Issue - meetings

The Executive Member for Finance and Support Services submitted a report on the second consultation stage of the Buntingford 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 J Jones expressed his support for the proposals now detailed.

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 Buntingford 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 Buntingford, Cottered or Aspenden parishes and that all three parishes each continue to have a council;

(3)                 that the areas of Buntingford and Cottered parishes be altered as follows:

·                        that the area of land north of Park Farm Industrial Estate occupied by the new Redrow housing development (marked as Area A on the map at sheet number 2 of Essential Reference Paper (B)), but not including Parkside and its neighbouring properties, be transferred from Cottered Parish to Buntingford Parish;

(4)                 that no other changes be made at this time to the parish boundary between Buntingford and Cottered parishes;

(5)                 that no changes be made at this time to the parish boundary between Buntingford and Aspenden parishes; 

(6)                 that no change be made to the number of councillors to be elected to Buntingford Town Council (12), Aspenden Parish Council (6) or Cottered Parish Council (6);

(7)                 that Buntingford Town Council, Aspenden Parish Council and Cottered Parish Council each continue to not be divided into wards for the purpose of electing town/parish councillors.

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

(C)       the Council make the East Hertfordshire (Reorganisation of Community Governance) (Buntingford and Cottered) Order 2018 as attached at Essential Reference Paper (B) of the report submitted.

(see also Minute 221)

The Executive Member for Finance and Support Services submitted a report detailing the responses received during the second stage consultation period for the Community Governance Review of Buntingford Town Council.  He asked the Executive to consider these and forward recommendations to Council, which would agree the final outcome of the review. 

The Executive noted the responses as detailed in the report submitted.  The Executive Member commented on the consultation responses and suggested that amended proposals be forwarded to Council for consideration.  In particular, he suggested that in relation to Parkside and its neighbouring properties, these should remain in Cottered parish.

Councillors S Bull and J Jones, as the local ward Members, both expressed support for the revised proposals.

Councillor G Williamson moved, and Councillor G McAndrew seconded, a motion that the recommendations now detailed be supported.  After being put to the meeting and a vote taken, the motion was declared CARRIED.

The Executive supported the recommendations now detailed.

RECOMMENDED – that (A) the responses received to the second stage consultation on the community governance review of Buntingford Town Council as set out in the report submitted, be noted; and

(B)       the draft recommendations for the community governance review of Buntingford Town Council, be confirmed, subject to the following amendment:

·                        That in relation to the land between the A10 and Ermine Street north of Park Farm Industrial Estate, only the area of the Redrow housing development be transferred into Buntingford and that the parish boundary then follow the northern edge of the Redrow development site so that Parkside and the neighbouring properties remain within Cottered Parish.