Decision details

Council considered a report detailing a request from Bishop’s Stortford Town Council for a Community Governance Review (CGR) of its electoral arrangements.  Under provisions of the Local Government and Public Involvement Act 2007, Council had the power to review and make changes to community governance within its area.  The Head of Democratic and Legal Support Services outlined the options available to Council in dealing with the request, namely to undertake a review of the governance arrangements in Bishop’s Stortford only, to review the governance arrangements across the whole District or to reject the request.

Various Members spoke in support of accepting the request to review the governance arrangements in Bishop’s Stortford only.  A couple of Members believed that governance arrangements in Buntingford needed to be reviewed, given the current and projected housing growth.

In response to Members’ questions, Officers advised that although the costs of any review were difficult to quantify, it would be time consuming and that potentially, additional resources might be necessary.

Councillor G Jones moved, and Councillor D Andrews seconded, a motion that a Community Governance Review of the electoral arrangements of Bishop’s Stortford Town Council (including its town boundary) be undertaken. 

After being put to the meeting, and a vote taken, the motion was declared carried.

RESOLVED – that a Community Governance Review of the electoral arrangements of Bishop’s Stortford Town Council (including its town boundary) be undertaken, with the detailed terms of reference for, and the timing of, the review to be determined by the Chief Executive.