Agenda item

Community Governance Review of the Parish of Haslingfield

Decision:

The Civic Affairs Committee:

 

(a)        AGREED to commence further consultation regarding a Community Governance Review of the Parish of Haslingfield, based on the principles of Option A as set out in the report.

 

(b)        AGREED that the consultation should include the rescaled Parish of Haslingfield retaining its current complement of Parish Councillors, with the newly created Parish Council consisting of nine Parish Councillors.

 

(c)        AGREED that no proposed name be allocated to the new Parish at this stage and that the name of the new Parish forms part of the consultation exercise.

Minutes:

The Civic Affairs Committee considered a report which enabled Members to deliberate the submissions received during the first phase of public consultation for the Community Governance Review of Haslingfield Parish.

 

Gemma Barron, Partnerships Manager, presented the report and highlighted that the formal consultation had been conducted between 15 March 2016 and 13 June 2016 and followed a round of briefings to the Southern Fringe Community Forum, Trumpington Residents’ Association, the Trumpington Meadows Management Committee and the Parish Councils of Haslingfield, Hauxton and Grantchester.  It was noted that the resultant submissions had been summarised in Options A to C of the report with a further option, Option D, being to make no change to Haslingfield Parish boundary or its electoral arrangements.

 

Linda Frost, a resident of Trumpington Meadows, reported that she and a number of people in the area had been meeting as a group to discuss this issue.  The group’s consensus was that people wanted to be a whole community and one that was together in either Cambridge City or South Cambridgeshire, not split by their respective boundaries.  She understood, however, that a review of that boundary could not be instigated as part of this Community Governance Review.  Linda Frost therefore called for the Community Governance Review to be postponed until a full review of the Cambridge City and South Cambridgeshire boundary took place, particularly in view of the fact that this situation was not unique and that other developments commencing on the fringes of Cambridge City were also crossing the boundary into South Cambridgeshire.

 

Members noted that the request to postpone the Community Governance Review would effectively mean supporting Option D in the report, although it was emphasised that a review into the boundary of Cambridge City and South Cambridgeshire could not form part of this Community Governance Review and would consist of a separate and much more comprehensive boundary review.

 

Councillor Janet Lockwood reported that Hauxton Parish Council would be in favour of Option B as this would see the A10 and a field which included a cycle path from Hauxton to Trumpington being located within the parish boundary of Hauxton.  She also understood that a Greater Cambridge City Deal proposal for a Park and Ride facility in this area may be proposed, which the Parish Council would want to have more input on. 

 

Councillor David Bard referred to the very recent submission of a planning application for Trumpington Sporting Village, but he understood that this would not consist of any residential properties in the area being considered as part of this Community Governance Review. 

 

Councillor Deborah Roberts supported Councillor Lockwood’s comments and proposed Option B as set out in the report.  This was seconded by Councillor Lockwood and with 2 votes in favour, 4 votes against and 3 abstentions, the proposal was lost.

 

Councillor David Bard proposed Option A as set out in the report.  This was seconded by Councillor David McCraith and with 3 votes in favour, 3 votes against and 3 abstentions, the Chairman had a casting vote.  The Chairman voted in favour of the proposition and the Civic Affairs Committee therefore AGREED to commence further consultation regarding a Community Governance Review of the Parish of Haslingfield, based on the principles of Option A as set out in the report.

 

The Civic Affairs Committee unanimously:

 

(a)        AGREED that the consultation should include the rescaled Parish of Haslingfield retaining its current complement of Parish Councillors, with the newly created Parish Council consisting of nine Parish Councillors.

 

(b)        AGREED that no proposed name be allocated to the new Parish at this stage and that the name of the new Parish forms part of the consultation exercise.

Supporting documents: