Agenda and minutes

RESOLVED:

That Councillor D Marren be appointed as Chairman.

RESOLVED:

That Councillor J Weatherill be appointed as Vice Chairman.

There were no apologies for absence.

To provide an opportunity for Members and Officers to declare any disclosable pecuniary and non-pecuniary interests in any item on the agenda.

Councillor P Groves declared a non-pecuniary interest as he was a member of Bulkeley and Ridley Parish Council.

In accordance with Procedure Rules Nos.11 and 35 a period of 10 minutes is allocated for members of the public to address the meeting on any matter relating to the work of the body in question.  Individual members of the public may speak for up to 5 minutes but the Chairman or person presiding will decide how the period of time allocated for public speaking will be apportioned where there are a number of speakers. Members of the public are not required to give notice to use this facility. However, as a matter of courtesy, a period of 24 hours’ notice is encouraged.

Members of the public wishing to ask a question at the meeting should provide at least three clear working days’ notice in writing and should include the question with that notice. This will enable an informed answer to be given.

There were no members of the public present.

To undertake a review of governance arrangements in respect of a small number of parishes

The Committee considered a report on proposals to undertake a review of governance arrangements in respect of a small number of parishes.

The Constitution Committee, at its meeting in February 2016, agreed that the Community Governance Review Sub Committee should be convened to undertake a review of governance arrangements in respect of the following parishes: Minshull Vernon and District; Bulkeley and Ridley; Hassall and Betchton; Lyme Handley; Doddington and District; and Burland Parish Council. 

Since the meeting in February, a further request had been received from Hulme Walfield and Somerford Booth Parish Council to undertake a review. A representation had also been received from a member of the public to suggest that a review may be appropriate for Twemlow Parish Council.

Information had been received from the Clerk of Burland Parish Council and the Clerk of Doddington and District Parish Council to indicate that a review for their Parish Councils was no longer required as the number of vacancies was no longer an issue.  The Clerk to Betchton Parish Council had also provided information to indicate that a decision was taken by the parish meeting of Hassall not to proceed with a common parish council for Betchton and Hassall.

The Sub Committee considered the requests for review for the following parishes:

·       Minshull Vernon and District Parish Council – request to reduce the number of Councillors from 22 to 18

·       Bulkeley and Ridley  - request to merge the two parishes into one single ward parish

·       Lyme Handley Parish Council – at present unable to operate as all 5 seats are vacant

·       Hulme Walfield and Somerford Booth Parish Council – request to increase the number of parish councillors in Somerford Booth from 3 to 5

·       Twemlow – suggestion to reduce seats down 7 to 5

RESOLVED:

1        That Community Governance Reviews be commenced for Minshull Vernon and District; Bulkeley and Ridley; Lyme Handley; and Hulme Walfield and Somerford Booth Parish Councils.

2        That the terms of reference for these reviews be as defined as follows:

          Minshull Vernon and District – to consider the reduction in the number of parish councillors

          Bulkeley and Ridley – to consider the merging of Bulkeley and Ridley Parishes into one parish

          Lyme Handley – to consider options for alternative parishing arrangements

          Hulme Walfield and Somerford Booth Parish Council – to consider an increase in the number of parish councillors

3        That before commencing consultation with electors in Minshull Vernon and District parishes, the Parish Council be informed that it was the view of the Sub Committee that the proposed number of councillors is too high and should be reduced to a maximum of 10.  The response from the Parish Council to be reported to the next meeting.

4        That before commencing consultation with electors in the parish of Hulme Walfield and Somerford Booth, the Parish Council be informed that it is the view of the Sub Committee that an increase of 1 seat per ward would be more appropriate than an increase of 2 seats in the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.