Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Stamp.

The following substitution was declared:

Councillor Bull substituting for Councillor Stamp.

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 17 June 2015 (copy attached).

The minutes of the meeting held on 17 June 2015 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

The Working Party considered report DEM/SE/15/003 (previously circulated) which detailed the results from the initial consultation of the Community Governance Review. Members were informed that a recommendation had to be made for each issue even if the recommendation was not to make a change.

Members then considered each issue in turn and considered the consultation results as detailed in Appendix A to DEM/SE/15/003. Maps of the proposed boundaries are attached as Appendix 1 to these minutes.

Issue No. 26 – The whole Borough (consequential impact of CGR)

RECOMMENDED: That

(1)     the Council requests a full electoral review of the electoral arrangements for St Edmundsbury Borough Council by the Local Government Boundary Commission for England;

(2)     subject to the outcome of issue 7, the ward boundaries (and number of councillors) of Bury St Edmunds and Haverhill Town Councils be left unchanged within their existing boundaries as part of this CGR, pending any electoral review of the Borough Council;

(3)     if the CGR results in the extension of either of the towns’ boundaries then the new area(s) be added, on an interim basis, to an existing adjacent town council ward, with no increase in the number of town councillors. This will result in a temporary electoral imbalance, but this imbalance can also be corrected by the subsequent electoral review before any scheduled elections;

(4)     ward boundaries and other electoral arrangements for any other parishes (existing or new) be fully considered as part of this CGR, but it be explained to the parishes involved that these may be subject to later change by the LGBCE if they need to ensure electoral equality for, and coterminosity with, their own scheme for borough wards or county divisions.

Issue No. 1 – V2031 – North-West Bury St Edmunds

All parties who had responded in phase 1 supported the alteration of Fornham All Saints Parish to exclude the growth side, with some consensus that it should become part of Bury St Edmunds Parish.

Members of the Working Party agreed that the boundary of Bury St Edmunds Parish should be extended to include the growth site and that the boundary should follow the north side of the new relief road (see map at Appendix 1 to these minutes). The growth area should be added to the existing St Olaves Ward pending any review of town and borough council wards by the Local Government Boundary Commission for England.

RECOMMENDED:

The boundary of Bury St Edmunds Parish be extended to include the residential element of the “North-West Bury St Edmunds” Vision 2031 growth site.

Issue No. 2 – V2031 – West Bury St Edmunds

The general response from the phase 1 consultation was that Bury St Edmunds Parish should include the new development when it is delivered. Even though there is only a concept statement at present, residential development could be reasonably anticipated to start in the next 5-10 years. 

Members of the Working Party agreed that the boundary for Bury St Edmunds parish should be extended to include the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 19.

The Working Party is requested to determine a date for a meeting in early 216, as follows:

          14 January;

          4 February; or

          11 February.

All meetings are Thursdays starting at 5.00pm. Venues to be confirmed.

The Working Party proposed that a suitable date for the next meeting would be agreed by email to all Members.