Langley Burrell Without 2 – recommended to be approved

Scheme 4/44 – Lacock – recommended to be approved

Scheme 5/9 – Melksham Without 1 – recommended to be approved

Scheme 6/10 – Melksham Without 2 – recommended to be approved

Scheme7 – North Bradley 1 – recommended to be approved

Scheme 8 – North Bradley 2 – recommended to be approved

Scheme 11 – Seend 1 – recommended to not be approved

Scheme 13 – Trowbridge 1 – recommended to not be approved

Scheme 14 – Trowbridge 2 – recommended to not be approved

Scheme 15 – Trowbridge 3 – recommended to not be approved

Scheme 16 – Trowbridge 4 – recommended to not be approved

Scheme 17 – Trowbridge 5 – recommended to not be approved

Scheme 24 – Melksham Merger (a, b, c and d) – recommended to not be approved

Scheme 29 – Calne Without – recommended to be approved

Scheme 32 – Pewsey – recommended to be approved

Scheme 34 – Wilcot 1 – recommended to be approved

Scheme 35 – Wilcot 2 – recommended to be approved

Scheme 37 – Southwick – recommended to not be approved

Scheme 40 – Derry Hill (New parish) – recommended to not be approved (but to be reviewed 2020/21/22 with surrounding parishes to ensure full consideration of potential options)

Scheme 41 – Chippenham 1 – recommended to not be approved

Scheme 51 – West Ashton 1 – recommended to not be approved

Scheme 52 – West Ashton 2 – recommended to not be approved

Scheme 74 – Salisbury – recommended to be approved

Scheme 75 – Chippenham Without – recommended to be approved

Scheme 76 – Woodborough – recommended to be approved

Scheme 82 – Yatton Keynell – recommended to not be approved

Scheme 83 – Seend 2 – recommended to not be approved

Along with additional details relating to each Scheme as appropriate.