Issue - meetings

The Committee is asked to:

(1)   consider the recommendations of the Community Governance Review Sub-Committee following the outcome of the Stage 1 consultation; and

(2)   make a recommendation to Council on the formulation of its draft recommendation.

The Community Governance Review Sub-Committee met on 13^th March 2012 and its recommendations will be reported at the Committee’s meeting.

The documents which the Sub-Committee was asked to consider in making its recommendations to the Committee are attached. These comprise:

(a)           a briefing paper on the matters to be taken into consideration in formulating a draft recommendation;

(b)           the results of the consultation with local electors; and

(c)            other representations received.

The Committee considered the recommendations of the Community Governance Review Sub-Committee following the outcome of the Stage 1 consultation with a view to advising Council on the formulation of its draft recommendation.

The Committee had before it the papers considered by the Sub-Committee at its meeting on 13^th March 2012. These comprised:

§         a briefing paper based on the statutory guidance issued by the Department for Communities and Local Government which set out the process to be followed in conducting the Community Governance Review and the matters to be taken into consideration by the Council in formulating a draft recommendation;

§         the outcome of the ballot of local electors held in February; and

§         other representations received from the public and stakeholders during the first round of consultation.

The initial phase of consultation had included written representations received in response to public notices, specific invitations, a website tool and information leaflets.  Two public meetings had been held in September to give members of the public the opportunity to learn more about the review and to express their views in a public forum. Further opportunities had subsequently been provided to provide information at various community events during November and December 2011. The Council’s website had also been used as a source of information and as a tool for people to use to record their views. Finally, a voting paper had been sent to electors in Crewe to be returned by 29^th February.

The ballot of local electors had taken place throughout the month of February 2012 and the result showed 10.810 electors in favour of a single town council for Crewe and 1,390 against. The vote represented a 32% turnout and the Sub-Committee was satisfied that this was sufficient to represent the views of the electors of Crewe. Other public and stakeholder responses made during the Stage 1 consultation also showed a clear preference for a single town council.

The Sub-Committee had also considered the electoral and warding arrangements for the parish council, including the numbers and disposition of wards, number of parish councillors, date of elections and transitional arrangements, details of which were set out in the minutes of the Sub-Committee’s meeting.

The Sub-Committee had recommended as follows:

“That the Constitution Committee be advised that pursuant to Section 87 of the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007; and having regard to the provisions of the Department for Communities and Local Government and Electoral Commission Guidance, issued in April 2008, for the conduct of Community Governance Reviews:

1.      Having taken into account

1. the results of the consultation with the electors of the unparished area of Crewe which shows that a majority of those who returned their ballot papers were in favour of a new parish council for their area;

2. the results of the consultation exercise with stakeholders and the representations from other interested persons;

3. the outcomes of the public meetings held in Crewe and subsequent publicity and consultation arrangements; and

4. the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 54