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Agenda item

Community Governance Review

Purpose

At its meeting in February, Council approved a Community Governance Review for six areas within the District and consultations have now taken place.  The purpose of this report is for Council to consider the responses and approve the final recommendations for each area.

In addition, Bourton-on-the-Water Parish Council has asked the Council to consider a change in their governance arrangements.

 

Recommendation(s)

That Council:

a) approve the final recommendations in relation to the Parish boundary changes for the six areas under consideration

b) authorise the Electoral Services Manager to request the Local Government Boundary Commission to change District Wards and County Divisions to reflect the changes made to Parish boundaries

c) authorise the Head of Legal Services to make a Reorganisation of Community Governance order to implement the changes agreed by Council

d) considers the recommendation to increase the number of Parish Councillors on Bourton-on-the-Water Parish Council from 11 to 13.

 

Minutes:

The purpose of this report was for Council to consider the consultation responses and approve the final recommendations of the Community Governance Review for each of 6 areas across the District.

 

In addition, to consider a request from Bourton-on-the-Water Parish Council to change in their governance arrangements

 

Councillor Joe Harris, Leader of the Council presented the report and recommended that each of the 6 proposals should be considered individually with the Electoral Services Manager providing context, background and expert advice.

 

The Council agreed to consider and vote on each application individually and once completed, consider and vote collectively to make the required electoral and legal changes. 

 

1.    Ampney Crucis – Driffield

 

The Electoral Services Manager introduced the proposal to ‘draft a recommendation to move the current parish boundary line’ that cuts through a property and its land that leaves part in Ampney Crucis and part in Driffield.

 

Recommendation

Following consultation, and In light of the lack of consensus and additional proposals from Ampney St Mary, it was recommended that further consultation is carried out with the parish councils/meeting and local residents to understand their views more fully with final recommendations brought to Council on 20th July 2022.

 

The Council noted that there was currently a lack of consensus and additional consultation was required.

 

RESOLVED: The Council agreed with the Officer’s recommendation that further consultation should be carried out and final considerations should be brought to Council in July

 

Voting Record: For 32, Against 0, Abstentions 0, Absent 2,

 

2.    Coberley – Withington

 

The Electoral Services Manager introduced the proposal that Coberley Parish Council had submitted to move the property known as Needlehole from Withington into Coberley.  This request was originally made a few years ago, and this was the first opportunity for it to be considered

 

Recommendations

It was recommended that the boundary between Coberley Parish and Withington

Parish is amended to bring the property known as Needlehole into the parish of

Coberley.  If agreed details of the recommendation would be submitted to the Boundary Commission for England for their consideration in amending the Ward boundary between Ermin and Sandywell.

 

The Council noted that although 4 buildings would be included in the move, only one of these was a dwelling.

 

The Council noted that the roads on the associated map could give the impression that the property was part of Withington, but that the topography of the land made it part of Coberley.

 

RESOLVED: The Council agreed with the Officer’s recommendation that the boundary between Coberley Parish and Withington Parish should be amended to bring the property known as Needlehole into the parish of Coberley, and details of the recommendation should be submitted to the Boundary Commission for England for their consideration in amending the Ward boundary between Ermin and Sandywell.

 

Voting Record: For 32, Against 0, Abstentions 0, Absent 2,

 

3.    Birdlip, Brimpsfield and Cowley Boundaries

 

The Electoral Services Manager introduced the proposal following a request from Cowley Parish Council that draft recommendations were drawn up to split the parish into two, to create Birdlip Parish Council and to continue with Cowley Parish Council.

 

Recommendations

It is recommended that the parish of Cowley is split to create two new councils; Birdlip Parish Council and Cowley Parish Council, and the boundary between the new Birdlip Parish Council and Brimpsfield Parish is altered to include the properties at Parsons Pitch/Hawcote Hill into the new Birdlip Parish Council area

It is also recommended that Birdlip Parish Council has 7 councillors and Cowley Parish Council has 5 councillors; and Legal Services put the necessary procedures in place to effect this change with elections to the two new councils taking place alongside the ordinary elections on 4 May 2023

 

The Council noted that the historic Cowley Parish area had been defined by the importance of the Cowley estate and village, with workers cottages at Birdlip originally marking the boundary of the estate.  The development of the A417 into a major highway, and Birdlip developing into a vibrant village that was now twice the size of Cowley, had changed the needs and priorities of the two communities.

 

The Council noted that although the split would leave only 100 residents in Cowley Parish, the CEO of the Gloucester Association of Parish and Town Councils (GAPTC) had confirmed that as an existing parish council, Cowley Parish Council, a could remain in existence to serve the smaller parish area.

 

The Council noted that Cowley Parish Council would continue to exist until the parish council decided to dissolve it, and that electoral and legal support would be provided to help establish Birdlip Parish Council and elect its Members.

