Agenda item

The Civic Affairs Committee DEFERRED this item to its next meeting on 20 March 2014.

A report was considered which updated the Civic Affairs Committee on progress to date in relation to the Longstanton, Oakington and Northstowe boundary review.

It was reported that there were very different opinions locally regarding the changing of boundary lines, the timing of such changes and the establishment of a standalone parish or town council.  Officers were in the process of having informal discussions with Longstanton and Oakington Parish Councils and were also organising public drop-in sessions to informally discuss potential boundary changes to Longstanton and Oakington in light of the Northstowe development.  A number of suggestions had been put forward by Oakington and Westwick Parish Councils and local residents that had attended public events to date, details of which were set out in the report.

Taking these suggestions into account, an officer working group had recently met and recommended that the current boundary between Longstanton and Oakington be left in place until such time as there were 1000 electors within the Northstowe Development Framework Document framework outline.  This could act as a trigger for establishing Northstowe Parish Council, based on the legislation for the number of residents there needed to be for a parish council to be created.

Councillor Sebastian Kindersley felt that it was important for a parish council to be established straight away, or as soon as possible, and reflected on lessons learnt at Bar Hill, Orchard Park and Cambourne regarding new communities and governance arrangements.  He was of the opinion that residents currently living in the area affected by the Northstowe development should be given an opportunity to formally consider issues that would impact them in the years to come and that there should be enough people at Rampton Drift to set a parish council up immediately.  Councillor Douglas de Lacey echoed these points and wanted to see more consultation with those new communities that had experienced similar governance issues. 

Councillor Ray Manning reminded those present that Longstanton Parish Council had experienced problems in seeking expressions of interest from residents at Rampton Drift to stand as Parish Councillors.  Taking into account the points raised regarding further consultation, he informed Members that no consultation had yet been undertaken with Willingham or Over Parish Councils and felt that it was appropriate to bring this issue back for reconsideration at a future meeting.  He also emphasised the importance of contributions from local Members, two of whom were unfortunately unable to attend this meeting.

Councillor Alison Elcox suggested inviting people who were Parish Councillors at the time of similar reviews undertaken in the past, such as at Cambourne or Orchard Park, in order that they could share their knowledge having gone through this process.  It was noted that the Community Governance Review procedure had changed significantly since Cambourne and Orchard Park and that Histon or Impington would be more appropriate from comparative purposes as they had followed the same process.

Councillor Jim Stewart proposed that this item be deferred to the next meeting so that local Members could be in attendance.  It would also provide Members and officers with an opportunity to undertake more consultation and look into further information surrounding the issues discussed at this meeting.

The Civic Affairs Committee DEFERRED this item to its next meeting on 20 March 2014.