Agenda item

Council is requested to agree that certain Community Governance Reviews be undertaken.

Councillor I J Henderson had earlier declared an interest in relation to this item insofar as he was also a member of Harwich Town Council.

Council recalled that, at its meeting held on 5 September 2017 (Minute 66 referred) it was agreed that:-

“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.”

Accordingly, the draft Terms of Reference for that review was attached at Appendix A to item A.5 of the Report of the Head of Leadership Support and Community for Council’s approval.

Council further recalled that it had also agreed that:-

“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.”

Those initial views submitted had been considered by the Electoral Review Working Group at its meeting held on 7 November 2017 and could be summarized as follows:

·                16 Town / Parish Councils had responded and 11 had not.

·                Of those that had responded only 1 (Harwich Town Council) would welcome a review of its number of councillors.

·                Lawford, Manningtree and Mistley Parish Councils had discussed the idea of a joint parish but that did not yet appear to be fully decided.

·                Clacton Town Partnership had responded and were fully supportive of a Clacton Town Council. No other comments in support of a Town Council for Clacton had been received but neither were any objections.

·                3 District Councillors and 3 Parish Councillors had replied.

·                5 residents had responded but of those 4 had expressed concerns about the running of the same Parish Council.

In discussing those initial responses the Working Group had also had in front of them a summary of the current position regarding the number of seats on each Town / Parish Council; the number of seats filled; the suggested number of seats and whether an election had been held in 2011 and / or 2015.

Following discussion the Working Group had agreed that a review be carried out for those that had asked for it and that those that had had elections in 2011 and / or 2015 were not reviewed. Officers had been asked to provide further information on those which had not been contested in both 2011 and 2015 including functions, precept and the make-up of the Council. This would be considered at a future meeting of the Working Group to determine whether the group wished to make any further recommendations about Community Governance Reviews being undertaken.

In summary, the Working Group had concluded that:-

·                a Community Governance Review of the number of seats on Harwich Town Council be undertaken;

·                the suggested merger of Lawford, Manningtree and Mistley Parish Councils be kept under review and that a Community Governance Review be undertaken if all three Parish Councils ask for one;

·                the position regarding a Town Council for Clacton be further considered following consideration of the related motion at Council;

·                no Community Governance Reviews be taken forward at this time for the following Town / Parish Councils: Bradfield, Brightlingsea, Frinton and Walton, Great Bromley, Harwich, Thorrington, Weeley and Wix; and

·                further information be considered for other Town / Parish Councils in due course.

Councillors Calver and Parsons each addressed the Council on the subject matter of this item.

Having considered the Working Group’s conclusions, it was moved by Councillor Honeywood, seconded by Councillor Stock OBE and:

RESOLVED that

a)         the terms of reference attached at Appendix A to item A.5 of the Report of the Head of Leadership Support and Community, for a Community Governance Review for the land in the St Osyth District Council area but not in the St Osyth parish area, be agreed and that this Community Governance Review be now commenced;

b)         a Community Governance Review of the number of seats on Harwich Town Council be undertaken and that terms of reference be brought back to the next Council meeting for approval;

c)         no Community Governance Review be taken forward at this time for the following Town / Parish Councils: Bradfield, Brightlingsea, Frinton and Walton, Great Bromley, Manningtree, Mistley, Thorrington, Weeley and Wix;

d)         a Community Governance Review to merge Lawford, Manningtree and Mistley Parish Councils be undertaken only if all three parish councils ask for one; and

e)             Community Governance Reviews for areas of the Tendring District not mentioned in a) to d) above be further considered by the Electoral Review Working Group following the receipt of further information and that their recommendations be brought to a future Council meeting.