 

RESOLVED: The Council agreed that the parish of Cowley is split to create two new councils; Birdlip Parish Council and Cowley Parish Council, and the boundary between the new Birdlip Parish Council and Brimpsfield Parish is altered to include the properties at Parsons Pitch/Hawcote Hill into the new Birdlip Parish Council area

The Council also agreed that Birdlip Parish Council would have 7 councillors and Cowley Parish Council would have 5 councillors, and Legal Services would put the necessary procedures in place to effect this change with elections to the two new councils taking place alongside the ordinary elections on 4 May 2023

 

Voting Record: For 32, Against 0, Abstentions 0, Absent 2,

 

4.    Northleach-with-Eastington

 

The Electoral Services Manager introduced the proposal from Northleach-with-Eastington Town Council requesting consideration was given to moving the boundary between itself and Farmington Parish Meeting. 

 

The Council noted that the proposal did not affect any properties and that Farmington Parish Meeting was against the proposed changes.

 

The Council noted that no evidence of litter or road safety issues had been produced by either Northleach-with-Eastington Town Council or Farmington Parish Meeting.

 

Recommendation

As there was no clear consensus for this change and no properties were affected, it was recommended that no changes were made and the boundary should remain as it is.

 

RESOLVED:  The Council agreed with the Officer’s recommendation that, as there was no clear consensus for this change, and no properties would be affected, that no changes were made and the boundary remained as it was.

 

Voting Record: For 32, Against 0, Abstentions 0, Absent 2,

 

5.    Westonbirt-with-Lasborough

 

The Electoral Services Manager introduced the proposal that a number of properties currently in Shipton Moyne and Tetbury Upton were moved into Westonbirt-with-Lasborough. The proposal was requested by Westonbirt-with-Lasborough Parish Council as they felt that these properties were more aligned to Westonbirt-with-Lasborough.

 

The Council noted that there was no compelling reason to move the properties to a different parish and the residents of the Shipton Moyne (that would be affected) did not support the move.

 

The Council noted that should the Council be minded to agree to the move taking place, then this would have an impact on ward boundaries, which may need to be changed.

 

Recommendation

It was recommended that the boundary remained the same and the proposal was refused.

 

RESOLVED: The Council agreed with the Officer’s recommendation that the boundary remained the same and the proposal was refused.

 

Voting Record: For 31, Against 0, Abstentions 1, Absent 2,

 

6.    Stratton (Cirencester) – Baunton

 

Councillor Robbins introduced the proposal that, following a request from Cirencester Town Council, the Community Governance Review look at the boundary between Cirencester and Baunton which runs along Baunton Lane. The proposal was to move the properties currently in Baunton Parish into the Cirencester Town Council area.

 

The Council noted that the residents of the properties affected, currently benefited from being part of Cirencester, and all that the town provided, but did not contribute to the town’s precept through their Council Tax charges.

 

The Council noted that the residents of the properties currently paid precept payments to Baunton Parish Council and, should the move be approved, Cirencester Town Council had agreed to pay a grant equal to the amount of precept that would be lost (around £750 per year) for a period of 4 years, to enable Baunton Parish Council to adjust to the lost income.  

 

The Council noted that the residents believed their views (not move the properties) should take precedence, as the move provided no benefit for them and risked the long-term sustainability of Baunton as a parish.

 

The Council noted that the Council Tax charge of the residents affected would increase by around £200 per year.

 

The Council were reassured that the boundary changes would not affect the Council’s planning policy or change the criteria and development regulations applying to development on the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty land behind the houses that are affected.  

 

The Council noted that the distance between the last houses in Baunton village and Stratton was 48 metres and the distance between the same house and the first of the houses that would be affected was over 500 metres.

 

Recommendations

It was recommended that the Council consider the outcome of the consultation and the recommendation and decide whether the boundary should be changed.

 

RESOLVED: Having considered the outcome of the consultation and discussed the proposal, the Council agreed that the properties on and near to Baunton Lane (indicated on the associated map) were moved from Baunton Parish area to Cirencester Town.

 

Voting Record: For 18, Against 12, Abstentions 1, Absent 3,

 

RESOLVED: Following consideration and decisions and votes taken by the Council in respect of the 6 proposals, the Council authorises the Electoral Services Manager to request the Local Government Boundary Commission to change District Wards and County Divisions to reflect the changes made to Parish boundaries and authorise the Head of Legal Services to make a Reorganisation of Community Governance order to implement the changes agreed by Council

 

The Council also agrees to increase the number of Parish Councillors on Bourton-on-the-Water Parish Council from 11 to 13.

 

Voting Record: For 30, Against 0, Abstentions 1, Absent 3,

Supporting documents: