Decision details

The Executive Member for Finance and Support Services submitted a report on the second consultation stage of the Bishop’s Stortford Community Governance Review.  He thanked everyone for their responses in both consultation stages and detailed the Executive’s recommendations now before Council.

He moved, and Councillor L Haysey seconded, a motion that the recommendations, as now detailed in the report submitted, be approved.

Councillor C Woodward commended John Williams, Electoral Services Officer, for his advice and guidance throughout the process.  He commented that although he was not entirely happy with the outcome, he supported the proposals for their pragmatism.

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

Council approved the proposals now detailed.

RESOLVED – that (A) the responses received to the second stage consultation on the Community Governance Review of Bishop’s Stortford Town Council as set out in section 5 of the report submitted, together with the recommendations of the Executive in relation to the review at section 6 of the report submitted, be received;

(B)       the final recommendations of the Community Governance Review be agreed, as follows:

(1)                 that no new parishes be constituted in the area under review;

(2)                 that no change be made to the name of either Bishop’s Stortford or Thorley Parish and that each of the parishes continue to have a council;

(3)                 that the areas of Bishop’s Stortford and Thorley parishes be altered as follows:

(a)                 that the part of St Michael’s Mead that is currently in Thorley Parish (marked as Area A on the map at sheet number 2 of Essential Reference Paper (B) of the report submitted, be transferred to Bishop’s Stortford Parish, with the parish boundary being amended to follow Moor Hall Lane from St James’ Way to the existing boundary so that Southern Country Park and other undeveloped adjacent land will remain in Thorley Parish;

(b)                 that those properties in Rectory Close that are currently in Bishop’s Stortford Parish (marked as Area B on the map at sheet number 2 of Essential Reference Paper (B) be transferred to Thorley Parish;

(c)                  that the area of land occupied by numbers 6 to 9 Park View Cottages (marked as Area C on the map at sheet number 2 of Essential Reference Paper (B) be transferred from Bishop’s Stortford Parish to Thorley Parish;

(d)                 that no other changes be made at this time to the parish boundary between Bishop’s Stortford and Thorley parishes;

(4)                 that the Council keep under review any future development in Bishop’s Stortford South or elsewhere with a view to considering whether this may in due course give rise to the need for a further community governance review of any part or parts of the District;

(5)                 that in relation to the electoral arrangements for Bishop’s Stortford Town Council:

(a)                 the total number of councillors to be elected to the Town Council be reduced from 18 to 17;

(b)                 that Bishop’s Stortford continue to be divided into five wards for the purpose of electing councillors to the Town Council;

(c)                  that no change be made to the name of any ward;

(d)                 that the boundaries between the Town Council wards be altered as set out in the table at paragraph 7.24 of the report submitted and illustrated at sheets 3 to 16 of the map at Essential Reference Paper (B); and

(e)                 that the number of councillors to be elected to represent each ward on the Town Council be as follows:

(6)                 that in relation to the electoral arrangements for Thorley Parish Council:

(a)                 the total number of councillors to be elected to the Parish Council be reduced from 7 to 6;

(b)                 that Thorley Parish continue to be divided into two wards for the purpose of electing councillors to the Parish Council;

(c)                  that no change be made to the name of any ward;

(d)                 that the boundary between the Parish Council Rural and Urban Wards continue to follow the boundary between the District Council wards of Bishop’s Stortford South and Much Hadham as illustrated at sheet 2 of the map at Essential Reference Paper (B); and

(e)                 that the number of councillors to be elected to represent each ward on the Parish Council be as follows:

(7)       that the Local Government Boundary Commission for England be requested to make changes to the boundaries of the relevant District Council Wards and County Council Divisions as necessary to ensure coterminosity between those boundaries and the revised Parish and Parish Ward boundaries made in this Community Governance Review; and

(C)       the Council make the East Hertfordshire (Reorganisation of Community Governance) (Bishop’s Stortford and Thorley) Order 2018 as attached at Essential Reference Paper (B) of the report submitted.

(see also Minute 221)