Agenda item

To report to Council the final recommendations from the Local Government Boundary Commission for England (LGBCE) of a review of district wards, to update on Community Governance Reviews for Town and Parish Councils and to seek approval to undertake further work to put in place arrangements for a reduced council size in 2019.

Councillor Stock OBE informed Members of the reason why he had asked the Chairman to change the order of business.

Further to Minute 31 (09.05.17) Council had before it a report of the Head of Leadership Support and Community (A.5) which had provided details of the final recommendations from the Local Government Boundary Commission for England (LGBCE) of a review of district wards, an update on Community Governance Reviews for Town and Parish Councils and to seek approval to undertake further work to put in place arrangements for a reduced council size in 2019.

With the consent of the meeting, Councillor Stock OBE moved altered recommendations to those printed, seconded by Councillor G V Guglielmi.

Councillor Winfield then moved an amendment to Councillor Stock’s recommendations, which was seconded by Councillor Broderick and Councillor Stock OBE and Councillor G V Guglielmi agreed to accept.

The Chief Executive confirmed to Council that the motion now before them, to be the subject of debate was:

a)     the final recommendations on new electoral arrangements for Tendring District Council be noted;

b)     a Community Governance Review be undertaken in relation to the land in the St Osyth District Council area but not in the St Osyth Parish area;

c)     in principle, a wider Community Governance Review of parished and unparished areas in the Tendring District be supported subject to specific terms of reference, having regard to the initial views which are currently being sought, coming to a future meeting of Council for agreement;

d)     officers are authorised to commence a review of meeting arrangements, Cabinet and committee size, frequency and make-up in preparation for the reduction to 48 Councillors in 2019; and

e)     that, at an appropriate time following the 2019 District Elections, this Council writes to the Local Government Boundary Commission for England and asks for a further Electoral Review of the Tendring District with a specific request that they look again at the decision to recommend a two member ward of St Bartholomews rather than two single member wards of St Bartholomews and Haven as requested by the Council.

Councillors Scott, Calver, Parsons, Broderick and Bucke each addressed the Council on the subject matter of this item.

NOTE:  Whilst Councillor Bucke addressed the Council there was an incident in the public seating area. The Chairman announced that there would be a 15 minute break and so he adjourned the meeting.

Following on from the adjournment, when the meeting was reconvened, it was moved by Councillor Stock OBE, seconded by Councillor Bray and RESOLVED that:-

due to the circumstances, all of the remaining items on the agenda would be MOVED ON BLOCK with the exception of agenda item 16, which would be deferred until the next scheduled meeting of the Council.

It was RESOLVED that:-

f)       the final recommendations on new electoral arrangements for Tendring District Council be noted;

g)     a Community Governance Review be undertaken in relation to the land in the St Osyth District Council area but not in the St Osyth Parish area;

h)     in principle, a wider Community Governance Review of parished and unparished areas in the Tendring District be supported subject to specific terms of reference, having regard to the initial views which are currently being sought, coming to a future meeting of Council for agreement;

i)       officers are authorised to commence a review of meeting arrangements, Cabinet and committee size, frequency and make-up in preparation for the reduction to 48 Councillors in 2019; and

j)       that, at an appropriate time following the 2019 District Elections, this Council writes to the Local Government Boundary Commission for England and asks for a further Electoral Review of the Tendring District with a specific request that they look again at the decision to recommend a two member ward of St Bartholomews rather than two single member wards of St Bartholomews and Haven as requested by the Council.