Agenda item

To enable Council to consider the outcome of Community Governance Reviews undertaken in Harwich and in St Osyth.

Council recalled that, at its meeting held on 21 November 2017 (Minute 93 referred), it had considered a report of the Head of Leadership Support and Community and it had been agreed 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.”

Council further recalled that, at its meeting held on 23 January 2018 (Minute 115 referred), it had considered a further report of the Head of Leadership Support and Community and it had been agreed that -

“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 number of seats on Harwich Town Council, be approved.”

Council was informed that the consultation for both the St Osyth and Harwich Community Governance Reviews had ended on 31 March 2018.

It was reported that the Electoral Review Working Group had considered the responses to the two consultations at its meeting held on 30 April 2018 when it had been noted that:-

·           in relation to the Harwich Community Governance Review, Harwich Town Council had requested an increase in the number of Councillors from 16 to 17 to even out the representation across the wards. 26 replies had been received, of which 6 (24%) supported an increase in Councillors and 19 (76%) did not.

Having considered the outcome of the public consultation, the Working Group had agreed to recommend to Council that the number of Harwich Town Councillors should remain at 16 with the existing ward distribution.

·           the St Osyth Community Governance Review had been implemented because there was currently a small area of land that, following the District Boundary Review, sat within the St Osyth District Council boundary but was not within the St Osyth Parish boundary. The review had asked whether this section of land should be brought within the St Osyth Parish boundary. Eight responses had been received, of which five (62%) agreed with the proposed boundary change and three (38%) did not.

Having considered the outcome of the public consultation, the Working Group had agreed to recommend to Council that the boundary change should be implemented, in order to make the Parish and District boundaries coterminous.

·           in relation to other Community Governance Reviews, as set out above, it had been agreed by Council at its meeting on 21 November 2017 that for some Town and Parish Councils further information would be gathered. This further information had also been considered by the Working Group at its meeting held on 30 April 2017.

Having considered the additional information (and following a further update provided to the Working Group after the meeting in relation to Thorpe-le-Soken Parish Council) the Working Group had agreed to recommend to Council that no further Community Governance Reviews be undertaken. This was on the basis that:-

(1)       no other request for a Community Governance Review had been received from any Town or Parish Council;

(2)       no other member of the public had raised any relevant issues; and

(3)       the additional information had not provided any overriding indication that any other Community Governance Review needed to be undertaken.

Having considered the Working Group’s recommendations, it was moved by Councillor P B Honeywood, seconded by Councillor G V Guglielmi and:

RESOLVED that - 

(a)        in relation to the two Community Governance Reviews for which public consultation has been undertaken:-

i.          the number of Harwich Town Councillors will remain at 16 with the existing parish ward distribution; and

ii.          a boundary change be implemented in order to make the St Osyth Parish and District boundaries coterminous.

(b)        draft recommendations as set out in (a) be made available for public comment in line with the previously agreed timetable; and

(c)        no Community Governance Reviews be taken forward at this time for the following Parish Councils: Alresford, Ardleigh, Beaumont-cum-Moze, Elmstead, Frating, Great Bentley, Great Oakley, Lawford, Little Bentley, Little Bromley, Little Clacton, Little Oakley, Ramsey and Parkeston, Tendring, Thorpe-le-Soken and Wrabness.