Agenda item

The Leader of the Council presented the Proposed Community Governance Review. He said that Council agreed in principle to undertake a Community Governance Review in Ware Town and neighbouring parishes and the Rush Green area at their meeting on 16 November 2022. He said that this review came from the result of the Local Government Boundary Commission Review of East Herts which was completed last year.

The Leader of the Council said that the previous report said the reviews would take place after the local elections and the Head of Legal and Democratic Services would bring the draft terms of reference back to Council. This report presents these draft terms for the proposed reviews identified in Ware and Rush Green. The report also identifies further areas of the district that governance reviews may be beneficial; Thorley, Sawbridgeworth and Tewin.

Councillor Crystall proposed that the recommendations in the report be supported. Councillor Townsend seconded the proposal.

Councillor Deering said that the Conservative group were content with the proposal. He said that for the benefit of the viewing public, he said it was important to understand the Council were discussing the review and not pre-determining its outcome.

Councillor Jacobs referred to recommendation (D) and Town and Parish Councils being consulted on the proposals. He asked if the reviews would continue if councils were consulted and were happy with their current arrangements.

The Head of Legal and Democratic Services said that the council would have to see what came out of the consultations. He said he did not want to pre-determine the outcome.

Councillor Jacobs said he thought it was important to respect the councils wishes and asked the Head of Legal and Democratic Services to confirm this.

The Head of Legal and Democratic Services said the council would take into consideration if town and parish councils did not want the review. He said the council would not impose a review on those who did not want it.

The motion to support the recommendation having been proposed and seconded was put to the meeting and upon a vote being taken, was declared CARRIED.

RESOLVED – That (A) a community governance review be undertaken of Ware Town and parts of Wareside and Thundridge Parishes and that the draft terms of reference and indicative timetable for the review be agreed as attached at Appendix B;

(B) a community governance review be undertaken of the area covered by the Rush Green roundabout and that the draft terms of reference and indicative timetable for the review be agreed as attached at Appendix C;

(C) the Head of Legal and Democratic Services be authorised to progress the community governance reviews at (A) and(B) above including making any minor amendments necessary to the terms of reference and timetable for the reviews prior to formal publication; and

(D) Tewin Parish Council, Thorley Parish Council and Sawbridgeworth Town Council be consulted as to whether they would support a community governance review being undertaken of their respective areas to address the issues regarding warding of their town/parish councils as set out at paragraphs 2.24 to 2.31 of the report.