Decision details

Community Governance Review of Thriplow Parish Council

Decision Maker: Civic Affairs Committee

Decision status: For Determination

Is Key decision?: No

Is subject to call in?: No

Decisions:

The Development Officer presented this report, which invited the Committee to consider a request from Thriplow Parish Council for a Community Governance Review to change the number of parish councillors representing each ward from 7 to 5 for Thriplow and 2 to 4 for Heathfield.

 

Other warded parishes

It was noted that there had not been a recent review of the other warded parishes in the District.

 

Numbers of parish councillors the two wards

Members of the Committee recognised the logic of the proposed change, as the number of people living in Heathfield had increased. However, concern was expressed at the fact that Thriplow had a lower number of electorate (385) than Heathfield (512), but would still have more parish councillors. It was noted that the total number of parish councillors representing the whole parish council was not being considered as part of this Review. The Committee recognised that these issues could be considered as part of the consultation.

 

Number of candidates willing to stand

The Electoral Services Manager explained that Thriplow Parish Council last had a contested election in 2016 and that residents of one ward could stand for election in the other ward, providing they lived within five kilometres of that ward.

 

The Committee

 

AGREED

 

A)        The request from Thriplow Parish Council for a Community Governance Review to consider changing the number of parish councillors representing each of the parish wards.

 

B)        The draft terms of reference, as laid out in Appendix A.

 

C)        The proposed timetable set out in the draft terms of reference.

Publication date: 22/11/2019

Date of decision: 29/10/2019

Decided at meeting: 29/10/2019 - Civic Affairs Committee

Accompanying Documents: