Agenda item - Community Governance Review for Proposed Boundary Changes to Clent and Hagley Parish Council Areas

Agenda item

Community Governance Review for Proposed Boundary Changes to Clent and Hagley Parish Council Areas

Minutes:

The Chairman informed Members that the purpose of the meeting was to consider a report in respect of the proposed boundary changes to Clent and Hagley parish areas.

 

The Head of Legal and Democratic Services provided Members with background information in respect of the review and advised that Members were being asked to consider the recommendations and determine which recommendation would now form the subject of the stage two consultation as detailed within the report.

 

Whilst presenting the report the Head of Legal and Democratic Services highlighted the following:

 

·         The Council’s duty to undertake a community governance review on receipt of a valid petition, which had instigated the review in this instance.

·         Members should ensure that the review reflects the identities and interests of the communities within the area.

·         For the purpose of good governance it was important that reviews were carried out and it was as number of years since the last one.

·         Those that would be affected by the changes had been consulted together with other interested parties.

·         The Committee’s objective was to ensure good governance within the communities affected.

·         Whilst it was important that Members take into account the views of the residents, this was one part of their consideration and that they must always refer back to the principles of good governance and community relevance and identity.

·         Planning Officers had been consulted on the proposals and confirmed that no development was proposed in the affected area B over the next five years but that the Council may be subject to a Green Belt Review at some point in the future.

·         The agreed recommendation would then go on to the second stage consultation and the results of this would be the subject of a s subsequent report to this Committee before  a final decision would be made by this Committee.

 

Following presentation of the report Members raised a number of questions including:

 

·         Whether there was an indication of how many of the responses received were from each particular parish.

·         The large number of responses together with a large majority in favour of a particular option.

·         Residents from each parish having an equal opportunity to respond to the consultation.

·         Details of the existing parish boundaries and the impact on the residents affected by any change which took place.

·         The impact of each option and any subsequent changes that would arise from the final decision.

·         The next steps in the process and what form the consultation would take.

 

It was confirmed that following the decision reached by the Committee a further period of consultation would be carried out with a final report being brought back to the Committee in October 2015 for its further consideration.

 

After further discussion it was

 

RESOLVED to adopt Option 1 as the Council’s draft recommendation and that a further consultation be carried out in respect of Option 1, which is  to transfer the areas labelled “A” and “B” from Clent to Hagley parish council area, as indicated on the consultation plan, Appendix 1 attached to these minutes.

 

Supporting documents: