Agenda and minutes

Councillors A Moran, B G Silvester and R Westwood

Councillors D J Cannon, R Cartlidge and R W Parker each declared a personal interest in the proceedings on the basis that they were Crewe Charter Trustees.

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 30 July 2009.

RESOLVED:  That the minutes of the meeting held on 30^th July 2009 be approved as a correct record.

In accordance with Procedure Rules 11 and 35, a total of 10 Minutes was allocated for Members of the Public to address the Committee on any matter relevant to the work of the Committee.

In accordance with Procedure Rules Nos. 11 and 35, a total period of 10 minutes was allocated for members of the public to address the Member Group on any matter relevant to its work.

Members of the public present did not raise any questions and the Member Group proceeded to its next business.

Based upon feedback from Members at the last meeting, to consider and agree a revised project plan and timeline. (Report to Follow).

Based on discussions at the previous meeting, a revised project plan and timeline was submitted for consideration.

The Elections and Registration Team Manager spoke to the document and highlighted the revised timescale.  It was noted that there had been some slippage in the timeline and it was no longer possible to adhere to the original deadline of submitting draft recommendations to the Governance and Constitution Committee at its meeting scheduled for 28^th September.   A special meeting of that Committee would, therefore, be held on 15^th October (the day of Full Council) at 11.00 am.  The Governance and Constitution Committee would be asked to make recommendations to Full Council, later that day, for the purposes of consultation.

RESOLVED: 

That the revised Project Plan and Timeline be approved.

To discuss and agree the format and timescale for the stage 1 consultation (to follow) including:-

a)     A task timeline

b)     Updated list of Consultees

c)      Press release and Public Notice

d)     Date and time of public meetings

e)     Draft leaflet to consultees including:

i. Options on which to consult; and

ii. Proposed warding arrangements of the options where they involve a single or multiple parish councils

f)        Questionnaire to Electors

The Member Group considered arrangements for the First Stage Consultation.  The following documents were submitted and discussed –

(a)       Task Timeline

The task timeline proposed a public consultation on the options, between 1^st and 30^th September during which time, electoral canvassers would deliver the questionnaires; one to each Local Government elector in the area of review.

Reference was made to a “feedback form” to be included on the website; this would be an open forum for members of the public to make comments.

(b)       Updated List of Consultees

At the previous meeting a list of consultees had been submitted.  Members had made suggestions for additions to the list, and subsequent to the meeting, further additions had been requested.  An updated list was now submitted. The list would be regarded as “open” and could be added to as and when required.

(c)        Press Release and Public Notice

A revised Press Release and Public Notice was tabled at the meeting and approved for issue.

(d)       Date and Time of Public Meetings

Public meetings would be held on Tuesday, 1^st September at 2.30 pm and 7.00 pm respectively in the Council Chamber, Municipal Buildings, Crewe.  These would be an opportunity to inform members of the public about the proposals and interested parties would be able to express their views in a public forum.

The Cheshire Association of Local Councils would be informed of the date of the proposed meetings, to enable it to notify its member parish councils at the earliest opportunity.

(e)       Draft Leaflet to Consultees

A copy of the proposed explanatory leaflet was tabled.  At the previous meeting, the Member Group had considered a briefing paper which  presented an initial evaluation of the options to be considered.  In accordance with guidance in respect of reviews, community governance within the area under review should be reflective of the identities and interests of the community in that area.  No decision had been made in respect of the number of parish councils to be proposed.  Notwithstanding this, a map for inclusion in the leaflet was tabled, showing four proposed parished areas which represented the current wards of Crewe North, Crewe South, Crewe East and Crewe West.

It was AGREED that a red line be used to show the extent of the boundary of the unparished areas of Crewe and a blue line used for the delineation of the four proposed parished areas.

·          Under the heading “How are these things paid for?” was a list of various Town Councils, their population and their precepts.  The list included Town Councils in Cheshire, but also Town Councils from further afield.  A Member commented that the inclusion of Town Councils in other counties was misleading, and could create a perception that the establishment of a Town Council in Crewe could be prohibitively costly.

In response, the Member Group was informed that information had been gathered for illustrative purposes only.  Application of statistical formulae produced no correlation between the population number and the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 15.

To agree the date of the next meeting.

5^th October 2009 – 2.00 pm

East Committee Room, Municipal Buildings, Earle Street, Crewe