Agenda and minutes

Venue: Swansley Room A and B - Ground Floor. View directions

Contact: Patrick Adams  03450 450 500 Email: democratic.services@scambs.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

1.

Apologies for Absence

To receive Apologies for Absence from Committee members.

Minutes:

Apologies for Absence were received from Councillor Henry Batchelor. Councillor Bill Handley acted as substitute.

2.

Declarations of Interest

Minutes:

None.

3.

Minutes of Previous Meeting pdf icon PDF 142 KB

To authorise the Chairman to sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 26 June 2018 as a correct record.

Minutes:

The minutes of the meeting held on 26 June 2018 were agreed as a correct record.

4.

Milton Community Governance Review - Draft Terms of Reference pdf icon PDF 224 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Development Officer presented this report, which invited the Committee to agree the proposed timetable and terms of reference for the reduction of Milton Parish Council from 15 councillors to 12.

 

It was noted that the consultation period would last eight weeks. A report will be taken to the next meeting of this Committee in December, following the closure of the consultation period.

 

The Committee unanimously

 

AGREED        the terms of reference and timetable for this Community Governance Review, as laid out in Appendix A.

5.

Northstowe Community Governance Review pdf icon PDF 125 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Head of Sustainable Communities and Wellbeing introduced this report on the proposed timetable for a Community Governance Review of Longstanton and Oakington and Westwick, in relation to the new development of Northstowe.

 

It was noted that Longstanton Parish Council had requested that the Community Governance Review be delayed until the summer of 2019. It was understood that this would allow residents of Northstowe to gain more experience as parish councillors on Longstanton Parish Council and would also mean that there will be more residents in Northstowe to consult on the Review. The Head of Sustainable Communities and Wellbeing estimated that there could be 350 occupations in Northstowe by winter next year.

 

In response to questioning, the Head of Sustainable Communities and Wellbeing explained that a management company would be taking on the maintenance of open space at Northstowe for at least the next 10 years. In the meantime Longstanton Parish Council would be responsible for the day to day decisions, before the Community Governance Review concluded.

 

The Committee NOTED the report.

6.

Stapleford Community Governance Review Request pdf icon PDF 233 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Development Officer explained that a request had been received from Stapleford Parish Council to increase the Council size from 9 to 11 parish councillors. It was noted that a reference to 12 councillors in an e-mail from the Parish Council Chairman in Appendix A was a mistake, and the official request from the Parish Council was  for an increase to 11 members.

 

Terms of reference

The Committee supported the terms of reference as laid out in Appendix B. It was agreed that including the terms of reference with the Review request was beneficial and should be repeated when possible in relation to requests concerning parish numbers.

 

Views of local members

It was understood that one of the local members was supportive of the proposed increase, the views of the other local member was unknown. It was agreed that in the future, the Committee should be informed of the views of all the local members.

 

Encouraging residents to stand as parish councillors

Concerns were expressed regarding the difficulties that Stapleford Parish Council could have in recruiting 11 parish councillors. It was suggested that the District Council could do more to promote the work of parish councils to encourage residents to stand as parish councillors. The Head of Sustainable Communities and Wellbeing assured the Committee that recently Stapleford Parish Council had been successful in encouraging residents to stand for co-option.

 

The Committee unanimously

 

AGREED       

 

A)    To the request from Stapleford Parish Council for a Community Governance Review to increase the number of parish councillors from 9 to 11; and

B)    To the draft terms of reference, as laid out in Appendix B;

C)    For staff to agree the timetable in consultation with Stapleford Parish Council.

7.

Update on Code of Conduct Complaints pdf icon PDF 275 KB

Minutes:

The Committee NOTED this report.

8.

Date of Next Meeting

4 December 2018 at 10am

Minutes:

It was noted that the next meeting would be held on Tuesday 4 December at 10am.