Issue - meetings

To consider proposals for a holistic Borough-wide review of community governance arrangements in Cheshire East.

The Committee considered proposals for a Borough-wide review of community governance arrangements.

The Council at its meeting on 14^th October 2010 had considered a Notice of Motion submitted by Councillor D Flude proposing that the Constitution Committee be asked to undertake a further Community Governance Review for Crewe. The Council referred the Motion to the Constitution Committee. The Constitution Committee on 18^th November 2010 resolved that further consideration of the Motion be deferred until after the May 2011 elections, at which time the Council be asked to consider undertaking a holistic Borough-wide review of community governance arrangements in Cheshire East.

The Council had since received a letter from the Macclesfield Civic Society, requesting that the Constitution Committee consider a governance review for Macclesfield at the first opportunity.

Community Governance Reviews were conducted under the provisions of the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007. The 2007 Act provided for a principal council to conduct a Community Governance Review at any time.

RESOLVED

That

(1)   a Borough-wide review of community governance arrangements for Cheshire East be conducted to consist of the following areas, and be undertaken in order of priority as listed:

(a)   a review of the unparished areas of Crewe in accordance with the Notice of Motion to Council on 14^th October 2010;

(b)   a review of the unparished areas of Macclesfield in response to the representations made by the Macclesfield Civic Society;

(c)   a review of parishes in the Borough, with particular focus on areas where there is evidence that parish councils are not fully functional or not operating effectively due to a lack of parish councillors being elected; or where very small parishes exist which may benefit from a grouping arrangement to facilitate the Localism agenda;

(2)   a sub-committee of six members be appointed (4 Con; 1 Lab; 1 Ind) with delegated authority to conduct the review; and

(3)   Macclesfield Civic Society be informed of the Committee’s decision regarding the scope of the review.