Issue - meetings

The Civic Affairs Committee

RECOMMENDED TO COUNCIL    

A)     to change the boundary as per Cambourne Parish Council’s proposed boundary (Appendix B).

B)     to make a request to the Local Government Boundary Commission for England (LGBCE) to re-align the principal area boundaries along the new parish boundaries.

Council

AGREED

(a)  To change the boundary as per Cambourne Parish Council’s proposed boundary (Appendix B).

(b)  To make a request to the Local Government Boundary Commission for England (LGBCE) to re-align the principal area boundaries along the new parish boundaries.

Councillor David McCraith, Chairman of the Civic Affairs Committee, presented a report which invited the Council to consider the recommendation of the Committee at its meeting held on 28 September regarding the Community Governance Review of Caxton, Elsworth and Cambourne Parishes

Councillor McCraith reminded the Council that the review had been requested by Cambourne Parish Council but also had the support of Caxton Parish Council and Elsworth Parish Council.  The review had been undertaken because the housing development at Cambourne West would alter the geographical spread of housing across the parishes and the resulting spatial separation between the two population centres in Caxton would no longer correspond to a parish boundary that reflected a coherent natural settlement pattern. The new development would be more closely aligned to the parish of Cambourne.  A small strip of land to the south of the A428 was also currently in Elsworth parish but detached from the main population centre.

Councillor McCraith accordingly moved the first of the recommendations of the Civic Affairs Committee as follows:-

“To change the boundary as per Cambourne Parish Council’s proposed boundary (Appendix B)”.

Councillor Charles Nightingale seconded the proposition.

During discussion:-

•           Councillor Sebastian Kindersley indicated his support for the proposal but asked that the opportunity also be taken to consider the parishing of West Cambourne.  He commented that the development would give rise to issues which were particular to that settlement and that if West Cambourne had its own parish, it would be better placed to deal with its own local concerns. 

•           Councillor Ruth Betson commented that Cambourne Parish Council had been involved in discussions with the developers of West Cambourne and was prepared for the development.  She noted that the number of parish councillors would increase from 13 to 19 with effect from May 2018 to reflect the growth of Cambourne.  Additionally she referred to the implications for precepts if the parish boundaries were not amended.

•           Councillor Douglas de Lacey sought an assurance that the Local Government Boundary Commission for England would not seek to make additional changes above and beyond those requested by the Council.

•           Councillor Nick Wright reported that he had not detected an appetite to have Cambourne divided for parish purposes.  He believed that Cambourne Parish Council was well placed to take on the additional West Cambourne development.

•           Councillor Des O’Brien advised that he had been in touch with Caxton Parish Council which was supportive of the change proposed.  He did not consider that a separate parish was required for West Cambourne but felt that residents of West Cambourne should be encouraged to stand for election on Cambourne Parish Council.

•           In response to a request for clarification regarding the proposed revisions to the boundaries, the Chairman referred to Appendix B to the report which set out the proposed changes to the parish boundaries.

Upon being put to the vote, votes were cast as follows:-

In favour (48)

Councillors David Bard, Val Barrett, John Batchelor, Ruth  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8

The Civic Affairs Committee

RECOMMENDED TO COUNCIL     to change the boundary as per Cambourne Parish Council’s proposed boundary (Appendix B).

to make a request to the LGBCE to re-align the principal area boundaries along the new parish boundaries.

The Development Officer presented this report, which invited the Committee to consider the consultation responses to the Community Governance Review of Caxton, Elsworth and Cambourne parishes and make a recommendation to Council.

It was noted that if the Committee recommended a change to the parish boundary they would also have to decide whether to recommend that the Local Government Boundary Commission for England (LGBCE) review the principal area boundaries to ensure that the parish boundaries continue to be conterminous with the district and county ward boundaries. The Electoral Services Manager explained that there was a risk that if the Council requested that the LGBCE review the principal area boundaries this could lead to a wider review. However, he expected that the LGBCE would consider any changes to the electorate figures since the previous review to be within the limits and another full electoral review would not be necessary.

John Vickery, Cambourne Parish Clerk, explained that Cambourne and Caxton Parish Councils both supported the proposed boundary change in recommendation A.

After a brief discussion the Committee did not consider it was necessary to include the A1198 roundabout in the parish of Cambourne as suggested in recommendation B.

A vote was taken and the Civic Affairs Committee unanimously

RECOMMENDED TO COUNCIL     to change the boundary as per Cambourne Parish Council’s proposed boundary (Appendix B).

A further vote was taken and the Civic Affairs Committee, with 10 votes in favour and 1 abstention

RECOMMENDED TO COUNCIL     to make a request to the LGBCE to re-align the principal area boundaries along the new parish boundaries.

The Civic Affairs Committee

AGREED

A)           The draft terms of reference as detailed in Appendix A of the report; and

B)           The indicative timetable for the review as detailed in paragraph 2.5 of Appendix A of the report.  

The Development Officer presented this report which invited the Committee to agree terms of reference for undertaking a formal Community Governance Review of the parish boundaries between Caxton, Elsworth and Cambourne.

Anomaly with ward boundaries

The Electoral Services Manager explained that whilst the Council could alter the parish council boundaries the agreement of the Boundary Commission was required to amend the ward boundaries. This meant that if, at the end of the consultation period, it was agreed to move the parish boundary to include Cambourne West in Cambourne, its residents would vote for and be represented by those District Councillors in the Caxton and Papworth ward whilst being Cambourne parishioners. This anomaly would exist until the Boundary Commission agreed to alter the ward boundary to include Cambourne West in the Cambourne ward.

A future review of ward boundaries

Concern was expressed that the development at Cambourne could trigger another review of ward boundaries. However, it was noted that new developments elsewhere in the District could also trigger a review and the electorate figures for Cambourne in May 2018 were well below the average District figure, indicating that there was room for growth.

Cambourne parish

It was noted that the Community Governance Review could consider creating a separate parish for Cambourne West, although it was unclear if there was any support for this option.

The Civic Affairs Committee unanimously

AGREED

A)           The draft terms of reference as detailed in Appendix A of the report; and

B)           The indicative timetable for the review as detailed in paragraph 2.5 of Appendix A of the report.